SNEC Newsletter
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A Different Kind of Musical Bridge

Another successful project has just been completed by the Jewish Agency's "Partnership 2000" program for the Afula-Gilboa - SNEC  region, with its effects still reverberating on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.   A delegation of seven young musicians from Kibbutz Yizrael's Music Center in the Gilboa, has just returned from a series of concerts and performances in Hartford, New Haven and Danbury, Connecticut.

From Emek to Haiti with Love

There was never any hesitation or lack of resolve when Israel led the nations of the world in meeting the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.  Among the IDF (Israel Defense Force) medical staff that was rushed there to establish a fully equipped field hospital was Emek’s Dr. Asher Pressman who is a senior Pediatric Surgeon.  Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Pressman (aged 54, married and the father of three) has been with Emek for 22 years and is currently Head of Medical Technology Evaluation in Clalit Health Services Headquarters in Tel Aviv and Head of the Wartime Frontline IDF Emergency Hospital in Kiryat Shmona.  Upon the Israeli medical teams’ return home, Dr. Pressman shared stories of the devastation and human suffering they witnessed as they battled to save hundreds of lives of children and adults.  Dr. Pressman said, “The children’s injuries that we dealt with were not what we normally see in everyday Israel.  The loss of limbs due to the crushing debris was heartbreaking, but we were able to save many children who would have certainly perished.”  A defining moment in his heroic experiences there was when a little girl whose chest was caved in arrived near death and the surgeons were not sure if she could be saved.  After many hours of delicate and painstaking surgery followed by anxious post op moments, the little girl finally opened her eyes and smiled at him.  “It was moments like that that rejuvenated me and the others and we knew how important our being there was.”  Among the memories that they will never forget are how the injured, despite their horrific wounds, lay quietly while under the Israeli attending hands, not screaming or crying despite their pain.  Dr. Pressman returned home with the knowledge that he and his comrades provided an essential humanitarian service, yet with a heavy heart as he ponders the fate of those who survived.

Spotlight on Afula Children's Village

The Afulat Ilit Children’s Village is Hamifal’s largest religious children’s home. It was established in 1980 and is located in a midst green floral landscape.  The Village houses 92 children in 8 family units and 30 local children arrive daily from the town, for special afternoon tutoring program.

Our aims are to rehabilitate our children by providing of a home feeling within each family-unit model. This model is a substitute for the broken biological family, and is vital for the development of the child’s personality, improvement of his self-esteem, and his ability to overcome educational, cultural and social gaps. The family-unit structure enables us to relate to each child individually, and thus help him fulfill his potential, good citizenship and independence – all this in the hope, that in the future he will be able to cope with life.

Sancho & the Militant

It was a day like any other for Emek Medical Center’s Sancho, the medical clown, the Dream Doctor.  He appeared at children’s bedsides, dressed in baggy patched up pants, a flowered shirt with multi-colored flowing scarves, oversized shoes, adorned with bells, whistles, plastic flowers, a fluffy orange feather duster, toy stethoscope and with balloons and chains hanging from his pockets.  On his head he wore a red plastic bowler hat and a large red plastic nose was held in place by an elastic band.  That’s how he looked when he accompanied his long-time oncology friend, M., an eighteen year old girl who had been treated for cancer and later returned with recurring pain.  They walked together into the newly renovated lobby of the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic.

A Neighbor’s Child
On Friday afternoon, the 22nd of August, five-year old Hassan Shgadi was playing outside with his ten-year old brother.  They live in the Palestinian village of Kfar Adja that is adjacent to Jenin.  Both were barefoot when a large yellow scorpion (poisonous and deadly) aggressively attacked their feet.  Both boys were stung, little Hassan in the big toe of his left foot and his big brother on his ankle.  Their anguished cries were heard by their mother and neighbors and they immediately rushed the two brothers to the Jenin Hospital.  Anti-serum was administered to both, but Hassan’s condition quickly deteriorated to where his lungs began to fail and the physicians feared that they were losing him.  Frantic calls were made to the liaison officer on the Israeli side who is responsible for coordinating medical emergencies and getting a patient to an Israeli hospital.  Precious time was ticking by and it was after midnight before the child was transferred from a Palestinian to an Israeli ambulance at the Jenin checkpoint manned by Israeli soldiers.  Focus if you will for just a moment on a close up of that scene … Palestinian hands passing an unconscious and dying child into Israeli hands.

Making a Real Difference in Afula and Gilboa

By Dr. Darla Shaw, Professor of Education, Western Connecticut State University

Partnership 2000 should take great pride in the humanitarian work that is being done in the war torn area of Afula and Gilboa. Through the concentrated efforts of this program , four major projects are bringing a new sense of hope and confidence to people in this area.

Two weeks ago I traveled as an non-funded, Christian with Barbara Levitt  of the Danbury, Connecticut region to take part in the Bonei Gsharim Leadership Development Trip. Since I am a professor of education at Western Connecticut State University and have traveled to many foreign countries on humanitarian projects, I was interested in getting ideas from the Partnership Program and also helping out in any way that I could.

During my three day visit, I constantly found myself in awe of the assistance that I saw being provided by these various ventures that have been funded.  I was very impressed by the leadership and the creativity in each of the projects.  As we went from venue to venue we  met not only  the person in charge, but  volunteers and  the actual people that were receiving the help.  At no time did I feel that money was not being spent wisely.  In fact, on many occasions I only wished we could implement some of these programs in the United States.

One step at a time

I want to share a story with you. I do this to show you certain realities of our every day lives in Israel that you would otherwise not be aware of. I also do this so that you will not lose hope - even in the face of atrocities, existential dangers and blatant evil behavior. One step at a time is how we will get from here to there.

Israel is not the easiest place to live and maintain one's optimism. Fortunately, I represent an institution that re-energizes me every day and allows me the privilege to observe, at eye-level, people making an effort to get along with one another - despite the maelstrom of hate swirling around us.