THE CUBA FAMILY ARCHIVES FOR SOUTHERN JEWISH HISTORY AT THE BREMAN MUSEUM
Mss 381, Wittenberg Family Papers
Box 1, File 23
Miscellaneous, 1993 & Undated
ANY REPRODUCTION OF THIS MATERIAL WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE CUBA FAMILY ARCHIVES IS STRICLY PROHIBITED
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At.l~r· THlNKlNG Of YOU AND WlSHlNG YOU WlLFERD A. ALL TH€ JOYS OF A FULL AND HAPPY Ll~' PETERSON a, -pr{p ~ M~ arAf·~ ~~~! THE ART OF BElNG r' lLL USTRAT€D BY ARL€NE: NOEL
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See article" Brit Mi/all - The Big Flap over the Little Flap," page 21. •. Other features include: Medical History Notes ...... 24 Don't Miss It! ...... 2 Fitness in Space/Bible/Talmud ...... 26 X-rated APF Israel Seminar ...... 4 New Board Members ...... 28 Helping Israeli Medicine ...... 7 About Our Members ...... 29 The APF & the IDF ...... 13 Insanity in Jewish Law ...... 30 About Our APF Fellows ...... 14 Nisht Ah in & Nisht A hare ...... 32 Cuba FamilyMedicine Archives in Israel ...... 17 The Annual APF Rip-off ...... 33 "The best tour w e've ever been on, and w e've been on a lot." American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel A couple from the 1992 APF Israel tour/seminar Officers and Board of Trustees *Leonard S. Gottlieb, M.D. Jerome Groopman, M.D. David S. Rosenthal, M.D. President Brookline, MA Newton, MA 1993 APF ISRAEL TOUR/SEMINAR Boston, MA J. Alex Haller, Jr., M.D. Janice G. Rothschild, M.D. October 24 -November 7, 1993 *Kenneth A. Woeber, M.D. Baltimore, MD Newton, MA Vice-President *Richard N. Hirsh, M.D. Arthur H. Rubenstein, M.D. San Francisco, CA Akron, OH Chicago, IL *Norman P. Spack, M.D. • innovative itinerary geared both Mr. Fred Hirt Emanuel Rubin, M.D. INFECTIOUS DISEASES Vice-President Miami Beach, FL Philadelphia, PA Clinical Update for for first-timers and repeat visitors Brookline, MA - including the major cities, the Allen Hyman, M.D. John I. Sandson, M.D. Physicians in All Fields *Robert Y. Pick, M.D. New York, NY Boston, MA Golan Heights and Masada, plus Treasurer unique features such as a jeep ride Newton, MA *Louis A. Izenstein, M.D. *Paul R. Scherer, D.P.M. in the Galilee mountains, camel Springfield, MA San Francisco, CA *Daniel C. Goldfarb ride at a Bedouin village in the Executive Director *Marvin E. Jaffe, M.D. *Louis M. Sherwood, M.D. Negev, and an archeology seminar Jerusalem, Israel Bridgewater, NJ West Point, PA in Jerusalem. *Edward Alexander, M.D. Leo Kaplan, M.D. Louis Siegel, M.D. • a stimulating scientific seminar Newton, MA Los Angeles, CA New Rochelle, NY program, of interest to physicians Mrs. Amalie M. Kass David Silverman, D.O. Scientific Chairman: Harvey Ammerman, M.D. in all fields, providing 15 Category Chevy Chase, MD Lincoln, MA Cherry Hill, NJ Sherwood L. Gorbach, M.D., Raymond G. Slavin, M.D. I CME credit hours. Howard Belzberg, M.D. Howard H. Kaufman, M.D. Professor of Community Health St. Louis, MO Los Angeles, CA Morgantown, WV and Medicine, Tufts University • visits to Israel Defense Forces facilities not normally open to the Marvin D. Berman, M.D. Mrs. Stella Kaufman I. Jerome Sobel, M.D. School of Medicine Ann Arbor, MI Passaic, NJ public. Sharon, MA *Alfred Soffer, M.D. I. Kelman Cohen, M.D. *Charles R. Kleeman, M.D. If we had six repeaters in 1992 from the Santa Monica, CA Glenview, IL The APF tour includes full touring Richmond, VA 1991 APF Israel tour/seminar, we must Norman S. Stearns, M.D. program, conducted by professional Arnold G. Coran, M.D. Isaac Knoll, M.D. be doing something right!!! Newton Center, MA guides of the highest calibre, and Ann Arbor, MI Miami Beach, FL *Jacob J. Steinberg, M.D. SUMMARY SCHEDULE accommodations at the finest 5-star, Marvin I. Dunn, M.D. Albert M. Lefkovits, M.D. New York, NY Bronx, NY & HOTELS deluxe hotels. Mission Hills, KA Michael L. Levin, M.D. Richard M. Stess, D.P.M. Ronald L. Eisenberg, M.D. San Anselmo, CA • Sun., Oct 24 Tiburon, CA Owings Mills, MD Departure from US *Herbert Swarz, M.D. Michael Emmett, M.D. Jack M. Matloff, M.D. Los Angeles, CA Scarsdale, NY • Mon. -Wed., Oct 25-27 Dallas, TX Tiberias - Galei Kinneret Hotel Morton Wittenberg, D.P.M. *Franklin H. Epstein, M.D. Sheldon M. Mintz, D.D.S. West Bloomfield, MI Augusta, GA • Thurs. - Sun., Oct 28-31 Boston, MA Jerusalem - Laromme Hotel Justin J. Wolf-;on, M.D. Israel Feldman, D.0. Robert G. Narins, M.D. Shreveport, LA • Mon. -Tues., Nov 1-2 Miami, FL Grosse Point Park, MI Dead Sea - Nirvana Hotel Jonathan H. Fish, M.D. Lawrence Nessman, D.O. Michael Zoller, M.D. • Wed. - Sat., Nov 3-6 Walnut Creek, CA Wayne, NJ Savannah, GA Tel Aviv - Sheraton Hotel *Stephen Gerzof, M.D. Mitchell T. Rabkin, M.D. *Benjamin Zolov, M.D. • Sun., Nov 7 Newton, MA Boston, MA Portland, ME Return flight to US Harold J. Goldfarb, M.D. Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D. *Executive Committee Allentown, PA Great for Family and Friends, too!! New York, NY The APP NEWS is produced by the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in For information, contact the APP, 2001 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02146, ael, a charitable, non- profit organization. The APP office is at 2001 Beacon Street, (617) 232-5382, fa x (617) 739-261 6. Detail ed brochures with prices w ill be sent out shortl y. Brookline, MA 02146 (Tel. 617-232-5382, Fax 617-739-2616). Cuba2 Family Archives35 FROM THE APF OFFICE A PROUD TRADITION OF HELPING MEDICINE IN ISRAEL Making the Desert Bloom of the Weizmann Institute and Debo The American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel is an rah Rund, M.D., of Hadassah (seep. organization of physicians, health care professionals and others t's inter 7, infra). It's difficult to convey the dedicated to making Israel a world medical center. Founded in 1950, excitement and satisfaction I felt in the APF today has some 6000 members across the U.S. and Canada. I esting how quickly discussing their research projects and their significance in advancing our APF'S MAJOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: • maintenance of the list of American we become physicans and health professionals accustomed knowledge of the basic sciences and • supplemental fellowships for Israeli our understanding of such diseases as physicians doing specialty training ready to work in Israel in case of to things. in the U.S. and Canada. Over 800 emergency. Shortly after malignancy and thalassemia. physicians, including many leaders • awards for excellence to outstand the death of One of the definitions of Zionism of Israel's medical community, ing young physicians at Israel's Edward H . is "making the desert bloom," and have been recipients. four medical schools. Kass, the these young and talented people are • the conduct of professional semi • bringing Israeli nurses to medical late presi really doing that in the medical area. nars in Israel led by experts of centers in the U.S. for short Dr. Leonard S. Gottlieb, dent of the Their research is of the highest stand President world renown and recognized for periods of intensive specialty APF and a ards and quality. When you see that CME credits. training, through the Solomon most distinguished medical professor such work is being done in Jerusalem, • assistance to the Deans of Israel's Hirsh Fund. and researcher, we established a fund Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Haifa, and Beer four medical schools for their • introduction of Israel's first podia in his memory dedicated to support Sheva, it gives you a special feeling of programs and activities. try programs, at Hadassah, Shaare ing significant medical research in pride in them, Israel and the APF. • support of major and significant Zedek and Sheba Hospitals, which Israel. We did this because we were Being with the APF group in Israel medical research projects in Israel have been highly praised. convinced, as was Ed, that a commit in November also gave us a chance to through the Edward H. Kass Fund. • the establishment of the Dr. ment to medical research is an impor meet with the deans of the medical • support for Russian immigrant Manuel M. Glazier Institute of the tant indicator of the quality of medi schools and other leaders of medicine physicians in their first jobs in History of Medicine, with its cine in a given society. Israel needs there. It was inspiring to see how our Israel's health care system. valuable collection of books and assistance in this critical area, not for people felt the unique excitement of museum display, beautifully • support for Israel's trauma pro a lack of desire, but because of its Israel and gratifying to hear the housed at lhe Berman National words of appreciation from many gram through cooperation with the Medical Library, Ein Kerem, geographic isolation, security expen Israel Defense Forces Medical Jerusalem. ditures, and the understandable Israelis for the important work the Corps and the conduct of an limits on governmental and private APF is doing, in its many programs. annual IDF-APF Trauma Sympo • assistance for health programs for support. We also wanted to support Thus, for these reasons, I ask each sium in Israel. Ethiopian immigrants. the work of young and promising of you to maintain your personal medical researchers, rather than the support of the APF and its programs research of established professors. to assist medicine in Israel and to Israel's President Ephraim Katzir called the APF "a modelfor the establishment Those decisions were made not so encourage your colleagues in medi of similar organizations lo help professions in Israel." President Itzhak Navon said long ago, and yet the Kass Award is cine and the biomedical professions that the APF is a "precious adjunct to Israeli medicine and a precious link between as well as your patients and friends to Israel and an important sector of the American Jewish community." During Iraqi today recognized as a prestigious Scud missile attacks on Israel the IDF Surgeon General wrote that the award in Israel. We have already join the APF and to contribute to APF APF's work is "a vital link in the system of providing medical services in invited nominations from the deans activities, such as the Kass Fund. Israel and we much appreciate your efforts." of Israel's four medical schools and Your efforts will help make a very important desert bloom. For its work on behalf of lhe physician and medicine in Israel the APF has from the president of the Weizmann been designated as an allied organization of the American Medical Association. Institute for our third annual grant. I Leonard S. Gottlieb, M.D., M.P.H., is have had the privilege of meeting Professor and Chairman of Pathology at American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel with the two recipients of the Kass Boston University School of Medicine and 2001 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02146 Award-Avner Yayon, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Mallory Institute of Pathology, Tel. (617) 232-5382 •Fax (617) 739-2616 Boston City Hospital. Cuba34 Family Archives3 19921SRAELTOUR/SEMINAR American Physicians Fellowship X-Rated Tour Big For Medicine in Israel Success 2001 Beacon Street Brookline, MA 02146 Tel. (617) 232-5382 he APF's 1992 fall Israel T tour I seminar proved a Application for Membership big success. The group varied broadly, geographically and by I want to help medicine in Israel by becoming a member of the APF. specialties, but blended nicely. Date _____ , 19 __ Due to the size, we had two buses, each with its own excel lent guide. It's worth noting that we had four parent-chil poo1 (Last) (First) (Ml) dren groups, including board member Dr. Ben Zolov, who came himself for the ump Slreet teenth time and brought his two daughters for the third City State Ztp time. The innovations introduced Office Address ______to give adventure were much Slreet Suite Number enjoyed. We jeeped up a mountain in the Galilee near City State Ztp Safed, and hiked into a canyon and then a cave in the Judean 0 Check if you prefer mail sent to your office address. Desert frequented generally by groups from the Nature Socie Telephone:~-~------'-----'------ty. This was followed by a visit Home OH1ce to a bedouin tent and a camel Among the archeology at the national park, Ashkelon. Date of Birth ______ride. The special archeological seminar on the diggings around the Temple Mount was Specialty ______---'------one of the high points of the subspectally, ti any time in Jerusalem. Medical School ______Date _____ Proposed by ______ SIGNATURE ______ Please enclose $65 check for 1993 dues (tax deductible), payable to "APF", and mail, with this application, to: APF, 2001 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02146 The APF is a tax-exempt charitable organization. "Friends, Romans, where's lunch? " 33 Cuba4 Family Archives ISHT AHIN Be NISHT AHAR BUFFALO BILLS TAKE 2 road when he hears "Joe, this is your LICKINGS IN ONE WEEK broker. Your IBM dropped 20 points today." A recent study from Sweden, The Super Bowl was not the only where mobile phones are a big hit, place where Bills from Buffalo took a shows that the stopping distance for licking. Right about that time the APF those talking while driving is any engaged a Boston printer to prepare where from 20-50% longer than for dues bills. He sent the work to Buffa drivers not, depending on drivers' lo for production. The first fumble age and the speed of the vehicle. occurred when the boys there mis placed the postage marks, delaying things a week. But even then we ONE POTATO, TWO 1 weren't over the goal line. Turns out POTATO the glue for the return envelope was The big yellow arch of McDonalds of the NON-STICK variety, meaning is about to grace the Israeli landscape, that many envelopes arrived open and already there's a tempest in the (though fortunately few checks have deep fryer. The company's executives fallen out). Marv Levy, you have our asked to import frozen french fries, sympathy!! claiming that Israeli potatoes are too expensive and use too much oil. The DOES THE JACUZZI Minister of Commerce agreed; the REALLY DELIVER? Minister of Agriculture objected, claiming Israeli potatoes are just as Misgav Ladach, a small Jerusalem good as those from abroad. Even the hospital for women, reports an unu American ambassador got involved, sual study, conducted with 80 wom asking the officials to allow en, on the effects of Jacuzzi during McDonalds to maintain their the early stages of labor. Those taking standards of uniformity. the dip reported a reduction in pain and an acceleration in the labor proc ess, compared to their dry colleagues. NOW THAT'S REALLY Several leading Obs/Gyn specialists MAKING "ALIYA" shook their heads. One said use of the Doran Erel became the first Israeli Jacuzzi is not accepted practice; an to climb Mount Everest, the world's other called it "a gimmick." highest mountain. Doran is from Kibbutz Oren, in the area of Mount '-!'. ... ARE CAR PHONES Carmel known as "little Switzer I ACCIDENT PRONE? land." While mountain climbing is not very common among Israelis, The driver with one hand on the visits to Nepal are, where roughly a wheel and one holding a receiver is thousand arrive at the Israeli embassy becoming a common sight. One won for seder each Passover. ders what this does for auto safety. How's one's concentration on the "Next ti111e we're goi11g Business Class! " l Cuba32 Family Archives5 Drs. Norton Greenberger, Kansas gious obligations, property rights, because he does not understand the City, and Jerry Trier, Boston, gave torts, criminal liability, and marriage significance of legal obligation. lectures that were highly appreciated and divorce. With the loss of Jewish Another applicable principle of by both the APF members and the sovereignty in the year 70 the practi Jewish law here is that to be held Israeli physicians in attendance at the cal relevance of these questions di responsible a person must have acted scientific seminars. We are proud minished, except for the area of mar out of desire, free choice. One "com that the APF continues to provide riage and divorce, though rabbinic pelled" to act by forces beyond his faculty of such high calibre for this scholars still dealt with them. There is control, be they external or internal, is program. no single principle for all matters. The exempt. Of course this cannot become There's no better proof of success classic commentator Rashi (11th a basis for every criminal who yields than satisfied customers, and six of century) summarized it as follows: to darker impulses or desires; there the 1992 participants had been with "he is exempt from mitzvot (religious must be an underlying reason (or us in 1991 as well. One woman obligations) and from punishment; he compulsion) that rendered him una summed it up well - "Xciting, Xhili can neither acquire nor sell." This ble to overcome them. rating and Xhausting, but we loved exemption/ disqualification applies Thus a shoteh is not considered every minute." And we're glad but also about the APF and its pro only in areas in which the person is liable for criminal acts in areas in people learned not only about Israel, grams for Israeli medicine. "We're incompetent and when he is incom which he is incompetent, and at least proud to be part of the APF family," petent. The rabbis even enacted laws according to Maimonides, this applies wrote one physician, who had never to protect the shoteh (e.g., the husband to incompetence whether from insani heard of the APF before a member of an incompetent wife cannot di ty, idiocy or extremely limited intelli urged him to come along. vorce her). gence. Jewish Law would exempt We've already scheduled the 1993 The main reason given for the from punishment one who acted out tour - from October 24 - November 7, exemption/ disqualification of the of an irresistible impulse arising from and we urge all to consider joining shoteh is that he lacks mental compe a mental disease which prevented us. You won't find a better tour of tence, even though he may under him from controlling his behavior or Israel. Just ask those who have been stand his actions. The rabbis realized from wanting to control his behavior. with the APF before. that the essence of legal responsibility This is clearly the exception, not the We want to take this opportunity was not simply an awareness of the rule - a fundamental precept of Juda to thank the R.W. Johnson Pharma facts but the ability to exercise one's ism is that free choice is man's lot and ceutical Research Institute, Smith will in relation to those facts in a he is thus responsible for his actions. APF President Leonard Gottlieb enjoying Kline Beecham, and Marion Merrell rational manner. A second reason Based on chapters 22-27 of Bazak, Y., Bedouin hospitality Dow Inc. for their generous support given is that the shoteh is not subject Criminal Responsibility and Mental Illness of the scientific seminar. to mitsvot (religious commandments), (Hebrew). CONSIDER THE APF IN YOUR LONG-TERM PLANNING Including the APF in one's estate plans: Outside the • assures the continuation of the APF's important work for medicine in Israel; world's lowest • enables a substantial deduction for federal, and generally state, estate taxes. hotel, at the In large estates the savings can be more than half the value of the bequest. Dead Sea . Sample bequest clause: "I give ( dollars) or(_% of the residue of my estate) to the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel, 2001 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02146, for its programs for medicine in Israel." Such acts of tzdakah are much appreciated! Cuba6 Family Archives31 EWISH MEDICAL ETHIC ELPING ISRAELI MEDICIN CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE "SHOTEH" THE EDWARD H. KASS life, treatment which costs some {INSANE/MENTALLY INCOMPETENT) FUND FOR MEDICAL $250,000 per patient. The goals of Dr. Rund's project are RESEARCHINISRAEL to understand better the gene interac [One of our members raised an interesting question, so in a slight departure from the tions that lead to unexpected types of usual matters covered here we address the issue of the criminal responsibility of the he recipient of the second Kass beta-thalassemia by investigating mentally incompetent in Jewish Law. What is remarkable is the sophistication of the Fund grant, for 1992/93, is Deb genotype-phenotype relationships in analysis and considerations raised by Jewish scholars on this difficult issue as far as two T orah Rund, M.D., of the department patients and carriers of the disease thousand years ago.] of hematology, Hadassah University and to use the information obtained Hospital, Jerusalem. Dr. Rund's to improve genetic counseling and here is no single authoritative cems whether the symptoms de research focuses on gene interactions prenatal diagnosis. The special com T definition of mental incapacity I scribed are exclusive or merely indic in beta-thalassemia, a highly preva mittee of the APF Board found Dr. insanity in Jewish Law. The first ative. The strict approach, i.e. only the lent hereditary disease, the study of Rund's proposal particularly worthy source on the matter (Tosefta Trumot) symptoms specified define a shoteh, which presents a model for under because of its high scientific level and is from at least 1800 years ago: was meant to minimize the number standing the molecular basis of genet its applicability to an acute Israeli Who is a shoteh? One who of men so classified, since the shoteh ic diseases and gene function. health problem. goes out alone at night, sleeps in was considered incapable of divorc Dr. Rund is a native New Yorker, the cemetery, tears his clothes ing his wife, which meant such wom who first received an M.S.W. degree and loses what one gives him. en could not remarry. Maimonides, from Yeshiva University's Wurzeiler One who is sometimes de on the other hand, ruled: "Any per School of Social Work and then stud mented, sometimes not - when son who goes mad and becomes ied medicine at the College of Physi he is, he is considered demented confused permanently about some cians and Surgeons, Columbia Uni for all purposes; when healthy, matters, even though he understands versity. She trained in hematology he is considered competent for other matters, is disqualified (as a and oncology at Columbia Presbyteri all purposes. witness) and is considered a shoteh." an Hospital before making aliya in Two third century scholars debat Much scholarly ink was spilled 1987. She is a member of the depart ed about this source. Rav Yochanan debating whether Maimonides' broad ment of hematology at Hadassah and said that any one of these symptoms approach applied to all matters or was recently appointed Senior Lectur sufficed for a determination of incom just to one's status as witness. Some er at the Hebrew University - Hadas petence; Rav Huna, who evidently interpreted Maimonides as referring sah Medical School. considered them temporary, required to "partial" or "specific" insanity, Beta-thalassemia is particularly that the disability be severe and where a person might be considered a common in Mediterannean Basin permanent and thus ruled that the shoteh (and thus legally incompetent) countries and in Israel among Orien four signs are cumulative. He wanted in an area in which his behavior was tal Jews (those from Arab countries), to make clear that bizarre behavior, permanently deranged, but compe especially Kurdish Jews, as well as Dr. Gottlieb presenting Kass Award to like poor judgement and low intelli tent in other areas. Maimonides' Arabs (Christian and Moslem) and Deborah Rund, Jerusalem, November 1992 gence, did not render one a shoteh. It view, that mental incompetence Samaritans (good and other). Some is interesting that as early as the "cannot be easily defined and each 1-3% are carriers, meaning tens of Footnote: Science Watch (December Talmud the rabbis noted the variety, judge must decide regarding what he thousands of people, and the high 1992) cites an article by Avner Yayon, range, gradations and sometimes observes in the case before him," incidence of consanguity in these M.D., Ph.D., of the Weizmann Insti transitory nature of mental illnesses bears a striking resemblance to some groups increases the incidence of tute of Science, who was the first and conditions - including depres of the most modern legal approaches. affected offspring. Sufferers of beta recipient of the Kass Award, as one of sion, epilepsy, retardation, dementia Jewish law deals with the legal thalassemia major require blood the "hottest" papers in biology for and insanity. status of the shoteh and his actions in transfusions every few weeks of their September - October 1992. Another important dispute con- a wide range of areas - ritual, reli- Cuba30 Family Archives7 BOUT OUR MEMBER THE APF AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING MEDICAL [Members are invited to let us know Meetings RESEARCH items of interest about themselves, profes sional or otherwise.] Ronald Schwartz, M.D., an in [Each year the APF makes grants to Israel's four medical schools for their libraries and ternist from Fall River, Massachu their research programs and an award to a young physician nominated by each of the Board member ALEX HALLER, setts, led a dinner meeting at the deans for work worthy of special merit.] M.D., has hardly been bored since Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall stepping down as Chief of Pediatric River in December for Jewish physi GIDEON RECHAVI, M.D. Medicine B at Rambam Medical Surgery at Johns Hopkins, and not cians from the community. APF Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv Center, where he is involved in GI just because he remains Associate Executive Director Daniel Goldfarb University endoscopy and liver transplant fol Medical Director for Emergency was the guest speaker, but the truth is low-up. He is also a clinical lecturer Medical Services for Children for that the best promoters for the APF Gideon Rechavi in internal medicine on the Technion Maryland. He attended the Barcelona were the Schwartz's themselves. Ron is a graduate of medical faculty. Dr. Baruch's research Olympics, where his son, Jacob, III, had never heard of the APF before he the Sackler facul focuses on liver regeneration and the came in 4th in White Water Canoeing and his wife Carol came on the 1992 ty (M.D. 1979) epidemiological and clinical signifi and another son, Fritz, was the coach Israel seminar, but the enthusiasm and has a Ph.D. cance of infection with hepatitis of the Gold Medal American Team. that the trip generated, not only for in Chemical viruses B and C. Professor Michael Alex reports that it took a while to Israel but also for the APF and its Immunology Silvermann, the dean, wrote that "Dr. come down from his "Olympic high," programs was very gratifying. (1982) from the Baruch represents the young genera which is highly understandable. Weizmann Institute. He trained in tion of physicians with a strong incli pediatrics at Hadassah and hematolo nation to academics," and cited him APF Treasurer, ROBERT Y. PICK, gy at Sheba Medical Center, Tel for his research, his teaching, and his M.D., of Boston, recently concluded a Hashomer. He is currently head of excellent clinical care. brief visit to Israel, with his son Benji, hematology on the Sackler faculty where he gave a paper at the First and of pediatric hematology-oncolo OREN ABRAMSON, M.D. International Congress on the Medi gy at Sheba. Dr. Rechavi was cited by Faculty of Health Sciences, colegal Aspects of Work Injuries. Bob Professor Oded Sperling, Dean of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev also took Sack.ler faculty, for his work, Kapo time from a sis's Sarcoma among AIDS Patients: Oren Abramson busy Transmissible Venereal Disease by came to Israel at schedule to Cell Enlargement? age eleven from visit the IDF's Mili Los Angeles. He Carol and Ron Schwartz, Israel, Nov. 1992 YAACOV BARUCH, M.D. is a 1987 gradu tary Medi Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, ate of the Ben cal training Technion, Haifa Gurion Universi center at MEMBER GET-A-MEMBER Ba'ad 10 ty medical facul One of the most frequent comments and to Yaacov Baruch, a ty. He did a year of general practice at we hear from physicians around the attend a graduate of the the community health clinic in the country is: "What you people are meeting of Technion Medi Bedouin village of Rahat, and is now doing is great, but I've never heard the APF's cal School, is a resident in pediatrics at Soroka of the APF." There is nothing like a Israel currently a senior Medical Center and an instructor in good tip from a close friend or col advisory physician in and clinical observation and pediatrics at league. Invite someone you know to committee. deputy head of the medical school. Dr. Abramson join the APF. See page 33. Department of was cited for work he did using Bob Pick and Col. Shmuel Har-Noy, Commander of Ba'ad 10. Cuba8 Family Archives29 NEW BOARD MEMBERS [The following were elected National Trustees in October 1992. The brief sketches sophisticated molecular biological Oklahoma Col here omit many details of their distinguished work. We appreciate their interest in techniques on "The Effect of Perito lege of Medicine. medicine in Israel and their commitment to the APF.] neal Dialysis Fluid on Transcription He is currently and Release of INF by Peritoneal on the Hadassah Macrophages." staff in pediatrics DR. ARNOLD G. CORAN is a contribution, for the support of and infectious graduate of Harvard College and young Israeli physicians while they DAN ENGELHARD, M.D. diseases and a Harvard Medical School. He trained are doing their specialty training in Hebrew University - Hadassah Medi senior lecturer on in surgery and children's surgery at the Unites States, for use back in cal School the medical faculty. Dean Oded the Peter Bent Brigham and Chil Israel. Dr. Nessman is a regular visi Avramsky cited his work in the field dren's Hospitals in Boston and was at tor to Israel, where he has a daughter Dan Engelhard is a graduate of the of infection and immunity in the USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, who has made aliya. He is also a Hebrew University - Hadassah Medi immunocompromised host and re before becoming Professor of Surgery Colonel in the US Army Reserves. cal School. He trained in pediatrics at garding cytomegalovirus (CMV), the and head of pediatric surgery at the Hadassah and then did a fellowship major viral cause of morbidity and University of Michigan Medical DR. JANICE G. ROTHSCHILD is in infectious diseases and clinical mortality following bone marrow School in Ann Arbor, where he is also a graduate of the New York Universi immunology at the University of transplantation. professor of pediatrics. He is on the ty School of Medicine. She trained in editorial board of a number of jour surgery at the New England Medical nals in the field. Center, where she is now on the MAJOR MEDICAL MEETINGS IN ISRAEL surgical staff. She is also Assistant DR. LAWRENCE NESSMAN of Professor of Surgery at Tufts Medical Subjects and locations are listed here. Wayne, New Jersey, certainly has School and Director of Surgical Edu The APF office can help you get further details. earned a place on the APF board. He cation at the Faulkner Hospital. Dr. is active in a large number of Jewish Rothschild is the author of articles in organizations, locally and nationally, surgery and surgical training and Ap 28-May 1 Israel Urological Oct 24- Nov 7 APF ISRAEL and demonstrated his commitment to active in a number of organizations in Society, Eilat. SEMINAR the APF by making a most generous these areas. May 9-13 Heart Research, See page 2 INFECTIOUS DIS Jerusalem. EASES TODAY - June 13-18 Nephrology, Don't Miss It !!! Jerusalem. Oct 24-29 Asthmology, June 20-24 Cornea, Eye Bank Jerusalem. and External Diseas Oct 24-29 Liquid Chromatogra es, Jerusalem. phy, Jerusalem. June 20-25 Youth and Disability, Nov 7-12 Pediatric ENT, Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Jun27-Jull Shock Resuscitation, Nov 8-12 Oncodevelopmental Tel Aviv. Biology /Medicine, Jun 28 - Jul 1 Int'l Dental Confer- Herzliya. ence, Jerusalem. Nov 14-15 Psychosocial Oncolo Sept 5-9 Atherosclerosis, gy, Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Nov 14-19 Clinical Oncology, Oct 19-22 Reproduction Con- Jerusalem. Dr. Arnold G. Coran Dr. Lawrence Nessman Dr. Janice G. Rothschild trnl, je {Last May NASA Scientist Astronaut William E. Thornton, M.D., visited Israel PODIATRY for the rest of us. Kol hakavod. as a guest lecturer of the APF's Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld Fund. Dr. Thornton, who studied The APF thanks Chicago Medical physics and medicine at the University of North Carolina, served in the Air Force before 1992 ISRAEL TOUR SEMINAR Supply and the Langer Biomechan joining NASA in 1967. Dr. Thornton has been aboard two missions - the third flight of ics Group for support of this seminar. tlze Orbiter Challenger for 6 days in 1983 and the Space/ab-3 science mission for a week Lending a Helping Foot in 1985. He has graciously agreed to share with us some medical observations from his experience in space. We are extremely grateful for this and for the friendship Dr. Thorn he 1992 APF tour included a NEW APF PODIATRY POSITIONS ton has shown the APF since his visit.] T group of podiatrists, who con ducted a seminar parallel to that on The APF's podiatry program in gastroenterology, at each of the medi Israel, inititated in 1986, has started ... IN SPACE - must be developed. So far the only cal centers. The program, put togeth establishing roots in the health care "USE IT OR LOSE IT" one that will adequately load leg er by Paul Scherer, DPM, the indefat system there. Sheba Medical Center at muscle and bone, as well as maintain igable chairman of the APF Podiatry Tel Hashomer has recently appointed cardio-respiratory fitness, is a tread he weightlessness of space flight Committee, featured lectures by Fabienne Rottenberg, DPM, to a full mill with a body harness and force produces a number of adapta several leading Israeli orthopedists, time position in the orthopedic/ T generator which pulls the subject tions in the human body, some of including the chief orthopedist of the rehabilitation department. Dr. Rotten against the tread with a load equiva which are incompatible with normal Israeli Dance Companies, and meet berg completed the APF Podiatric lent to body weight. Other simple function back on Earth. For example a ings with Richard Jaffe, DPM, who Surgical Residency Program at Shaare devices can provide the less demand typical astronaut will not be able to heads the podiatry service at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. The walk after 2-3 months in space with ing exercise for the upper body. Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem and position at Tel Hashomer was created out countermeasures. In weightless Thus for long duration in space, Andrew Karpf, DPM, at Ichilov after Richard Schiller, DPM, of San such as a trip to Mars, ness the arms and upper body are an hour a day Hospital in Tel Aviv (see below). Francisco, completed an APF Podia used more than on Earth but at a or more will likely be spent walking The podiatrists added more than try Fellowship there under the direc lower load level, while the legs and or jogging, jeopardizing Dr. Thorn youth to the group. At the Flour Cave tion of Dr. Morris Azaria. ton's record 90-minute jog-around lower body are virtually unused. The in the Judean Desert, when the climb Andrew Karpf, DPM, has been the-earth on the Challenger treadmill. result is a moderate loss of muscle up was a little steep, they extended appointed podiatrist at Ichilov Hospi The information about this bone loss mass and strength in the upper body not only a helping hand, but also put tal in Tel Aviv. Dr. Karpf is responsi with significant, rapid losses of mus in space has relevance to the problem their best feet forward to provide ble for the podiatric care within the of osteoporosis here on Earth. cle and bone from the lower body. footholds in the soft, slippery powder orthopedic department headed by Dr. This means that without appropriate Shmuel Dekel. Dr. Karpf exercise, time in space can result in a completed his second year rapid loss of condition. APF-sponsored residency at Specific exercises may be used to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusa reduce or prevent the undesired lem. He has since married in changes. Aerobic exercises such as Isarel and is the proud father cycling, rowing or jogging can main of two children. tain cardio-respiratory condition. To The APF wishes Ors. Rot prevent loss of muscle and bone, tenberg and Karpf well in force loads are required - up to one their new posihons and half body weight for arms and three thanks them both for helping times body weight (like the foot the APF fulfill the long-term ground forces in jogging) for legs. goal of the Podiatry Program. Since adequate natural exercise is impossible in space, special devices Dr. William and Jennifer Thornton at the The APF podiatrists and their spouses, led by Paul R. national park in Ashkelon Scherer, DPM (at right), visiting Roman ruins near Safed. Cuba26 Family Archives11 RUSSIANS a hospital and time observing, and MENAHAMIAH - A Medical History Museum in the then working, in one of the family Jordan Valley ince 1989, when glastnost clinics of Kupat Holim. She is married S opened the doors of the Soviet and has two children. Union, some 420,000 olim (new immi BORIS YUDKEVITCH is a urolo grants) have arrived in Israel, about gist from Lenin 10% of the country's Jewish popula grad, where he tion. The numbers have dropped studied medicine from the peak of 1990- 65,000 in and trained in 1992. The proportion of physicians surgery and among them seems to have dropped. urology for ten One reason is evidently the reports years, before which have gone back to physicians making aliya. He still there about the difficulties in is married and has two children. Dr. getting licensed and recognized as Yudkevitch has been accepted on the specialists as well as the shortage of staff of the Emek Medical Center of positions for Russian physicians in Kupat Holim in Afula, which under the direction of Dr. Yaakov Zilberg, Israel. ei:ah~miah is a small moslzava (s~ttlement), dating from 1901, between Nonetheless assistance to young has been particularly energetic in trying to help some of these new M Tibenas and Beth Shean. Today it has several thousand residents who capable physicians among these olim work in agriculture and industry. One of the buildings from the beginning of the remains an important national goal colleagues find meaningful profes sional work in Israel. century, where a pharmacist lived and had his shop, is now a museum about for Israel as well as a project of the medicine in the Jordan Valley in the early years of Jewish settlement. Those were APF, and we feel proud and privi difficult days, when disease and Arab marauders were constant threats, and the leged to help those we can begin new Russian footnotes regional doctor and midwife would come by horse and buggy. Today the build careers for positions needed there. • The Israel Cancer Society reports ing houses a display of medical equipment and related exhibits from the period, Profiled here are two new physicians as_well as a medicinal herb garden. The APF Israel seminar group has visited whose initial salary is being paid by that former Russians account for 30% of the cases of cancer in Israel. Most this museum the last two years, getting an insight into the medical problems the the APF. The employing institutions Jewish settlers faced in those days and the way they dealt with them. have undertaken to keep them on common are abdominal and lung after the period of APF support, thus cancers. On the other hand the inci giving them a chance to become dence of cancer of the breast is rela productive and contributing mem tively rare, lower than in western bers of Israel's health care system. countries. MARIA KAGANOV studied at • The high percentage of elderly the Leningrad Pediatric Medical (15% >65) of olim continues to put a Institute and worked for ten years at heavy burden on Israeli hospitals. the Hospital for Infectious Diseases • A study of the Electric Company #3 there. She made aliya to Israel in showed that the consumption of 1990 and passed the exams for her electricity among the Russian immi medical license in 1991. She has been grants is half that of the general pop accepted by Kupat Holirn for its four ulation. Most have the basic applianc mM191~ nmln nuw 7'> I 9 year training program for family es but very few have "luxury appli physicians, which includes both ances" (dishwashers, microwaves, driers, etc). periods of time working as resident in "Pharmactj open 9 to 1, 4 to 7" Cuba12 Family Archives25 MEDICAL HISTORY NOTES THE APF & THE IDF ECHOES OF THE HOLOCAUST problems their children have in com [The APF is unique among American four of these intensive two-day class municating with others, in dealing charitable groups for its close links with es in 1990; more than 25 (over 600 Fifty years later with feelings of depression, and in the Israel Defense Forces and particularly physicians) in 1992, providing trauma The New York Times reported on raising their own children. The re the Medical Corps. This began when the skills helpful both in the field and in several studies of Holocaust survi search, conducted in Jerusalem after APF was asked to maintain the register of the ER or office. vors. One ascribes notable adaptabili careful identification of the test group physicians and nurses ready to come to In addition the IDF has developed ty, initiative and tenacity to many of and the use of a control group, indi Israel in time of emergency and was a "super" 4-day course - Combat them - traits which helped them not cates the strong influence of the par extended in 1990 with our agreement to Trauma Life Support (CTLS), which only to endure the years of semi ent's trauma, even decades later, on support the work of the Medical Corps in supplements the ATLS course with starvation, the death of loved ones the personality of the children and developing Israel's trauma program.] more neck, eye and vascular trauma, and constant terror, but also to suc supports the finding of a study by the crush injury, and more skill stations ceed in America afterwards. Holo Israel Defense Forces that children of a'ad 10 is the IDF's School of and video assessment. Over 200 caust survivors in America have had Holocaust survivors recover more B Military Medicine near Tel physicians, training as Medical Corps remarkably stable marriages and a slowly from shell shock. Aviv, and a number of important pro officers, took the CTLS course in 1992. virtual absence of criminality, and grams are centered there. The largest The numbers here, over 800 physi while they were generally less well is medics training, combining realistic cians receiving trauma training a year educated than native-born American field simulations and exciting uses of (plus two courses for Russian immi Jews, their careers were more success Koroth technology the IDF has developed. grant doctors), are impressive by any ful and they were more likely to do The IDF also trains its physician national standard, and particularly so A Journal devoted to the History volunteer community work. Yet officers there, which includes most of in view of the limited and old physi others maintain that social success is of Medicine and Science Pub the young doctors in the country. cal facilities of the base (most of the not a sign of psychological adjust lished by the Hebrew University The work load at Ba' ad 10 has buildings were built to house British ment. Many report nightmares, fear, and the Glazier Institute of the increased markedly with the Medical Mandate soldiers' families in the anxiety, and depression, and some Corps' assumption of the country's 1920s). Test results indicate a sharp History of Medicine. research has found biochemical trauma program. In 1990 it began rise in trauma care knowledge and changes in the survivors consistent running ATLS (Advanced Trauma skills, and the IDF people believe the with post-traumatic stress syndrome, Koroth is supported by the APF. Life Support) classes, accredited by results are being felt in practice too. even half a century later. It includes a number of original the American College of Surgeons, The APF salutes the Medical Corps Researchers from Israel and Cana one of the few countries outside the for its outstanding work and pledges articles of medical history and da claim that Holocaust survivors, US where this is done. There were to keep providing it assistance. who are now in their SO's and older, Jewish medical history. The have greater health problems, physi APF salutes Koroth's editors, cal and mental, and that the aware Professor Joshua Leibowitz and ness of this can be helpful to physi Professor Shmuel Kottek, for cians treating them. The survivors APF Seminar tend to have a higher rate of illness the oustanding issue, Vol 9, No. group watching and more difficulty in coping with 11-12, which appeared recent demonstration of serious disease, like cancer. ly. Anyone interested in obtain medic training at Ba'ad 10, Among the Second Generation ing current or back issues can Nov. 1992 Another recent study concluded inquire from the APF office, that the more survivors suffered at 617-232-5382. the hands of the Nazis, the greater the Cuba24 Family Archives13 ABOUT OUR APF FELLOWS [The APF traditionally gives supplementary grants to Israeli physicians doing specialty training in the US and Canada who are sponsored by their Israeli employers and show above authors agree that recovery noncircumcision ($139.26), but that financial need and a commitment to return to Israel. In 1992 the APF helped more than from behavioral effects is completed over a simulated 85-year life expect sixty such physicians. The following are currently in the first year of their APF fellow within 24 hours) lead many to feel ancy, circumcision adds 10.2 days of ships. APF members who live in the communities where these young Israeli that the benefits and risks of the "quality-adjusted survival." Gai vais!! physicians are training are urged to contact them and show them hospitality.] anesthesia are not justified. That works out to $2.50 per day, Interestingly enough, according to which is about as good a bargain as GABRIEL ALJADEFF of Social Welfare, Brandeis Universi Jewish law, anesthesia is permitted you can find these days. However Born in Argenti ty, Waltham, MA. and generally used in the case of these studies evidently did not take na, M.D.,Hebrew adults. It is not customarily used for into account the other costs associat University - JUAN CARLOS COZAKOV the eight day old, though since long ed with machen a bris. No self-respect Hadassah Medi Born in Argenti before DPNBs (dorsal penile nerve ing kosher caterer will sculpt a life cal School; de na, M.D., Rosario blocks) Jews have routinely given the size likeness of the newborn from partment of School of Medi baby a little sweet wine (often in a chopped liver for $102!! Le'chaim! pediatrics, Sheba cine; department wad of spongy gauze), and anyone Medical Center, of surgery, Re who's been to a few brises (britot) can 1. Some lay opponents of circumcision, Tel Hashomer. Fellow in pediatric becca Sieff Gov attest to the fact that the subject of in particular, are clearly anti-Semitic. One pulmonolgy at the Childrens Hospi ernment Hospi- this "violent surgical invasion" is anti-circumcision book from 1979 was distributed in the US by Noontide Press tal, Los Angeles, with Dr. Arnold ..1! tal, Safed. Re- usually fast asleep even before the of Torrance, CA, which distributes Nazi Platzker. search Fellow in Vascular Surgery, guests make it to the chopped her propaganda and is connected with the Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix, ring. This practice confirms the rec Institute for Historical Review, the major ILANBAR with Dr. Edward Diethrich. ommendations of several recent ar organization in the movement for the M.D., University ticles advocating sucrose as an anal denial of the Holocaust. This is nothing of Genoa; depart ORONEILAM gesic during newborn circumcision. new. In 1872 a leading German pediatric ment of cardio M.D., Hebrew journal stated: "The (discussion) of the thoracic surgery, University - THE ECONOMIC FACTOR circumcision of Jewish children has not Shaare Zedek Hadassah Medi As in every medical subject these been free of fanatic anti-Semitism." The author of "Circumcision - a Barbarous Medical Center, cal School; de days the economic side is becoming a and Unnecessary Mutilation" in a 1920 Jerusalem. Fel partment of more dominant factor. A 1985 study British Medical Journal wrote: "This injuri low in thoracic rheumatology, estimated that the procedure costs ous procedure ... we owe to the Jews, and surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, To Rambam Medi $51M to $200M annually (the gap of we have nothing to thank them for (it)." ronto, with Dr. Melvyn Goldberg. cal Center, Haifa. $149M is probably attributable to Fellow in rheumatology, Indiana catering fees - editor). Some predict 2. Foreskin rights appear to be a new EHUD CANTOR University School of Medicine, Indi that the rate of circumcision will drop focus for militants. One author of this article is active in NOCIRC, the National M.D., Sackler anapolis, with Dr. Kenneth Brandt. since some third-party payers have Organization of Circumcision Information Medical School stopped paying for it as an elective Resource Centers, and reports on "sup of Tel Aviv ASHER ELHAYANY procedure. port groups such as RECAP (RECover a University; Born in Morocco; M.D., Faculty for One 1991 cost-effectiveness study Penis) and an information network, trained in sur Health Sciences, Ben Gurion Univer concluded that "the net discounted UNCIRC." (See also page 27, note 2.) In gery and urolo sity of the Negev; certified in family lifetime cost of circumcision is $102" the same issue the Journal of Nurse gy; Deputy medicine; Deputy Medical Director, and the "net discounted lifetime Midwifery also ran an excellent, balanced Medical Director, Kupat Holim in the Negev. In the health cost is 14 hours of healthy life." article on circumcision, by Ilene Gelbaum, Central Emek Hospital, Afula. In Middle East Educational Fellowship Another found that the expected CNM. Master in Management of Human Program at the Kennedy School of lifetime cost of routine circumcision Services program at the Heller School Government, Harvard University. ($164.61) is $25.35 more than for Cuba14 Family Archives23 the low incidence of spouses' cancer parental decisions on the matter. MICHAEL GLIKSON Tel Hashomer. Fellow in clinical of the cervix. Nonetheless the majority of evi M.D., Hebrew pharmacology at the University of Opposition to routine circumci dence since has supported the view University - California, San Francisco, with Dr. sion became vocal in the late 1960's, that newborn circumcision has signif Hadassah Medi Neal Benowitz. with claims that through proper icant preventive health benefits, as cal School; de education in hygiene for the uncir mentioned supra, as well as prevent partment of DAN MIRON cumcized the same advantages could ing penile and urinary tract infections cardiology, M.D., Technion be achieved, without the risks and and perhaps even helping in the fight Sheba Medical Faculty of Medi trauma of surgery. In 1975 the Com against AIDS. Accordingly in 1989 the Center, Tel cine, Haifa; mittee on the Fetus and Newborn of American Academy of Pediatrics Hashomer. Fellow in cardiology, department of the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its previous negative stance, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, pediatrics, Cen concluded that "there is no absolute concluding that "newborn circumci with Dr. Stephen Hammill. tral Emek Hospi medical indication for the routine sion has potential medical benefits tal, Afula. Fellow circumcision of the newborn." The and advantages as well as disadvan MORDECHAI GUTMAN in pediatric American College of Obstetricians tages and risks." M.D., Sackler Medical School of Tel infectious diseases, Rhode Island and Gynecologists endorsed the AAP Of course, whether done by a Aviv University; department of sur Hospital, Providence, with Dr. position in 1978. The rate of routine physician or a molzel (a Jewish ritual gery, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv Medi Georges Peter. circumcision in the US has apparently circumcizer), circumcision should be cal Center. Research Fellow in cellular dropped, to between 50-70% (most performed only on a healthy infant biology, MD Anderson Cancer Cent AMIRAMNIR agree the data on circumcision is not and under properly sterile conditions. er, Houston, with Dr. Isaiah Fidler. M.D., Technion reliable), though some claim that Faculty of Medi social and cultural reasons are more THE QUESTION OF ANESTHESIA EPHRAT LEVY-LAHAD cine, Haifa; prominent than medical ones in A more recent controversy is M.D., Hebrew department of whether routine circumcision of the University - pediatrics, Car newborn should be done with an Hadassah Medi mel Hospital, FEMALE CIRCUMCISION esthesia. Here, too, the tones of the cal School; de Haifa. Fellow in Female circumcision is also an debate seem unnecessarily shrill. The partment of pediatric cardiol ancient phenomenon and wide authors of a major article in 1988, internal medi ogy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minne spread even today, in Africa, Asia advocating the local administration of cine, Shaare sota, with Dr. David Driscoll. and Australia. In some countries in lidocaine, assert "we owe it to our Zedek Medical Africa the majority of women are circumcised. These procedures, in children to perform circumcisions as Center, Jerusalem. Fellow in medical ALEXANDER SAGIE which the clitoris is removed, are humanely as possible," and reason genetics, University of Washington M.D., Hebrew done under unsterile conditions, and that if current ethical guidelines School of Medicine, Seattle, with Dr. University - the complications - especially bleed forbid surgery on research animals George Stamatoyannopoulos. Hadassah ing, urinary tract infection, shock and without anesthesia, "are we not mor Medical School; septicemia - are frequent. Western ally obligated to do the same for the HAIMMAYAN department of countries have begun taking action young of our human species?" (This M.D., Sackler cardiology, against such procedures - a French same JAMA article calls for "educa Medical School Beilinson court recently sentenced a Namibian tional efforts to reduce the rate of of Tel Aviv Medical Center, woman to a year in jail for circumcising her daughters and a nonritual newborn circumcisions," University; Petach Tikvah. Fellow in cardiology professional mohelet for the African which shows the bias of the authors.) department of at the Massachusetts General community there received a five-year Others differ. The speed of the internal Hospital, Boston, with Dr. Arthur sentence. procedure and the relatively minor medicine, Sheba Weyman. reactions of the infant to it (even the Medical Center, Cuba22 Family Archives15 RIT MILAH - CIRCUMCISIO YAAKOV SHAULY YOSEFUZIEL The Big Flap over the Little Flap M.D., Sacl Professor Amiram Eldor of the COLLAPSE OF THE elected last summer, Ors. Yoram Less Department of Hematology at Hadas MEDICAL SYSTEM: and Gonen Segev. Our apologies for sah (an APF fellow during training in inadvertently omitting EPHRAIM the US 13 years ago), who is in charge What else is nu? SNEH, M.D., of the Labor Party, The medicinal leech, of the "leech project," says that the who, like the other two, is serving his Hirudo medicinal is. medicinal leech contains anti-hemo ach NEWS we review the crisis first term. Dr. Sneh is a graduate of static and anti-inflammatory agents, E in the health care system and the Sackler Medical School of Tel as well as vasodilators. What is par the proposals to reform it. It's hard to Aviv University, certified in internal DRACULA, M.D. ticularly interesting is that the leech point to much progress since the last medicine, and was a fellow in allergy evidently emits some of these in its report. The Histadrut's General Sick and clinical immunology at the Wal in hadash tachat ha shemesh - saliva so that a wound continues to Fund, Kupat Halim , which covers over ter Reed Army Medical Center in E there's nothing new under the bleed for 24 hours after the leech has 70% of the population and runs the Washington. Dr. Sneh began his sun, Ecclesiastes tells us, and that stopped feeding. largest network of primary care clin military career as a medical officer in applies to medicine, too. At Hadassah Thus the leech has been used by ics and the the second largest hospital the paratroopers, was commander of Medical Center in Jerusalem patients the plastic surgeons to drain skin system (after the Government), is the medical teams in the Entebbe are being treated with, among other flaps after surgery or congested near financial collapse. The Histadrut Rescue Operation, and held a number things, leeches. organs, after digit transplantation or had hoped that the new Government of senior medical positions in the IDF. Bloodletting was reported among repair of a severed ear. Application of led by its patron, the Labor Party, He also served as head of the Civilian the ancient Greeks, and the Chinese the leech every 24 hours allowed the would bail it out of its annual deficit Administration of the West Bank and used leeches for this purpose a thou area to drain until the venules of over $100,000,000 and its accumu retired from the IDF in 1988 with the sand years ago. In the nineteenth regenerate. lated debt of a billion dollars, but the rank of Brigadier General. century leeching became extremely In an apparently original step the Minister of Health, Haim Ramon, has popular, and trading in medicinal Hadassah team is using leeches for been insisting on reforms in the sys The new Dean of the Hebrew leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) flour treating peripheral vascular disease. tem which include loosening the University - Hadassah Medical ished. The medical profession Some thirty patients come once a control of the Histadrut over Kupat School is PROFESSOR ODED stopped the practice by the tum of month for two hours with 10-15 Halim and allowing free transfer by ABRAMSKY, a native of Jerusalem the century, but the use of leeches by leeches on the swollen leg, which members among the sick funds. The and graduate of the Jerusalem faculty barbers and others continued to be then remains bandaged for 24 hours. Government recently endorsed his himself (M.D., 1969). He did graduate common in many places. Even today, Prof. Eldor reports improved circula National Health Insurance bill, but work in immunology and neuroim physicians coming to Israel from the tion and color and the patients say Knesset adoption will not be speedy munology, earning his doctorate from ex-Soviet Union, where there is a the leg feels lighter. For these various or simple. The issues involve much the Hebrew University- Hadassah severe shortage of modem anticoagu uses Hadassah imports 250 leeches a more than health and medical care. Medical School in 1976. He then did lant drugs, report that leeches are month (at about $3.50 apiece). The guess here is that there will be used in the treatment of glaucoma Along with Miriam Orevi and more aspirins, bandaids, and infu and hypertension. Prof. Meir Rigbi of the Hebrew Uni sions of public cash, and we won't versity's Department of Life Sciences, need to make many changes in the Prof. Eldor is studying other potential .. text to update this report next year. beneficial antithrombotic compounds in the leech. He says there are already compounds in use based on anticoag PROFILES ulants from other hematophagous (bloodsucking) animals, e.g. ticks and In our APF NEWS UPDATE last vampire bats. fall we reported on two physicians Professor Amiram Eldor, Department of among Members of Israel's Knesset Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center Cuba20 Family Archives17 advanced postgraduate work in (1980-84, 87-92) and Director General • 300 of Israel's 40,000 Ethiopian the Weizmann Institute of Science is neuroimmunology, as a visiting of the Ministry of Health (1984-86) immigrants have tested positive for being used to develop cell immuniza associate professor at the University and Professor of Medicine at Tel the HIV virus, which is much higher tion against certain types of cancer of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Aviv's Sackler Medical School. than the rate of the rest of the popula (breast and large intestine, in the first (1976-78). Dr. Abramsky was appoint We wish both of these outstanding tion. The Ministry of Health has stage). The goal of the project is to ed Professor of Neurology at the physicians much success in their begun a special AIDS education fortify T-type blood cells through medical school in 1982 and Head, important new positions. program among the Ethiopians. genetic engineering, so that they will Department of Neurology, at the • The Ministry's general AIDS identify and destroy cancer cells. Hadassah University Hospital in information program has expanded, • Researchers from Wolfson 1988. Professor Abramsky also served AIDS including television spots and bill Hospital in Holon found that a sizea until recently as the Chief Scientist of boards. ble number of teenage girls suffer Israel's Ministry of Health. from iron deficiency. The incidence was related to diet and more common Another facing a formidable chal Random Developments: among girls from lower-class fami lenge is DAN MICHAELI, M.D., the [The matters noted here are just a few lies. Girls who received iron treat new chairman of the board of direc of the many taking place in Israeli ments felt better, concentrated better tors of the Histadrut's Sick Fund medicine today.] in their studies and reported less (Kupat Holim). Dr. Michaeli served in fatigue. the Youth Battalion of the Haganah, • A new drug intended to inhibit • Orthopedists at Jerusalem's during the War of Independence, and the influence of sex hormones on Shaare Zedek Hospital have devel graduated from the Hebrew Universi metastasis in prostate cancer is being oped a new technique for arthoro ty - Hadassah Medical School. After clinically tested in Israel. With the scopic correction of the knee joint. internship he served in the Israel drug currently used (a derivative of The technique reduces the length of Defense Forces Medical Corps, from the hormone GNRH), there is actually the incision needed from 20cm to 1958 to 1979, seeing action in 1967 a temporary rise in the secretion of 7cm. The smaller incision lessens and 1973, and serving as Surgeon such hormones at the beginning of bleeding, allows quicker recovery General (1975-79). During this period "AIDS - What You Should Know" treatment. Israel was selected because (stepping on the operated leg within from Ministry of Health brochure of its expertise on GNRH. 24 hours) and shortens the hospital • In a related area research from stay following the surgery. Israel continues to have an AIDS problem of much smaller proportions Board member Michael Levin, than the US and other Wes tern coun M.D., (left) with Lisa tries, but unfortunately it's "catching Rosenblatt, M.S. W., member up." We reviewed the ethical ques Avi Rosenblatt, M.D., and tions involved in the last NEWS and Gerald Hofkin, M.D., at the the data in the recent UPDATE. Here joint meeting of the APF and are some recent points: Sinai Hospital Medical Staff, • The Knesset enacted a law Baltimore. The Rosenblatts, both of whom have been very providing a lump sum of 250,000NIS active for the American Dr. Michaeli also trained in infectious (about $90,000) for each of 85 he Association for Ethiopian diseases, including two years at the mopheliacs who contracted AIDS Jews and who helped out Tufts-New England Medical Center from blood transfusions given a during the May 1991 airlift, as an APF fellow. Since leaving the number of years back, before the use were the featured speakers. IDF he has served as Director Gener of effective testing for HIV of all al, Sourasky-Tel Aviv Medical Center blood donations. Cuba18 Family Archives19 ,.CBI EQUIFAX Compliments of ... CBI COLLECTIONS DIVISION OF THE CREDIT BUREAU, INC. OF GEORGIA 102 LeCOMPTE AVE. I NORTH AUGUSTA, SC 29841 P. 0. BOX 1117 I AUGUSTA, GA 30903 PHONE (803) 279-6490 ' I II ( /~f.3J ;z. 7(,. Co-7 /fl· t' (. -:/& 0 0 (., Cuba Family Archives ------ Cuba Family Archives Cuba Family Archives Cuba Family Archives ____ 1111111 ( I/' ,1,__, 1 4 ( 4-- .)"' ?or tl ~ ~ .. -IA,..) >t;~ ~~-~------~JQ rn ~ Cuba'------~ Family Archives Cuba Family Archives Cuba Family Archives Cuba Family Archives Cuba Family Archives ""tfy n£xt appointm£nt i~ vn ______,at _____a' do~k with !b't. <1;1/if[iam di-. Cope rPo,f i~hii.t - '3oot .Su.,9£on 1026 S. Washington Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Lincoln 1-4311 Cuba Family Archives CBI ~-- . EQUIFA~ltrr-1:::; Co mplim ents of ... ~ CBI COLLECTIONS DIVISION OF THE CREDIT BUREAU, INC. OF GEORGIA 102 LeCOMPTE AVE. I NORTH AUGUSTA, SC 29841 P. 0. BOX 1117 I AUGUSTA, GA 30903 PHONE (803) 279-6490 I ! / Cuba Family Archives The Credit Bureau, Inc. • An Equifax Company 0 Form 9017-12·82 U S A CBI EQUIFAX Compliments of ... CBI COLLECTIONS DIVISION OF THE CREDIT BUREAU, INC. OF GEORGIA 102 LeCOMPTE AVE. I NORTH AUGUSTA, SC 29841 P. 0. BOX 1117 I AUGUSTA, GA 30903 PHONE (803) 279-6490 Cuba Family Archives The Credit Bureau, Inc. • An Equifax Company 0 Form 9017- 12-82 US A