Q. My elderly father recently moved in with me. Although he has care providers during regular business hours, I am his primary care-giver during the rest of the day. For several years now, I have had a regular skype chavrusa daily (except Shabbos) every evening at 9 PM. Now, while I am learning, my father will call me to get him a drink, take him to the bathroom, etc. and it disrupts my learning. I cannot afford to hire somebody for that 90 minutes while I am learning to look after my father, and I know kibbud av is obviously very important. At the same time, my chavrusa does not have much flexibility in his schedule and cannot learn at another time. I know that to be kove'ah ittim is very important and also having a consistent time each day. What is the best thing to do under the circumstances?
Thank you
A. Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a suggests that you may ask a yeshiva bochur or similar to come and learn in your house at night, while you are skyping with your chavrussa. Babysitting fees are more affordable than care giver charges.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
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