EWISH PRESS VlLXXXI Vol.LXXXI
N 8 No.
O h NE Omaha,
Ch 5762 November N b 2,2001 16 Chesvan, 5762
SPECIAL ISSUE ON EDUCATION AND CAMPS ~ SECTION STARTS ON PAGE 21
Waiting for Life by CAROL KATZMAN, Editor
Whea Marcia PItlor's brother, Jerry Gerelick, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 24, it never occurred to her that someday they might be sharing an operating room. But just six weeks ago, the siblings were side-by-side in a Nashville Hospital so doctors coald remove a healthy kidney from Marcia and transplant it into Jerry. "He has to be nice to me forever!" Pitlor joked in a recent interview. "No more turning me upside down, like he did when we were little." Though she laughs now, Htlor realized the seriousness of her brother's condition and immediately began researching the effects of Juvenile Onset Diabetes when Jerry went into end-stage renal disease (ESRD), one of the devastating outcomes of this disease. According to current literature, diabetes has consequences recognized since ancient times. Before the discovery of insulin, people found to have sugar in their urine under the age of 20 often died, while those over the age of 40 usually lived for many years with this condition. Beginning in the mid 1920s, those who were diagnosed with diabetes when young (juvenile onset) were put on insulin, and those who got it when older (adult onset) often weren't. There are two 'types' of diabetes. Type 1 occurs in about 10% of all people who have diabetes. Treatment usually involves adjusting required insulin injections to match diet and exercise. Type 2, or NIDDM (non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitas), on the other hand, usually is diagnosed in a person over 40 and often overweight and sedentary, and who has a family history of the
since. Unfortunately, after many years of insulin use, it destroyed bis kidneys. When Gerelick's kidneys began to fall last spring, the options were limited: dialysis or a kidney transplant Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are treatments that try to replace the functions of the failed kidneys. These treatments may help patients feel better and live longer, but they are not cures for ESRD. "Jerry wasn't doing well on dialysis," explained his wife of 23 The Gerelick-Pitlor family had no hesitation when it came to making years, Larraine Lambert a life-saving decision. Wrom left: ILaxraine and J e r r y Gerelick of Gerelick. "We knew he'd Nashville; Steve and Marcia Pitlor of Oaiaha; Howard and Florence eventually need a kidney Gerelick of Denver. transplant;* same type of diabetes. At the time of diagnosis, Larraine, an Omaha native, had known Jerry there may be no symptoms, or the person may have when they both attended Westside High School. mild symptoms, such as blurred vision or more "I had to go all the way out to California to meet than normal thirst and urination. This person con- someone I knew from Omaha to fall in loveS" tinues to make his/her own insulin, but production Gerelick said. As fortune would have it, she is a is not sufficient to keep blood sugars normal. corporate officer for HCA, the large hospital conTreatment for Type 2 diabetes includes varied com- glomerate, located in Nashville, and the site of binations of diet, exercise, medications, «• insulin. what would be this family's kidney transplant. Gerelick was diagnosed with T/ype 1 diabetes about 25 years ago, and has been on insulin ever (Continued on page 32}
Couple Fated for Each Other Destined to be Jewish Educators by DIANE AXLER BAUM
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There's a fairy tale quality of "meant to be" surrounding Guy and Elinor Matalon. You see it in their loving closeness. You sense it when they recall the day they met in Los Angeles, and the mysterious communication that led them to Omaha. You feel it full-force when they express their commitment to Jewish education. "Elinor and I are here to strengthen Jewish identity and education in Omaha," Matalon stated simply. Metaphorically, he added, "The fact that we can serve as 'walking information booths* makes it interesting for us." In only three years, both have become valuable resources. Elinor, as a Community Teacher through Jewish Educational and Library Services (JELS), teaches Hebrew at Friedel Jewish Academy. There, she's introducing a new learning method that calls for students to be immersed in the living language. Tal Am, she said, is "incredible." (A story on page 30 of this issue looks at the new curriculum in depth.) Elinor spends other chunks of time at Temple Israel with middle-school and high-school youth., families and adults. Guy also teaches at Temple Israel, focusing on adult education, and serves on the Adult Education Curriculum Committee. Guy specializes in Judaic Studies and Islamic .Studies. He is a member of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and he chairs UNO's annual Sydney H. Brooks Memorial Lecture. This year's lecture will take place Nov. 29, featuring Dr. Moshe Gershovich, an expert on Morocco. The talk on "Jewish-Muslim Relations" will serve to start "a dialogue with our Muslim neighbors," he said. Often, Guy can be found in classrooms at the
Elinor and Guy Matalon Jewish Community Center. He tries to schedule some of his UNO evening courses there, and he plans to teach "Modern Judaism" at the JCC next semester. "Members of the Jewish community are welcome to come by," he said. To obtain more information, he invites correspondence by e-mail gmatalon@mail.unomaha.edu. In addition, he is an instructor in the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, currently taking place at
the y under the auspices of JELS. One of bis students in the Melton coarse is none other than his wife. Itfs important for Jewish educators to reinforce our own knowledge,'* she explained. "If-s a way for her to get to see her husband," he countered with a smile. The Matalons admit their work load is extraordinarily heavy, but they are willing to make a personal sacrifice. They believe it's the only way for them to fulfill their mission of teaching. Judaism and serving as Jewish role models. Then again, neither of them is a stranger to either self-sacrifice or self-discipline. Elinor, who grew up in Tel Aviv, attended private art school before she was drafted into the army. She was selected for the rigorous position of drill sergeant for male soldiers. Guy, also bora in Israel, grew up in Holon near Tel Aviv, but moved at age 11 to Los Angeles. He devoted long years to intense scholarship. The two met in LA. in 1998. Guy, studying toward a Ph.D at "New York University, made a visit to California to see his family and to "check out" a particular young woman. Elinor, at the time, was working in private day care for Israeli children. (Continued on page 30)
INSIDE: Israeli TV & the Internet. Osama and Islam
page 9 .....page 11
Photo highlights of Evening with Tom Friedman.—......pages 18-19 TeenAge..
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