Dr. Agustin Yigdal Zbar, president of AMIA, the association of Jewish communal services in Argentina, together with Mr. Diego Emilio Salem, Deputy President of Argentina’s Jewish School Federations, recently visited Israel. The purpose of their visit was to rally Israeli government funding for a teachers’ training project in the Jewish communities in Argentina and for development of a new Health Services Division, to be housed in the AMIA Jewish Community building in Buenos Aires.
Recognized worldwide for its expertise in many facets of healthcare, Ezer Mizion is comprised of numerous divisions focusing on varied needs of Israel’s population. These range from mental health to geriatrics, from special needs to servicing the seriously ill. Each division is staffed by top professionals in their field whose knowledge encompasses the forefront of technology and therapeutics.
The Argentina delegation approached Ezer Mizion to learn more about the organization’s broad range of activities and services to benefit patients and their families.
The overseas guests were hosted by Ezer Mizion International Chairman Rabbi Chananya Chollak, Dr. Bracha Zisser, Director of Ezer Mizion’s Cancer Patient Support Services and International Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and Rabbi Shimon Rogoway, head of the Medical Counseling and Advocacy Department.
The tour included Ezer Mizion’s Oranit, a home away from home for cancer patients and their families. Located in Petach Tikvah, near Israel’s major pediatric oncology centers, it spares families from exhausting daily trips for brief treatment sessions. Oranit provides an escape from the world of chemotherapy and aggressive treatments into a haven of comfort, caring and cheer. In addition to the 22 spacious and comfortable suites of the Andrew and Margaret Rosinger Residential Wing , Oranit boasts a cafeteria, an auditorium, a shul (synagogue), the beautifully landscaped Malka Lazarus playground, the Rinat Bakshi Wildlife Pavilion and an extensive program of recreational therapeutic activities at the Donald Berman Rehabilitation Center. In contrast to hospitals, Oranit is a beautiful, happy place where families can relax, enjoy spending time together and benefit from extensive therapy in handling the nightmare that has entered lives – all in an atmosphere of fun and warmth.
The guests were also invited to view Ezer Mizion’s International Jewish Bone Marrow Registry which has, to date, saved almost 3,000 lives around the globe. Many of these are small children whose last chance of survival had been a transplant. Requests for genetic matching come in from all parts of the planet including countless from oncology clinics in Argentina.
Plans are underway for the new Health Division to work in partnership with Ezer Mizion in Israel, via the Division Coordinator, Rebbetzin Malka Hamra, for the purpose of providing medical counseling and guidance to the members of the Argentinian Jewish community.
The tour continued to the homes of the gedolei Yisrael (Jewish sages) , accompanied by Rav Chollak, to obtain their blessing for the delegation’s success. The gedolei Yisrael strongly encouraged the Argentinian representatives, conferring their brochos for the realization of their plans to benefit the Jewish community in Argentina.
