Vol. LXXXVII No. 13 Omaha, NE
Celebrating 86 Years of Service to Nebraska and Western Iowa
27 Kislev, 5768 December 7, 2007
ERG proves to be a memorable experience for local physician
Will Annapolis spur progress on Syrian, Saudi peace tracks?
by LISA LIEB Federation Communications Director After years spent conducting drills with the IDF, and an intense summer treating mass casualty patients from the Lebanon War, the medical professionals at the Western Galilee Hospital have emerged as undisputed experts in emergency response. Dr. Gordon Moshman recently had the opportunity to work side-by-side with the experts, as a participant of the hospital’s seventh Emergency Response Group (ERG) course. Facilitated through the Federation’s Partnership with Israel program, ERG is a week-long seminar which familiarizes medical personnel from abroad with the Western Galilee Hospital’s emergency readiness measures. The 40-hour course includes lectures, workshops, mass-casualty drills, on-site instruction with IDF medical units, and functional time in specialty areas. Omahans who have attended previous ERG sessions include Dr. Dan Schuller, Dr. Sam Cemaj, Dr. Wayne Lainof and Dr. Alan Kricsfeld. The first ERG was held in 2002 in hopes of building a reserve of American medical professionals to staff the hospital, should the Israeli staff be depleted due to a military crisis. Those attending ERG agreed to return to Israel within 72 hours if their services were needed. Dr. Moshman notes that in today’s post 9/11 era, the course paradigm has shifted. “The focus wasn’t about what we could do for them; it centered on the Israelis sharing their expertise with us. We met some excellent people with very good insight about mass casualty care,” Dr. Moshman said.
by LESLIE SUSSER JERUSALEM (JTA) -While the Annapolis conference was meant to focus on Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, the attendance of Syria and Saudi Arabia has raised questions about the prospects for peace between Israel and the wider Arab world. Syria came up because, contrary to expectations, Damascus sent a delegate to Annapolis to talk about trading peace for the Golan Heights. And the attendance at Annapolis of all 22 Arab League member countries, led by the influential Saudis, suggested that normalization of ties between Israel and the Arab world could be in the cards. Israeli experts are divided A signpost on Mount Bental in the Golan Heights, captured from Syria during the Six-Day over the prospects of reach- War, showing cities and distances. Damascus is only 60 km away from the current Israeli Credit: Brian Hendler/JTA border. ing peace with Syria. Some insist Damascus will never break with its Shi’ite consensus is that peace with the Palestinians must come sponsors in Tehran, which is a key condition for first. Nevertheless, the fact that both the Syrians and Saudis progress. Others argue there is a greater chance of achieving peace with the Syrians than with the came to Annapolis -- Syria sent Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad and Saudi Arabia sent Foreign Minister Palestinians. As for accommodation with the Arab world, the broad Continued on page 2
Part III: The Dreidel Chronicles
Contributing to his own future
Dr. Gordon Moshman at the emergency room entrance of the Western Galilee Hospital. A family practice physician with emergency room and military experience, Dr. Moshman spent some of his time in the Western Galilee Hospital’s emergency room. He was especially impressed with how the staff had handled the ‘walking well’, such as those traumatized by the Lebanon conflict. “Hundreds of people came to the hospital un-injured, but traumatized and scared,” he said. Psychologists took care of the emotionally traumatized victims in specially allocated areas, which left the surgical staff and facilities free to handle those in need of more formal emergency medical services. The psychologists also provided extensive patient follow-up. “Most people got through the emotional crisis quite well and have fully recovered, with very few still in need of care,” Dr. Moshman said. The Western Galilee Hospital is located just six miles from the Lebanon border. The hospital has 22,000 employees and is the area’s largest employer, serving the 400,000 residents of the Western Galilee. “Only half of the residents of the Western Galilee are Jewish,” Dr. Moshman observed. “The remaining 50 percent are comprised of Christians, Muslims and Druze, which is much more diverse than the rest of the country.” Continued on page 7
Inside
walk, Jo worked in the public craft market alongside his parents. Their hand- crafted leather shoes and handbags, popular with tourists, Jo has never been afraid of hard work. Growing up in were time Santiago, Chile, he was a boy who never knew that sim- consuming to make. The small amount of profit his parents recognized went to ply “playing” could be feed Jo and their other five the work of a child. children. Families here in the United States are so difThere were no luxuries and there was little time ferent it seems, from the to play. When Jo moved way he was raised. to the United States he Life here is so good for was already past a prime most people. Life is better working age. He had folfor him too, with an lowed his grown son and apartment to call his own daughter-in-law to a betand his family nearby. ter life. Even though he strugHis son’s job as a teacher gles to make ends meet was satisfying, purposeful now that he’s elderly and and enough to support his can’t work full-time, he own growing family, but recognizes and appreciates not quite enough to comthe quality of life he has pletely support his elderly had since coming to father as well. Omaha nearly 20 years ago. From the time he could Credit: Juan-Carlos Herrera-Arango for istockphoto.com Continued on page 7 by ANDREA BARTMAN for Jewish Family Service Assistance from Jewish Family Service is never a crutch. It’s a way to sustain the dignity and healthful way of life for some in the community who need “just a little help” from time to time. Counselors and staff at JFS are continually striving to not only provide the kind of help a client requires, but to assist them in meeting their future needs on their own. This gentleman (whose name has been changed) is one such person.
This Week: Mandy Patinkin’s surprising Midwest connections: Page 5
See Front Page Stories & More at: www.jewishomaha.org, click on ‘Jewish Press’ Opinion Page see page 12
Omaha hosts Israeli and U.S. educators: page 3
Coming This Month: Senior Living Issue,
Construction progress brings opening and more: page 8
Think your teen isn’t drinking? Think again: page 11