BY DR. NURIT ISRAELI
In Hebrew, Tikkun Olam means repair of the
world. The concept implores us to take any
action we can, perform any act of kindness,
big or small, to help improve the world we live
in. The Covid-19 pandemic presents us with
challenges that are often too difficult to surmount
on our own. We must try to shine some
light into each other’s dark corners. Tikkun
Olam is needed today more than at any other
time in our recent past.
The following story inspires me: two teenage
sisters practicing Tikkun Olam – starting right
here at North Shore Towers. I spoke with the
girls, their parents, and their grandmother: their
efforts are uplifting!
Sheila and Allen Resnick have been living in
North Shore Towers for seven years. When the
vaccines became available, they – like many of
us – had a difficult time securing vaccine appointments,
so their two granddaughters volunteered to
help. Ava and Lily Weinstein, 16 and 15 years old,
respectively, both students at Roslyn High School,
sat by their computers for three days (including
sleepless night hours) and, following a difficult
but ultimately successful search, managed to
secure vaccination appointments for both their
grandparents in the Bronx. “We’re really close to
our grandparents, so helping them out made us
feel good,” the girls said.
The technologically-savvy sisters struggled for
hours to figure out the options, experiencing firsthand
the registration hardships. They realized
that the process of navigating the complex maze
of websites and telephone numbers may be too
challenging for technologically-unsavvy seniors,
those who most need the vaccines. Recognizing
that some seniors do not have children or grandchildren
who can help, they swiftly jumped into
action – determined to fill the void and help out.
“If we could help two people, we can help so
many more.”
Ava and Lily started a service designed to assist
seniors over 65 set up Covid vaccine appointments.
“We want to make it as easy as possible
for those who are eligible to be vaccinated,” they
say. They created a website, posted a telephone
number, and distributed flyers inviting seniors
to contact them. “This pandemic has been scary
and hard for everyone, especially for the elderly
who are at the highest risk,” their flyer states, “the
vaccine now gives us some hope.”
In no time, Ava and Lily compiled long lists
of names of seniors in need of help, the oldest
being 103. The sisters have already secured some
appointments, and are touched by the gratitude
expressed by the fortunate recipients of their acts
of kindness. They tell the story of a WWII veteran
in his 90’s who could not secure a vaccine
appointment on his own. “He served to help keep
us safe. Now he needs help, and it is our responsibility
to help him and others like him,” they say.
A lack of vaccine availability requires Ava and
Lily to create a waitlist: they are taking people’s
names and following all possible avenues to
expedite the process of securing appointments
as soon as appointments become available. The
girls speak to groups of their peers to mobilize
other teenagers to join their effort. They talk to
journalists and appear on local TV stations to
spread their ideas.
In the throes of a major crisis, both human
fragility and the strengths of the human spirit
manifest themselves side-by-side. I asked Sheila
Resnick what inspires her granddaughters to be so
committed to helping others. “We are a cohesive
family,” Sheila told me. “We help each other,
and we help those around us any way we can.”
Actually, the day I talked with Sheila, a blistery
cold winter day, she had just finished cooking a
big pot of chicken soup and put a container by the
door of a neighbor on her floor who “could use
some good home-made soup.” Sheila made it clear
that she is qvelling – proud of her granddaughters’
values and priorities.
The girls’ parents, Lisa and Erik Weinstein,
actively support their daughters’ efforts and help
in any way they can. The sisters, their parents,
and their grandparents currently maintain social
distancing, but look forward to the day they can
meet face-to-face again, “together as a family.”
Well, the family that helps together...
TEEN ANGELS!
Need help making a vaccine
appointment?
Contact Ava and Lily on their special
website:
www.covid19vaccineappointments.com
Or call them at: 516-272-2596
North Shore Towers’ residents Sheila and Allen Resnick are the very proud grandparents
of Ava and Lily Weinstein. And they should be: These two creative teenagers found a way to
help seniors navigate the complexities of scheduling what should be very simple-- scheduling a
Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Nurit Israeli heard about their initiative and was inspired to learn more.
Read below to see what these two remarkable teens have done.
Proud Grandparents Sheila and Allen Resnick
with their granddaughters
Ava and Lily are ready to help!
March 2021 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 3
/www.covid19vaccineappointments.com
/www.covid19vaccineappointments.com
