Rav Dessler brings a mashal about the spiritual progress and development of a tzadik versus a baal t’shuvah. The tzadik advances in his service of Hashem bit by bit, like climbing the rungs of a ladder. The baal t’shuvah, on the other hand, is like a cripple who doesn’t have the arms and legs with which to climb. From his lowly place, watching the raging waters rise up from below, he cries out for help. At that point, Hashem comes and raises him up to great heights.

HaRav Dovid Yitzchak Ben Akiva Yehuda Keehn z”l, 54, was a dedicated community icon, beloved husband, father, and brother. He was known to all as the chaplain of Queens. Rabbi Keehn left an indelible mark on young and old, lecturing to school children and helping the hospital-bound for 23 years at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens (Booth Memorial) as their Jewish chaplain and director of pastoral care, and as the hospital rabbi at NYU Langone’s Manhattan campus since 2017. Although legally blind, Rabbi Keehn overcame hurdles to be the light and guide to so many.

The Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association (JOWMA) is proud to launch its new Teen Health Committee, committed to educating teen girls and helping their families navigate adolescence. Course content will cover topics ranging from pubertal changes, substance use, mental and reproductive health, to body image and eating disorders. It will also serve as a guide for parents on ways to speak to teens during this time, engaging experts in the field and incorporating the highest standards of evidence-based medicine.