By Janice Alper

Rabbis in our minds provide us with insights into Torah and how to live our lives.  We turn to them when we are troubled and want some guidance.  They are available to us for life cycle events, simchas and sadness, and for comfort when we are in need.

I recently witnessed an unusual way a rabbi can give comfort to those in need.  Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz has taken on the responsibility of visiting patients at the hospice run by the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Louis Hospital in Jerusalem.  On most Friday mornings, when he is in the country, Rabbi Klein-Katz takes on the persona of “Matuki, a clown.”  Dressed in full clown regalia, enlarged shoes, large red lips, a silly hat, oversized bow tie and balloon pants, he approaches patients at the hospice and addresses each of them by name.

Since the hospital makes no distinction among the backgrounds of the patients, there are Jews, Muslims and Christians in the facility speaking a plethora of languages.  I watched as “Matuki” spoke personally to many of the 50 in-patients in their native languages, including French, Arabic, Russian, German, English and of course Hebrew.  For the most part they did not need words—his presence was comfort enough.  He knew each of their names, the names of many family members and much of their history.  A personal touch meant more than words to most of them.  I saw patient’s faces light up when he entered the room.  Even those who were morose and sad had smiles on their faces when he left.

This was a window into a small part of Israel most of us do not know.  I have passed the hospital just outside the New Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City innumerable times and had no idea such a facility existed there.  There are 50 residents who receive care regardless of race, religion or nationality.  The staff of 60 includes doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, support staff and 25 volunteers, among them “Matuki” Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz.  Most patients are referred there by other hospitals and the fees are paid by the Israeli health system.

I felt privileged to accompany “Matuki” on a recent Friday morning when I was in Jerusalem.  It reminded me of the Jewish folk tale, If Not Higher, where a local rabbi sheds his usual garb, goes into the woods, chops wood, then brings it to a sickly old woman.  A skeptic follows him, not believing he is up to anything good and when he witnesses the rabbi’s actions he proclaims to others that the rabbi has ascended to the heights of heaven, if not higher.  I believe Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz, Matuki, has ascended to great heights in taking on this mitzvah.  How lucky for all of us to have him in our midst, even from afar!