Ziv Medical Center

Today was our last professional program/visit to Ziv Medical Center www.ziv.org.il/friends_index_e.phtml
Ziv is a government hospital in Safed in Northern Israel not far from the Golan Heights in a more rural area with a very diverse population in addition to armed services personnel. A very impressive facility.
The rest of today and in fact the rest of the trip will be spent on the sightseeing portion of the program.
Meanwhile we thank all of our gracious hosts during our visits.
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Acco and Druze village

Our second professional stop today was at a primary care facility run by one of the HMO Sick Funds to learn more our Israel's National Health Care. Right after lunch the sun disappeared so that it was under dark, drizzle that we toured the city of Acco where the British built on top of Ottoman buildings that were constructed on top of Crusader fortresses that sit upon what appears to be old Roman ruins.
Our final stop today was to learn a little about the Druze people and to enjoy a traditional Druze meal (photo attached).
A long but productive day.

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Beit Issie Shapiro

The sun finally shone on us this morning as we drove two hours north to visit Beit Issie Shapiro that provides support and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Another impressive non-profit providing a valuable service. beitissie.org.il/eng

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Hadassah Medical Center

Our first professional delegation stop today was at the Hadassah Medical Center. It is a truly amazing privately funded medical center (hospital, research center and medical school) created due to the volunteer efforts of the Women’s Zionist Organization in Israel which in turn is affiliated with the Hadassah in America. ( www.hadassah-israel.org.il/eng )

A truly inspiring experience.

 

The Group at Yad Sarah

Then we went to Yad Sarah (www.yadsarah.org ) another volunteer organization that provides medical equipment to folks in need (from wheelchairs to cribs to oxygen etc) for free or for only a nominal fee. Again, really uplifting to see what people can do when they all come together for a common cause.

 

On a brighter note

Even though the weather remains pretty dismal – still overcast and cold and raining – we did get to see the twelve hand-painted “stain glass” windows in the synagogue at Hadassah Medical Center. Chagall painted them with 5-7 layers of paint on every square inch and designed them to depict the twelve tribes of Israel. And as luck would have it, the sun did shine through them for the few moments we were there.

 

change of hotel for Thursday night

Magan kibbutz

For those of you following your family members’ and friends’ travels through Israel this week, there has been a change of hotel for Thursday night. We will be staying at a different Kibbutz. The new one is: http://www.maagan.com/en/index.html

Just FYI.

Day One of the Delegation

Everyone was a little jet-lagged this morning, but after being buoyed up by a fabulous buffet breakfast we headed out on a rainy day in Tel Aviv to the Weizmann Institute of Science  http://www.weizmann.ac.il/ where we were treated to an absolutely wonderful presentation on cellular biology and specifically about genetic research in regards to the conversion of normal cells to abnormal/cancer cells and the trends in research to use the genetic code to augment cancer treatment. A skilled presenter and a great lecture.

Afterwards we toured the home of Chaim Weizmann, the first President of Israel.

After lunch at a little gyro/falafel place, we were off to the office of the Israeli Medical Association for a timely and in depth discussion of the National Health Care system in Israel.

Right now as I write we are in a break before our last session tonight on Public Health so more later.

Welcome

The delegation has convened at the Carlton Tel Aviv. We've got a great bunch of folks from very diverse backgrounds. And we are looking forward to an amazing experience starting tomorrow morning.
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just a test

To verify that the postings work and that everything is in order. Only 5-1/2 days until we all rendezvous in Tel Aviv. Looking forward to a great experience.

Mike and Georgia Paul, Delegation Leaders