ZAKA Newsletter

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ZAKA Newsletter NEWSZAK A December 2013/no 27 MEIR GURVITZ Chairman, ZAKA International Board Of Directors RAFAEL AHARONI President, ZAKA, Hong Kong Macau and China YAACOV PERI Science and Technology Minister Former Chief Rabbi LORD JONATHAN SACKS Patron of British Friends of ZAKA YEHUDA MESHI ZAHAV ZAKA VOLUNTEER ZAKA Chairman and Founder DELIVERS HEALTHY BABY ON GRIDLOCKED SNOW- BOUND HIGHWAY To donate: http://www.zaka.org.uk/Donations.asp Dear Friends of ZAKA, Welcome to another edition of NewsZAKA, bringing you up to date with some of the latest activities in the organization. As 2013 comes to a close, we highlight in this newsletter both the domestic and international aspects of ZAKA's work. In November, with the horrific losses brought by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, ZAKA International sent a delegation of highly-trained and experienced volunteers from Israel and the USA. In December, Jerusalem was hit by a major snowstorm that put the capital under siege for five days. Dozens of ZAKA volunteers worked around the clock, offering assistance to snowbound motorists and residents in a massive operation dubbed Angels in White. In an annual survey to rank Israel's favorite entity by TRI Strategic Research ahead of the Sderot Conference on Social Issues, ZAKA tied for second place with Magen David Adom. The Israel Defense Forces came in first place. We are honored to hold such high respect within Israeli society, which acknowledges the integral role ZAKA's 1500 volunteers play in the country's social fabric. Thank you for your generosity. Secure donations can be made via our websites www.zaka.us (dollars); www.zaka.org.uk (sterling) or www.zaka-fr.org (euros). Please forward this e-newsletter to family and friends. Yehuda Meshi-Zahav ZAKA Chairman www.zaka.org.il Main Office: 234 Jaffo St. P.O. Box 36060 Jerusalem 91360 ISRAEL | Tel. 972-2-5015120 | Fax. 972-2-5015121 Email: [email protected] USA: ZAKA International Friends - 11 Broadway, Suite 1070, New York, NY 10004, Phone 212-643-0600, Fax 212-643-0614 / Email: office@ zaka.org.uk France: 20 bis rue Louis Philippe 92200 Neuilly sur Seine | Tel. 01-74-900-600 | Fax. 01-73-049-207 Email: [email protected] England: 233a Golders Green Road London NW11 9ES Registered Charity No. 1099639 | Tel: 020 8458 5391 Email: [email protected] Canada: 99 Burncrest Drive, Toronto, Ontario M5M 2Z6 Email: [email protected] HK, Macao & China c/o The Jewish Community Centre One Robinson Place 70 Robinson Road Mid Levels Hong Kong E-mail [email protected] NEWSZAK A 2 ZAKA VOLUNTEER DELIVERS HEALTHY BABY ON GRIDLOCKED SNOW- BOUND HIGHWAY After the worst snowstorm in decades in the Jerusalem area, the roads to the capital were finally opened to private vehicles, five days after the first snow fell and in time for the morning commute to work. Inching forward along a gridlocked, snowbound highway (route 443)towards Jerusalem, senior ZAKA paramedic Arele Pamp suddenly heard cries for help from the driver of another car. "I ran to the car with my ZAKA emergency medical kit that I carry with me at all times and found a woman in the advanced stages of labor," explains Pamp. "I asked the driver of a nearby station wagon to make room in the back for the woman to give birth. I called the ZAKA hotline to send an ambulance and then, together with a midwife who also happened to be near the scene, we delivered a healthy baby after only a few minutes. It was a very emotional moment for me when I handed the woman her newborn baby. The mother told me that, when they set out this morning onto a clear road, she never imagined that she would give birth to this, her 14th baby, in the back of a car. Thank God, mother and baby are well and healthy." NEWSZAK A 3 OPERATION ANGELS IN WHITE In mid-December, Jerusalem and its environs experienced the worst snowstorms in decades, besieging the city for five days. During that time, hundreds of ZAKA volunteers worked with the emergency forces to offer assistance to stranded motorists and trapped residents in an operation dubbed "Angels in White". In the days prior to the snowstorm, the ZAKA Operations Center in Jerusalem made essential preparations, bringing into the capital ZAKA SUVs and ATVs from all over the country to augment the ZAKA vehicles at the disposal of the volunteers. Snow chains were fitted to regular vehicles and emergency medical kits were replenished. But, despite the advance preparation and the weather forecast, all of the Jerusalem emergency forces were taken by surprise with the severity of the storm. Hundreds of people - men, women and children - were trapped overnight in their cars on routes 1 and NEWSZAK A 4 443 leading into the city. Working with the Israel Police, the Home Front Command, Magen David Adom and other emergency volunteer services, the ZAKA volunteers launched a rescue operation to bring food and drink to the stranded passengers and to slowly move them into emergency centers opened in Jerusalem, Mevasseret Zion and an army camp on route 443. Under the command of ZAKA special operations commander Haim Outmezgin, more than 60 ZAKA SUVs joined in this massive operation. On the following day (Friday), Operation Angels in White moved into its second phase, as the hundreds of people who had been rescued from their snowbound cars had to be returned to their homes in time for Shabbat. Once again, the ZAKA SUVs, ATVs and Jeep Unit were pressed into action to ferry the people back to their homes. In addition, dozens of ZAKA volunteers in SUVs and ATVs operated around the clock, providing emergency first aid , transferring women in labor, people in need of emergency treatment, dialysis patients and more to hospitals, delivering life-saving medication, and much much more. One of many cases to reach the ZAKA operations center was a call from family members concerned for the health and safety of their 82 year old grandmother who lives alone in the Shaarei Hesed neighborhood and was not answering the phone . ZAKA volunteers rushed to the scene , but could not raise an answer through the locked front door. On receiving an order to break down the door, the ZAKA volunteers entered the apartment to find the old woman lying in bed, suffering from hypothermia , with no electricity and or heating. ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi Zahav: "It was a very complex operation. The ZAKA volunteers once again proved their professionalism and dedication under extremely difficult conditions, working to assist people at their time of need. We will always remember the look of relief and smiles that greeted us when we managed to reach people stranded in their homes and cars." NEWSZAK A 5 THANK YOU FROM THE PHILIPPINES Philippine Ambassador to Israel Mr. Generoso search and recovery experts from Israel and D.G. Calonge visited the ZAKA headquarters in the USA spent several days in November in the Jerusalem and participated in the lighting of the Philippines, offering medical and humanitarian Hanuka candles, together with the members aid and assistance in search and recovery efforts of the ZAKA International delegation that had in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. recently returned from a humanitarian mission assisting in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. A United Nations-recognized international After receiving a briefing from the delegation humanitarian volunteer organization, ZAKA about the scope of their work in the islands, the International coordinated its arrival and recovery Ambassador said : "we thank the State of Israel efforts with the International Federation of and ZAKA International for their fast response to the Red Cross, the IDF delegation and other help people affected by the typhoon. Without international humanitarian organizations doubt, your activities helped save many lives." working in the area. Philippine Ambassador to Israel Mr. Generoso D.G. Calonge assisted in A team of ZAKA International paramedics and connecting the ZAKA International delegation NEWSZAK A 6 with the relevant emergency services on the ground in the Philippines. ZAKA International Chief Officer and head of delegation Mati Goldstein, a veteran of major international disasters, brought his experience to bear by helping the local Red Cross re-allocate relief zones from geographical boundaries to those based on priority of care, level of damage, and need of response. Goldstein notes that "the devastation we have seen here, and the amount of individuals and families displaced from their homes, is difficult to bear, and we are doing all that we can to assess the country's needs and ease the burden. A day after we got here, we went to three islands where no rescue operations had been initiated as of yet; we arrived in a broken raft- like boat and tried helping the injured who were in need of assistance." The ZAKA team took boats to outlying islands that had not yet received assistance, assessed the situation on the ground, and, with the help of the local sheriff, established a base of operations and a makeshift morgue. As a member of the United Nations GDACS (Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System), which is a cooperation framework between the U.N., the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide, ZAKA International has access to a database of vast resources, which allows them to improve alerts, information exchanges and coordination in the first phase of a major natural disaster. Zvi Gluck, Chief of Operations of ZAKA International: "As a humanitarian volunteer organization, ZAKA International is always ready to assist those in need, wherever they are in the world and regardless of religion, race or creed.
Recommended publications
  • Have Funneled Millions of Dollars to Hamas
    Case 3:04-cr-00240-P Document 1243 Filed 11/12/2008 Page 1 of 40 IN TI-IE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DlSTRlCT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION m'ITTD STATES OF AMERICA 5 sr NO. 3104-CR-240-P S HOLY LAND FOUNDATION FOR s RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT (1) 5 also kno\vn as the "HLF" 5 Supersedes lndictmenr Returned On SHLWABU BAKER (7 I 5 July 26.2004 MOHAMMAD EL-MEZAIN (3) S GHASSAN ELASHI (4) S HAITHPLM MAGHAW (5) 5 AICRPLM MJSIIAL (6) S MUFID ABDLILQADER (7 ) >5 ABDULRAHIvlAN ODEI-I (8) S INDI CTMEN'T The Grand Jury Charges: INTRODUCTION At all times material herein: 1. The tlarakat al-Muqawamah al-lslamiyya is Arabic for "11e Isla~nicResistance Movement" and is known by the acronym HAMS. HAMAS: which is sometilnes rererred to by its followers as "The Movement," is a terrorist organization based in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (Gaza). HAMAS was founded in 1987 by Sheikh .4hmed Yassin as an outgrolvth of the Palestinian branch of the Musli~nBrotherhood. The Muslirn Brotllerhood is an international Isla~nicorganization founded in Egypt in 1928 Superseding Indictment - Page 1 Case 3:04-cr-00240-P Document 1243 Filed 11/12/2008 Page 2 of 40 and is collllnitted to the globalization of Islam through social engineering and violent jihad (holy war). H.4hV.S' published charter states that WMAS' purpose is to create an Islamic Palestinian state throughout lsrael by eliminating the State of lsrael through violen1 jiltad. 2. HAh4AS acllieves its goals through a militant wing.
    [Show full text]
  • Philippine Ambassador to Israel Visited the ZAKA Headquarters in Jerusalem
    NEWSZAK A Rosh Hashanah Annual Summary FOR OUR ENEMIES, NOWHERE IN ISRAEL IS BEYOND REACH FOR ZAKA, NOWHERE IN ISRAEL IS BEYOND COVER Dear Friends of ZAKA, Welcome to this Rosh Hashanah Summary edition of NewsZAKA, bringing you up to date with the latest ZAKA activity. We are proud to highlight in this newsletter both the domestic and international aspects of ZAKA's work. In August, ZAKA was honoured at a tribute evening for the volunteers who served throughout Operation Protective Edge. The President of Israel, Mr Reuven Rivlin, thanked the ZAKA volunteers for their dedication and selfless work throughout the long, hard days & weeks of the operation. The President said: "As always, ZAKA volunteers are pioneers, leading the pack. We see you at every incident, helping others, saving lives, honouring the dead. Your dedication has become world-renowned. ZAKA and its volunteers are the best example of sharing the burden in Israeli society." Please read on for an in-depth feature of ZAKA’s work during the Gaza conflict as well as a selection of stories – some happy, others sad or serious – all with one common thread: the 1,650 selfless ZAKA Volunteers who give up everything, at a moment’s notice, to help others in their ultimate time of need. Wherever in the world they may be. They happened at different times over the last year and highlight a small section of our activity at ZAKA. ZAKA relies solely on donations from the general public both in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. If you are able to make a donation at this time please visit one of our websites.
    [Show full text]
  • Families Forum a Discussion Guide a Documentary Film Directed By
    The Parent Circle – Families Forum Presents: A Documentary Film Directed by Emmy Award Winner Tor Ben Mayor A Discussion Guide www.theparentscircle.org [email protected] A Note from the Parents Circle – Families Forum Dear Viewer, We are so pleased that you have chosen to screen Two Sided Story. Whether you are watching this film with your class, synagogue, church, mosque, dialogue group or your friends in your own living room, we thank you for joining us in our work to promote reconciliation and understanding of many sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are all familiar with the stories presented by the media. They mostly focus on the events that mark the conflict’s history and on their political repercussions. But, there are other stories that are rarely told. They are the human stories. Two Sided Story immerses you in the conflict in the most personal way. You will join 27 Palestinians and Israelis on a unique journey that began in July 2011. Among the participants are bereaved families, Orthodox Jews and religious Muslims, settlers, former IDF soldiers, ex- security prisoners, citizens of the Gaza Strip, kibbutz members, second-generation Holocaust survivors and non-violent activists. Regardless of your political beliefs, you will be transported by the film’s first-person perspective. You will experience what the participants experienced. You will see the conflict through their eyes, deeply emotional and rooted in mistrust. Understanding comes slowly as Two Sided Story brings Palestinians and Israelis together for their first face-to-face meeting facilitated by the Parents Circle-Families Forum.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 30 Prevention of Lasting Traumatization in Direct and Indirect Victims of Terrorism
    Chapter 30 Prevention of Lasting Traumatization in Direct and Indirect Victims of Terrorism Shannon Nash In the wake of a terrorist attack there is an expectation of trauma after such purposeful and unpredictable violence. The nature of terrorism itself perpetuates fear, paranoia, and anxiety. However, there is immense variability in response to trauma, both immediately and over time. Studies on direct and proximal exposure to attacks, as well as individual response to terrorism and indirect exposure, demonstrate that the impact of terrorist attacks is not limited to those directly affected by it. This chapter reviews the findings of important studies and practical efforts to anticipate and reduce risk factors contributing to lasting traumatization of terrorist victims. Several areas of focus emerge in the literature involving major national traumas, first responders, children, the media, and community support. In addition, it is important to understand the experience of others who have faced such trauma and have built resilience. This includes countries which have faced chronic terrorism and decades of war that have left citizens profoundly affected, psychologically and socially. Important gaps remain in our understanding of lasting traumatization in direct and indirect victims of terrorism. This chapter identifies a variety of flexible responses and mental health strategies which include: support for first responders, promotion of resilience in children, media delivery and consumption, and rapidly adapting community-based initiatives. It is a challenge to rely on hypotheticals in disaster planning, but preparation both before and after an attack occurs contribute toward effective, abiding responses that can be built into permanent infrastructures and public health models.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Jewish Forum Haredim and the Jewish Collective: Engaging with Voices from the Field
    Global Jewish Forum Haredim and the Jewish Collective: Engaging with Voices from the Field Presented by Makom 27 th February, 2012 - 4 Adar I, 5772 For internal educational use only Printed at the Jewish Agency 1 Table of Contents The Back Story • What is Orthodoxy? Samuel C. Heilman and Menachem Friedman, The Haredim in Israel • Zionism and Judaism From The Jewish Political Tradition Volume 1 Authority (2000) • The “Status Quo” and David Ben Gurion From the Jewish Agency for Israel to Agudat Yisrael 19th June, 1947 • Israelis and Religion Professor Michael Rosenak, from The Land of Israel: Its contemporary meaning (1992) • A different approach Jeri Langer, from The Jew in the Modern World (1995) Statistics and Policies • Demographics …………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 • Education ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 • Army ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 • Work ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Israel 5772 – so far • Risking one’s life on the bus ……………………………………………………………………… 10 • A civil war no one wants …………………………………………………………………………. 14 • Statement from Agudath Israel of America ……………………………………………….. 16 • Gender Trouble ………………………………………………………………………………………. 17 • Haredi leaders must speak out against zealots ………………………………………….. 20 • Lessons from Bet Shemesh ………………………………………………………………………. 22 • The remarkable good news about the Haredim …………………………………………. 26 2 Global Jewish Forum A biennial event for deep consideration of the pressing issues of the Jewish People… Moving beyond the communal headlines to examine the deep issues that drive them... International Jewish leaders deliberately not taking decisions, but together deciding to deliberate... Young committed adults sit around the table with institutional leaders, sharing perspectives and gaining understanding. Welcome to the 2 nd Global Jewish Forum. At the inaugural Forum last June the Makom team presented a day that explored the intra-communal challenges of the fight against delegitimation.
    [Show full text]
  • My Voice Is My Weapon: Music, Nationalism, and the Poetics Of
    MY VOICE IS MY WEAPON MY VOICE IS MY WEAPON Music, Nationalism, and the Poetics of Palestinian Resistance David A. McDonald Duke University Press ✹ Durham and London ✹ 2013 © 2013 Duke University Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America on acid- free paper ♾ Cover by Heather Hensley. Interior by Courtney Leigh Baker Typeset in Minion Pro by Tseng Information Systems, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data McDonald, David A., 1976– My voice is my weapon : music, nationalism, and the poetics of Palestinian resistance / David A. McDonald. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-8223-5468-0 (cloth : alk. paper) isbn 978-0-8223-5479-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Palestinian Arabs—Music—History and criticism. 2. Music—Political aspects—Israel. 3. Music—Political aspects—Gaza Strip. 4. Music—Political aspects—West Bank. i. Title. ml3754.5.m33 2013 780.89′9274—dc23 2013012813 For Seamus Patrick McDonald Illustrations viii Note on Transliterations xi Note on Accessing Performance Videos xiii Acknowledgments xvii introduction ✹ 1 chapter 1. Nationalism, Belonging, and the Performativity of Resistance ✹ 17 chapter 2. Poets, Singers, and Songs ✹ 34 Voices in the Resistance Movement (1917–1967) chapter 3. Al- Naksa and the Emergence of Political Song (1967–1987) ✹ 78 chapter 4. The First Intifada and the Generation of Stones (1987–2000) ✹ 116 chapter 5. Revivals and New Arrivals ✹ 144 The al- Aqsa Intifada (2000–2010) CONTENTS chapter 6. “My Songs Can Reach the Whole Nation” ✹ 163 Baladna and Protest Song in Jordan chapter 7. Imprisonment and Exile ✹ 199 Negotiating Power and Resistance in Palestinian Protest Song chapter 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Family Services Update
    L’CHAYIM www.JewishFederationLCC.org Vol. 43, No. 12 n August 2021 / 5781 A message from Alan Isaacs, A message from Barbara Siegel Federation Executive Director & Sherri Zucker, Co-Presidents ay 2022 will mark nearly 15 is reinforced by the frm belief that n behalf of the Federation’s sition and we are embracing the oppor- of some of the most fulfll- the Federation’s leadership is well- Board of Directors and the tunity to search for our next executive Ming years of my professional equipped to continue to advance the Oentire community, we want director. life. It will also signal a time of transi- Federation’s mission. I too will remain to thank Alan Isaacs for providing the We will work closely and consult tion for the Jewish Federation of Lee committed to the continued health and guidance and leadership that has been with The Jewish Federations of North and Charlotte Counties and me. At that welfare of our Federation and our com- so instrumental in our success for al- America throughout the process. A time, I will retire from my position at munity. most 15 years. Alan has informed us search committee has been formed and the Jewish Federation. I deeply appreciate the support that he would like to retire from his po- we have begun the process of fnding Between now and next May, the and guidance that I have received sition as our executive director in May the best executive for our community. Federation board, its leadership – Bar- from Federation leadership and staf, 2022. We know he is looking forward The board will announce our new pro- bara Siegel and Sherri Zucker – and I community members, colleagues and to playing more with his grandson and fessional leader in the coming months.
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19, Information Dissemination, and Social Change
    S O s Sociology Insights p e s n Acce REVIEW ARTICLE COVID-19, Information Dissemination, and Social Change in Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Society Jay Levinson1* and Abraham J Domb2 1The Hebrew University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, USA 2Institute of Drug Research (IDR), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, and Criminology Department, Faculty of Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Abstract COVID-19 has caused profound changes in society. The ultra-orthodox Jewish community, renown for its conservatism, has also been influenced by COVID-19, and its social norms have been changing. Bringing COVID-19 information and instructions to this segment of society meant new understanding and using different methods. Medical response is not only in the clinic and hospital. It must also include bringing behavioral messages to the public. Keywords: COVID-19, Coronavirus, Ultra-orthodox Jewry Introduction and cultural self-censorship, do not challenge pre-conceptions and stereotypes, but act to sustain them. It can also be argued COVID-19 has caused profound changes in society. Standards that negative news coverage of drafting into the Israel Defense of hygiene have changed. Working from home appears to Forces (IDF), a major political issue with the ultra-orthodox, be more than a passing fad. Consumer preferences have is a major contribution to dislike and distrust of the army. increasingly shifted to online shopping. The ultra-orthodox A reciprocal implication is that IDF soldiers have nurtured Jewish community, renown for its conservatism, has also been distrust and dislike for the ultra-orthodox.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion and Traditions >> in Judaism a Short Introduction to Jewish Religious Tradition and Practices
    Religion and Traditions >> in Judaism A short introduction to Jewish religious tradition and practices Written by Barbara Viehmann, translated into English by Anne Boden. Life Stages Birth and circumcision Jewish boys are circumcised eight days after their birth. The act of circumcision (in Hebrew Brit Mila) symbolizes union with God and is based on the Bible passage Genesis 17:10–13. Read this passage from the Bible. The circumcision ceremony is usually accompanied by a big celebration with family and friends. In Jewish tradition, there is no ritual to celebrate the birth of a girl. Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Brit Mila. Photograph: Cheskel Dovid, online: At the age of thirteen, a Jewish boy becomes a Bar Mitzva http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Covenant_of_Abraham.JPG (literally: “son of commandment”, where "commandment" refers to the religious commandments) and must uphold and practice religious laws and duties like an adult. In many congregations it has become common to combine this transition to adulthood with a first reading from the Torah (Aliya la- Torah) in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. The boys prepare for this reading, which is often followed by a celebration. When they are twelve, girls reach the age of the Bat Mitzvah (daughter of commandment). For them too, this means that they must uphold the commandments pertaining to women. However, because women do not play an active role in traditional religious services, in Orthodox communities there is no special celebration for girls. By contrast, in modern congregations, a celebration for girls has been common since the nineteenth century. In liberal Judaism, where women and men have the same rights and duties, Bar and Bat Mitzvah are both celebrated at the age of thirteen with a reading from the Torah.
    [Show full text]
  • Antisemitism: a Persistent Threat to Human Rights a Six-Month Review of Antisemitism’S Global Impact Following the UN’S ‘Historic’ Report
    Antisemitism: A Persistent Threat to Human Rights A Six-Month Review of Antisemitism’s Global Impact following the UN’s ‘Historic’ Report April 2020 Summary In October 2019, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, expressed alarm about a significant increase, since 2017, in reports of hostility, discrimination and violence motivated by antisemitism around the world.1 This report surveys antisemitic incidents that have occurred in the six months since Dr. Shaheed presented his report on the subject of antisemitism to the UN General Assembly. Alarmingly, antisemitic expression and violence appear to have persisted – and even increased – in a number of countries around the world between October and April 2020, notwithstanding efforts by governments and other stakeholders to implement Dr. Shaheed’s recommendations. The cases and trends highlighted in this report reveal that antisemitism remains a phenomenon that impairs the security and the human rights of many Jewish individuals, including the right to manifest their religion, and that it also threatens the rights of members of other minority communities and democratic societies as a whole. Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, in many countries, conspiracy theories claiming that Jews or Israel engineered or are deliberately spreading the virus, as well as age-old antisemitic tropes associating Jews with disease, have been spread in traditional media and online. Occasionally, Jewish people, communities, and institutions have been subjected to antisemitic harassment and threats of violence; in a few cases, antisemitic rhetoric seems to have played an important role in motivating attempted violent attacks against sites and individuals, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
    [Show full text]
  • Hadassah News from Hadassah Medical Organization Winter 2019
    HADASSAH NEWS FROM HADASSAH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION WINTER 2019 Hadassah believes that when we empower women, they can heal the world... A Double Stroke at the Dead Sea (MDA) ambulance team called for a after his catheterization. “Had the teams not helicopter, and Avi was rushed to Hadassah worked quickly—less than an hour from the Hospital Ein Kerem. MDA also contacted stroke to the angiography room--the patient Hadassah's Endovascular Neurosurgery Unit, was likely to die. The patient's rapid recovery headed by Prof. Jose Cohen. from a life-threatening situation is due not least to the high skill level of Prof. Cohen and his The moment the helicopter landed, staff. The speed allowed them to provide Hadassah’s stroke protocol was activated. optimal treatment.” Prof Cohen, together with Dr. Zvika Skagio, performed a cerebral catheterization. "In this And the patient himself? “I remember trying to patient, we found ourselves facing severe talk to my wife in a souvenir shop. First, the blockages in both the left cerebral artery and Zaka volunteer rescue team came and then left carotid artery,” report the doctors. “At the Magen David Adom. Then I woke up at Imagine having a double stroke in two least,” they explain, “these blockages were Hadassah after my life was saved." Avi’s wife, different arteries while on a day trip at the liable to lead to severe disability and serious Inge, who drove to Jerusalem, said, "I arrived Dead Sea! What could be the chances of damage to his quality of life. He could also when he was already in the operating room survival? die.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Traditions Regarding Death & Dying
    JEWISH TRADITIONS REGARDING DEATH & DYING AS PRACTICED AT CONGREGATION SHAARIE TORAH Mourning and Bereavement Funerals Remembrance of the Dead January 2008 To the Members of Congregation Shaarie Torah The text you are about to read was prepared and researched by Cliff Hockley. To Cliff my personal thank you for allowing me as the new Rabbi to infuse this page prior to its publication. Cliff took an enormous amount of time and careful effort in documenting our Jewish Heritage and traditions. The following booklet codifies and discusses the many traditions we have in Judaism regarding illness, death, burial and mourning. From a Jewish perspective each one of these components make up the path, we as Jews follow. As a Kohen (a member of the Tribe of Levi and descendent of the children of Aaron) I am only to attend seven funerals, relatives (father, mother, wife, brother, son, daughter, and sister if she is not married; Code of Jewish Law, Yoreh Dayah, 373:3). Should a Kohen become “impure” by coming in contact with a deceased person, he would be required to follow a seven day cleansing process, including bringing a sacrifice. Since the requirement to offer sacrifices cannot be upheld since we longer have a functioning Temple in Jerusalem, all Kohanim of today are basically impure and would be null and void from ancient rituals. On festivals and holy days we still have the only opportunity to present the Kohen in a symbol of ritual by allowing them the “Blessing of the People”. Having explained the dilemma that any rabbi that is born a Kohen has in officiating congregational funerals, I am making every effort to officiate at funerals and unveilings without coming in contact with the deceased i.e.
    [Show full text]