Antwerp Bikur Cholim The Help Centre for Jewish Patients and their Families In Association with the existing Social Welfare Organisations in Antwerp
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A.B.C. is a Help Center that coordinates Bikur Cholim Services for the Patient who is experiencing illness, or is elderly or infirm.
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A.B.C. Services include: Bikur Cholim Visits A.B.C. coordinates home and hospital visits to Patients. This popular service is made possible by our dedicated team of devoted and empathetic multi-lingual volunteers. In extenuating circumstances A.B.C. endeavour to provide rooming-in company to be at a Patient’s bedside in hospital at night.
Patient Companion At the Patient’s request, A.B.C. volunteers will accompany patients to medical appointments.
Senior Care A.B.C. offers a telephone monitoring and home visits service to the aged and lonely, to monitor their welfare and check on the person’s safety.
Personal Alarm System A.B.C. oversees the application and installation of a unique Personal Alarm System, which is suitably adapted in consideration with the needs of the Jewish community. This entails a unique response plan for Shabbos and Yom Tov when locating relatives or key holders is often problematic.
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Medical Referrals At the request of Patient’s family, A.B.C. will refer medical files to the specialist(s) in the appropriate field of expertise for a second opinion, in coordination with the local GP’s and with the help of the local experienced community activists. Translation of medical dossiers is also arranged, where necessary.
Diagnosis Quandary If Patients are in need of a diagnosis, A.B.C. confidentially provides referrals to medical consultants and leading specialists in reputable medical centres, for a range of general non-urgent medical disorders, ailments, elective surgery, natural health and alternative therapies.
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A B C P U B L I C AT I O N
Local Transportation A.B.C. assists with Patient transportation to Antwerp neighbouring hospitals such as Wilrijk, Edegem, Mortsel and Braschaat.
Outlying Transportation In cooperation and accordance with the admirable organisation ‘Rechev’ (hospital shuttle service), A.B.C. will attempt to supplement their service when necessary, and upon request assist in transportation to out-of-town hospitals (Brussels, Leuven, Aalst, Jette, etc.)
Nourishing Meals A.B.C. will attempt to supplement the marvellous organisations ‘Shifru & Piyu’ and similar services where necessary, supplying the patient (and companion) with hot and cold nutritious meals.
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Bikur Cholim Rooms A.B.C. oversees the management and weekly replenishing of essential supplies for the patient and their family in the Bikur Cholim Rooms at Middelheim and Eeuwfeest Kliniek Hospitals. A.B.C. is in the process of negotiations with other hospitals that service the local Jewish community for further Bikur Cholim rooms and kosher facilities.
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Audio-Visual and Recreation Library A.B.C. provides therapeutic recreation and entertainment for Patients. A.B.C. has a book and audio-visual library, containing Jewish reading material, music, DVD’s, audio-visual equipment, games and toys. Donations or sponsorship is welcome for these popular and most appreciated items to a Patient who is home or hospital-bound.
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Mobility Aids and a range of Medical Equipment A.B.C. oversees the supply of mobility aids, medical equipment and materials; wheelchairs, bedside ventilators, etc., in cooperation with Mutualiteit Uitleendiensten, and communitybased medical equipment libraries.
Expatriates Welcome Patients and accompanying family from overseas who have come to Belgium for medical reasons are welcomed at the airport, taken to lodgings arranged by A.B.C., and supplied with local medical help and many practical amenities to ease their stay.
Global Reach A.B.C. liaises with similar Jewish Health Services abroad to expand capabilities in serving the community with broader services and facilitate Patient transfers abroad where necessary.
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Sensitivity Training A.B.C. are initiating a training program and compiling a guidance booklet to attune medical health providers to the unique cultural and religious requirements of the Jewish Patient.
Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services A.B.C. takes care of the sometimes overlooked but much appreciated religious requirements of the Jewish patient. A.B.C. can arrange; electric Shabbos candles (which is the requirement in a hospital); a yahrzeit minyan for the housebound; pre-packed water for fasting on Yom Kippur; and in cooperation with Kehilas Machsike Hadass, Shofar blowing and Megilla reading for the home and hospital-bound.
Consultation with Wetenschappelijk Instituut Volksgezondheid concerning Measles Epidemic Control
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Health Protection Alerts and Task Force In conjunction with the federal health agency, ‘Vlaams Agentschap Zorg en Gezondheid’, A.B.C. provides infectious disease prevention alerts and communitywide vaccination programmes.
Feedback & Suggestions A.B.C. exists to service the needs of the Patient and their families; our mission is to offer the best possible Bikur Cholim Services. We can improve A.B.C. Services with your helpful feedback; constructive criticism and suggestions. Please contact Client Services at: Tel: 0.32.33.34.34 Email: ABCfeedback@antwerpen.be
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An Invitation
to join Antwerp’s Bikur Cholim
בס”ד
ochure, tient Services Br Pa st fir r ou , is n of th Service The publicatio Bikur Cholim s p’ er w nt A of months marks twenty . in Belgium has בעזהי"ת r ’07, A.B.C. be em ed ec D in n io and personalis Since its incept a confidential ng ri fe nt of tie r fo Pa n h tatio the Jewis earned a repu ts the needs of ee m at th e ic Serv Bikur Cholim es. ili m fa r ei and th our dedicated are indebted to lim ho C ur ik hours of day B Antwerp’s eir time at all th of y gl in ill ble give so w e to the honora volunteers who ess to date is du cc unsel su co .’s r ei .C th .B d contribute and night. A ve ha at th ns d institutio e best possible individuals an .C can offer th .B A re su en to and support nts in need. service to Patie our community vite you to join in to ity un rt po e member of We take this op become an activ to f; af st t or pp d su Bikur Cholim. of volunteers an ng mitzvah of di ar w re e th lfilling our team in fu e our range of nd and improv pa ex to is on si enty-four hour A.B.C.’s vi aintaining a tw m le hi w r , ב עז comes to us fo services הי"ת y request that er ev e ic rv se hot-line to assistance. Bikur Cholim nts help more Patie ion will help us at ip ic rt pa ur Yo in need. ב ברכת והסירותי ר ,מחלה מקרבך פואה להנזקק ים וה בר יא ים ית .מידו בבריאותם
Cholim ntwerp’s Bikur On behalf of A
M. Bindinger
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How YOU can help? 99
Become a volunteer: visiting, driving, feeding, dispatching, or cooking for Jewish Patients.
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Tell us of your experience with particular specialists / therapists / doctors and other medical professionals so that others can benefit from your information and insights.
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Are you gifted with musical talent? A sense of humour? Do you like reading out-loud? Or sharing positive stories and having light conversations with new people? Why not share your interests with a lonely patient who would be thrilled to have some pleasant, uplifting company which is often also comforting and a distraction to their personal situation which could last days, weeks and sometimes years.
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Donate used books, periodicals, music and Torah tapes, CD’s & DVD’s to our library or sponsor new items, all of which will be much appreciated by Patients and their families.
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Sponsor the maintenance of an A.B.C. room for a week / month / year.
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Sponsor a DVD player.
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Sponsor a monthly phone bill.
Antwerp Bikur Cholim
Welcomes
your participation and contribution.
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The following are a collection of Bikur Cholim experiences to
Inspire & Encourage you to join us in our efforts for Jewish Patients:
Within forty-five minutes of Antwerp Bikur Cholim receiving a call of despair, a volunteer aide arrived at the home of Mr. C. who was in desperate need of assistance; he was unable to help himself. The willing and capable volunteer gave Mr. C. a bath, which due to circumstances beyond his control he had been unable to do for the past six weeks. From the day of this urgent call for help, Mr. C’s needs were taken care of by Antwerp Bikur Cholim. Mr. C’s wife told A.B.C. that our service have saved their family, saved Mr. C. from his then worsening depression and shown him he was living in a community that cared and he was not alone anymore.
Mrs. S.
placed a call to A.B.C.; her husband had fever and is not eating, drinking or taking medication. A volunteer arrived within minutes managing to coach and encourage fluid and solid intake, and administered the medication, hence stabilizing the patient’s condition. 14
A B C P U B L I C AT I O N
Mrs. F. an elderly sick widow had no warm water in her kitchen and bathroom. Numerous calls were made, a plumber was called to fix the boiler, and until eventually a new boiler had to be installed. Unbeknown to Mrs. F, the landlord refused to pay the bill and A.B.C carried the cost for this person in need. Mrs. M.
has told A.B.C. that our service has helped her more than words can say. Her husband is unfortunately not able to get out and about very much; he is unable to walk by himself. A.B.C. arranged visits to keep Mr. M. company while his wife tended to errands or had to make urgent out-of-town visits.
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A.B.C can be relied to arrange social visits to home-bound patients on any day and night of the week and Shabbos. Occasionally, A.B.C. coordinators are entrusted with house keys to check patients are okay who prefer to stay alone when their spouse pops out or makes out-of-town visits. Mrs. M.
is blind and partially paralyzed. She is a post-operative patient and has spent the past few weeks crying out in agonizing pain due to her operation. Time plus patience are needed for her to recuperate. A.B.C arranged a kind volunteer to visit Mrs. M. daily to brighten her life and to distract her from her pain and discomfort; the volunteer had to walk a considerable distance to visit Mrs. M. for which Mrs. M. was very grateful. Bikur Cholim visits bring a ray of sunshine into her life and a smile to her face. When the time came for Mrs. M. to be transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation, a bed could not be found in the hospital of Mrs. M’s choice. A.B.C. pulled on its resources and managed to arrange for a room to be made available, in order to ease the way for Mrs. M. Kosher food was supplied three times a day. One of the A.B.C. coordinators said: “How do I explain the feeling of wholeness I receive from Mrs. M. when I
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hold her hand and talk to her? She cannot thank A.B.C. enough for their support and never tires telling me how much the daily visits mean to her.� Mrs. M., a kind, warm and caring person, has touched my heart and surely the hearts of all her other many visitors.
On a Tuesday night
in April a call came in to A.B.C. from Miami concerning Family L. from Israel, who were scheduled to arrive very early the next day, Wednesday morning for emergency medical consultations. Food was quickly organized by Family B. Without any hesitation a volunteer collected the family at 5 ‘o clock in the morning from Brussels Airport and took them straight to UZ Leuven Hospital, remaining with them whilst they acclimatized and settled in. Cellular phones were supplied enabling them to keep in touch with their family abroad. After extensive tests at the hospital they were collected by a member of A.B.C. and brought to a local hotel in Antwerp according to their wishes; they were supported all time with supplies of wholesome meals and the loan of money. Over Shabbos Family L. were hosted in Antwerp and made to feel at home. At 7.30 Sunday morning the same A.B.C. Bikur Cholim volunteer drove them to Brussels Airport to check in their luggage and then drove them to UZ Leuven Hospital
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for one final examination. Immediately afterwards they were driven back to the airport, managing to catch their flight back home to Israel. To date, A.B.C. has kept in close contact with Family L. and B.H. they had an extremely positive outcome.
Mrs. X.
had a serious contagious infection. Due to a family member being in hospital and the stress and strain of having to cope, Mrs. X. neglected herself. A.B.C. upon her request liaised with her GP to assess the situation and implemented various precautionary measures. A.B.C. was in daily contact with Mrs. X. offering help when required and encouraging her to follow the doctor’s advice; she B.H. found the strength to help her parent recover whilst taking care of her wellbeing, with the full support of A.B.C.
Mr. Y.
received not only warm meals, but warmth from the heart that comes with the dedication of our A.B.C volunteers, that offered to help Mr. Y. three times a day with his meals. Due to his hospitalization Mr. Y. was unable to participate at his son’s wedding in New York. To try and compensate this, singing and dancing was arranged in Mr. Y.’s hospital room to give him a feeling of simcha. Additionally, A.B.C. arranged
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for a CD of the chassunah to be sent to Antwerp - within 2 days of the chassunah which gave Mr. Y. much joy to watch very soon after the chassunah took place; the joy on his face and the tears in the eyes of those that shared the experience made for a memorable occasion. For one month A.B.C. were honored to be able to help Mr. Y. three times daily, Shabbos included.
Mr. E.
was hospitalized whilst his family was abroad. An A.B.C. volunteer was at his bedside making sure he was comfortable and had all his requirements. With the intention of bringing peace of mind and happiness to his concerned family overseas, the volunteer took photos of Mr. E. sending them immediately by email to the family to comfort them and show them Mr. E. was recovering nicely.
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Letters
of gratitude from Antwerp Bikur Cholim patients: תמוז תשס”ט,בע”ה
To the devoted team of ביקור חולים עמו”ש, It is not easy to express in words my feelings of הכרת הטובfor all your wonderful work. You’ve been helpful by always being there when needed. In hot, cold or rainy weather, you were always there. I could therefore avoid having to schlep myself on the buses to and from the hospital when visiting my mother ע”ה. I did not have to wait in all types of difficult weather – bitter cold, sweltering heat and rain while going backwards and forwards – what a tremendous kindness you did for me. Thank you. Besides for the chessed you did for our family, your Bikur Cholim team was always there with a smile, a kind word never gave me the feeling that I was a burden. Therefore I daven that, ישלם לכם הקב”ה שכרכם הטוב אמן,בכפל כפליים עם בריאות ונחת וכל טוב בכל הענינים. בהוקרה ובתודה מקרב לב,
C.J.
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ב’ חשון תשס”ט,ב”ה
Dear..... Coming home from my Tehillim group one Sunday morning, I met a gentleman parking his bicycle outside our front door. I asked him in Yiddish if he was coming to this house. In excellent English he replied “Yes, Mrs. _____ - don’t tell your husband ‘we’ are from Bikur Cholim”… So began the end of my loneliness and the end of many problems. Antwerp Bikur Cholim literally took over; changing my life, but more importantly that of my husband. Almost daily people, from all walks of Jewish life visit my husband. Every Yom Tov has been celebrated by visiting volunteers with beautiful voices, Rabbonim coming to wish my husband Good Yom Tov or the delivery of many lovely delicacies le-kovod Yom Tov from the community. My husband was recently hospitalised for two months. The meals from ‘Shifru and Pua’ were ‘too delicious’ - so on Dr.’s orders a new talented team of cooks- our Jewish נשים צדקניותsent daily nourishing calorie controlled meals served to someone whom הקב”הhad chosen yet again בזכות תפילת רבים- to return to this world, so that Bikur Cholim
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could continue to act and shower kindness and consideration. אם בישראל Every day promptly at lunch time an theשבת turned up with piping hot meals. For (Manna) was brought, carefully packed andמן 3 x labelled so that the non-Jewish nurses could easily decipher the instructions. Rabbi Bindinger continued his pre-shabbesmincha visits even in hospital. The only words I can use to wish you, selfless, devoted members of Antwerp Bikur Cholim is: כל מי שעוסקים בצרכי ציבור באמונה ,הקב”ה ישלם שכרם, ויסיר מהם כל מחלה ,וירפא לכל גופם .....,וישלח ברכה והצלחה בכל מעשי ידיהם עם כל ישראל אחיהם ,ונאמר אמן.
בע”ה ,תמוז תשס”ט
עבור ארגון ביקור חולים, הייתי רוצה להביע את תודתי והערכתי הגדולה לארגון ‘ביקור חולים אנטווערפן’ על הליוי הצמוד והמסור שלכם לאורך כל הדרך מאז שהיינו זקוקים. • אם ברכב כדי לנסוע לרופא • אם לשלוח אוכל לבעלי בשהותו בבה”ח •
מבקרים שיבקרו את בעלי בשהותו בבה”ח
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אנשים לסעוד אותו ולעזור לו כשלא יכל לרדת מהמטה בהיותו בבה”ח היו שולחים לו סעודות :בקר ,צהרים ,וערב .ימים רבים ממש סעודות שלימות וגם למי שהיה לידו בשעת הצורך.
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מבקרים לבית בזמנים שלא יכל לצאת החוצה
• הארגון עוזר לנו גם בקבלת אביזרים שיקלו על חיי בעלי שיש לו אחוזי - נכות. •
הם בקשר תמידי עם אנשי הצוות של קופ”ח מבררים איתם מה אפשר לקבל מהם ומזרזים אותם ,הרבה דברים היו עלולים להתארך חודשים ארוכים לולא התערבות הארגון.
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כמו כן הם עוזרים לנו כעת בקבלת מעלית-כסא למדרגות הבנין שתסיע את בעלי במסילה במורד המדרגות על מנת לעזור לו לצאת מהבית.
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יו”ר ארגון ביקור חולים יזם עזרה לשיקום של בעלי .הוא בעצמו יזם • פגישה עם רופא פיזיוטרפיה ,ומאז בעלי החל בתרגיל פיזיוטרפיה קבוע מספר פעמים בשבוע .וב”ה מצבו השתפר בהרבה מאז.
הארגון גם הביא לבעלי מכשיר נייד שבו הוא יכול לצפות בהצגות כשרות • ובמעמדים תורניים מיוחדים כמו ברכת החמה וכו’ עם קלטות תורניות שונות .ובעלי מאד נהנה מזה בזמן שישב ימים רבים בבית. בעלי ואני מאד מתפעלים מהשירות הטוב והמסור ורואים שהכל נעשה לשם שמים בלי שום נגיעות. ה’ יהיה בעזרכם ויתן לכם את כל הטוב תמיד .בריאות שלימה לכם ולכל משתתפותיכם ונחת מכל צאצאיכם.
מאת א.ש.פ. ערב שבת פרשת קרח תשס”ט לכבוד כל מי שעוסקים בענין ‘ביקור חולים’ עמו”ש, אינני טובה בכתיבת מכתבים ,אבל בענין הזה אני חייבת להודות לכל הצוות שעובד עבור ביקור חולים. היו לי שני מקרים: בראשון ,הגיעו זוג מישראל ל Leuvenוהיו חסרי כל ,את כל צורכי השבת הגישו בצורה הכי מכובדת ,ונוסף על כך סידרו גם ביקורים .לפי דברי הזוג ,היה להם הרבה יותר קל להתמודד עם השהייה בבית חולים בזכות האוכל והמסירות. במקרה השני ,אני מטפלת באשה זקנה שלקחו אותה לבית חולים בBraschaat
והיא היתה צריכה לקבל אוכל בלי מלח .כל יום הביאו לה אוכל טרי שנשים בשלו ,וטרחו לנסוע להביא עד לשם. גברת לאבין סידרה את ‘הכל’ .חברת ביקור חולים דאגו לתת אוכל טעים במיוחד (אפילו שזה היה בלי מלח) ולא קרה אף פעם שהאשה נשארה בלי אוכל .ולא רק האוכל .גם הביקורים ,גם הבדיקה של המקרר אם לא חסר כלום ,אם הכל עוד מספיק טרי ...וכולי. אני כבר הרבה שנים עוזרת לאנשים זקנים והופתעתי מנשים צעירות ,נשים עם הרבה ילדים ,שעזבו את הכל כדי להביא קצת שמחת חיים לאנשים חולים. אני מברכת אתכם שהקדוש ברוך הוא יתן לכם -ביקור חולים -עוד הרבה שנים וכח שתוכלו להמשיך במצוה רבה זו .וכל מי שעוסקים בצרכי ציבור באמונה -ביקור חולים -הקדוש ברוך הוא ישלם שכרם כגמולכם הטוב.
בהוקרה רבה
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Relevant
Contact Numbers:
A.B.C. - ביקור חולים0.32.33.34.35 Ambulance & Brandweer 100 Antigifcentrum 070-245.245 Antwerp Rollcar 03-230.02.23 Ambulance & Brandweer 100 Brandwondencentrum 03-217.75.95 Gasreuk 0800-65.065 Hatzoloh 03-289.00.00 Internationale Noodoproep 112 Infectieziekten - Preventie 02-553.35.09 Kind & Gezin 078-150.100 M’lev L’alev 03-232.22.27 Rechev 03-230.88.44 Shifru en Piyu 03-231.76.90 Babysitting in Hospital 0485-646.422 0484-914.376
Gemachim Mediotheek Morsel 03-231.78.14 0475-607.814 Mishan Lachole 03-230.12.95 Ezer Layoldos 03-232.46.06 Bedside Ventilators 0.32.33.34.35
Medicijnen Gemach Dranger (shabbos & yom tov only) Albertstraat 44 Eckstein 03-233.19.04 Heller (Pediatrie - Yad Latinok) 03-239.60.67
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Medisch Laboratorium Centrum voor Medische Analyse Quinten Matsijslei 48 03-234.37.95 Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium Belgiëlei 96 0476-64.12.72
Wachtdiensten Apothekers 0900-105.00 (0,50 € /min)
Huisartsen 0900-105.12 (0,50 € /min)
Tandartsen 0903 99 591 (1,12 € / min)
Ziekenhuizen Eeuwfeestkliniek 03-240.20.20 Kosher Room, 1st floor, Opposite the Dienstliften
Middelheim 03-280.31.11 Kosher Rooms (459 & Kitchen), 4th floor, Gang B, #Lock C1248
O.L.V. Middelares 03-320.50.00 St. Augustinus 03-443.30.11 St. Elisabeth 03-234.41.11 St. Erasmus 03-270.80.11 St. Vincentius 03-285.20.00 Stuivenberg 03-217.71.11 UZ Antwerpen 03-821.30.00 UZ Leuven - Gasthuisberg 016-33.22.11 - Kosher Room, 1st floor, near Sociale Dienst, #Lock E1818
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Our Sincere Thanks and Appreciation to the following Bikur Cholim partners and cosponsors for their donations, support and advice: • Dayanim שליט”אand Board of Machsike Hadass, Antwerp • Directors of MONICA, ZNA, GZA, UZA, and UZ Leuven. • Vlaams Agentschap Zorg en Gezondheid • Our devoted Volunteers • Family Daum, Antwerp • Anonymous Supporters • Stichting van het Jodendom van Belgie • Mrs. T. Stern - Antwerp-Manchester • Mrs. Doppelt, Mrs. Morsel, Mrs. Wasyng – Antwerp • Rabbi A. Kohen - Rechev • Mr. H. Guttman - Shifru en Piyu • Mr. M.S. Arran - Antwerp • Mr. Shea Friedman - Antwerp • Bikur Cholim of Rockland County, U.S.A. • Bikur Cholim of Satmar, London • Chesed, Williamsburg • Ezrah Umarpeh, London • Hoffy’s, Antwerp • ELISHA, Antwerp • Toezicht Volksgezondheid Infectieziekten en Vaccinatie • CLB Antwerpen • Family Brach, Boro Park
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