The day was sunny and unseasonably hot. As the ambulance made
its way through Jerusalem's busy streets, it encountered
traffic everywhere and the hustle and bustle of a big city.
In short, an ordinary day for our nation's capital.
But this was no ordinary day for Ayala Ditza. Strapped inside
a wheelchair inside the Nechonit, Yad Sarah's
specially built ambulance, she kept asking in a dazed tone,
"Are we really almost at the Kosel?" She just couldn't
believe it!
Then we arrived, and were able to drive right up to the
approach to the Ezras Noshim section, whereupon Ayala Ditza
was wheeled down the van ramp onto the Kosel's ground.
It was my privilege then to wheel her right up to the Kosel,
as chairs and women made way to accommodate the wheelchair.
It resembled kriyas Yam Suf with a special path
through the Rosh Chodesh crowd enabling us immediately to
reach the Kosel itself. There, Ayala Ditza, completely
paralyzed except for her right hand, was able to say Hallel
and subsequently pray mincha. Several of her friends
came especially for this occasion and she joined them as they
clapped and cheered rhythmically in celebration.
It was ten years ago that Ayala Ditza, then in her early
thirties and a supermarket employee, suddenly collapsed. A
bacteria had penetrated her brain. She underwent unsuccessful
surgery and lay in a coma for almost a full year, unable to
communicate or recognize anyone. The fact that she came out
of the vegetable-like state and is able to talk and use her
brain is in itself a miracle, but she was left completely
paralyzed.
For years, her mother cared for her at home, but when she
took ill and subsequently passed away, Ayala Ditza's new home
became Herzog Hospital (also known as Ezrat Nashim) in Givat
Shaul, where she quickly endeared herself to fellow patients
and staff alike.
Day after day, lying on her back, this gregarious woman would
look for ways to help other people. Yes, as incongruous as
this may sound, Ayala Ditza is always performing
mitzvos and chassodim from her bed. She hears
about a patient on her floor in a bad way who likes
chocolate, and arranges for him to receive treats on an
ongoing basis. She frequently listens to Torah tapes and to
religious programs and is always donating her funds whenever
she hears of a needy cause.
Now that she has a cell phone connected to her bed, she is
able to be in contact with the world outside, which makes a
tremendous difference to the quality of those endless hours
lying on her back. She studies Shemiras Haloshon every
day with her faithful study partner and has already completed
the book twice and has taken all the pertinent examinations,
all by phone.
Whenever any of her many friends arrives to visit her, she
always insists on first knowing how they are feeling. She
remembers the families of each visitor, and is genuinely
concerned for the welfare of everyone. She organizes Rosh
Chodesh parties right there at her bedside. As I've heard
said so many times, it is she who strengthens us, not vice
versa.
On one of my weekly visits to Ayala Ditza, about half a year
ago, we were chatting about a wedding of a friend that she
had recently managed to attend, when I suddenly asked her if
she'd like to go to the Kosel. She became quite excited. What
a question! She'd love it! We began discussing what turned
out to be the premiminary plan. The rest is now just a very
pleasant memory, with a collage of photographs of the
occasion on the wall alongside her bed.
Since then, she has been to the Kosel a second time and
would love to make a monthly habit of going.
Ayala Ditza is very eager to make new friends. She speaks
Hebrew only, except for that warm universal language of the
heart. Perhaps someone out there might like to help Ruthi
make her wish of a monthly visit come true?
Contact the Home and Family Editor, fax: 02 538 7998.
