Living Well

Cover Story

pathologist working the
important than the work."
missed chance to create a public
CDC's anthrax response
So, she says, "I let it be
health pathway to peace in the Middle
team are Muslims, and that
known that I was leaving at
East, one that he and other officials at
one of them — Dr. All
5:30 on Friday to pick up
CDC and Emory University's Rollins
Khan, who is the CDC's
my child from day care,
School of Public Health in Atlanta,
leading Ebola virus expert
that I wasn't coming in on
had worked hard to set up.
— developed the agency's
Saturdays, and that it was-
Along with top public
bio-terrorism strategy
health officials in Israel and n't negotiable."
"People here are very
Weinbaum says some
the administered territo-
careful
about what they
Jewish employees and oth-
ries, they had spent two
Nancy Levine
say,"
said
Dr. Susan
children
in
ers with small
years laying the ground-
Goldstein,
40, a medical
her
department
followed
work for an Institute of
epidemiologist
who
deals
with viral
in
suit,
while
others
"are
still
caught
up
Public Health, a CDC-like
hepatitis.
it, working 24-7."
agency that would operate
"It has been very clear that there's a
Overall, Weinbaum says, she is proud
in both areas, based at uni-
certain
segment of people who happen
.
of the CDC's response to the terrorist
versities in Jerusalem and
to be Muslim who attacked people in
attacks,
which
few
had
anticipated.
She
Ramallah.
the U.S. I took this as a very personal
has faith that CDC Director Jeffrey
But in mid-2000, two
Jewish Response
attack. I felt it was directed at me," she
Koplan,
who
is
Jewish
and
has
professed
days after the agreement to
Nancy Levine is a policy
said, as an American and as a Jew. "But
that
social
justice
and
public
health
equi-
launch the institute was
and budget analyst in
it is also very clear that what the ter-
ty should be central pursuits of the
signed by the ministers of
Henry Falk
the CDC's National
rorists did in the name of God had
health for Israel and the - agency, "is completely committed." But
Center for
nothing to do with God or the religion
she is concerned that the huge emphasis
Environmental Health (NCEH), which Palestinian Authority, renewed vio-
on bio-terrorism at the agency may com- that true Muslims observe.
lence erupted and the promising ven-
has coordinated the agency's national
"I think we refuse to give . any power
promise other public
ture was put on hold.
emergency response to the terrorist
to the terrorists by not discussing it
health needs, especially
"I was intrigued by the
attacks. Before Sept. 11, she was
and being barely cognizant of it
for
the
poor.
possibility of creating some
focused on implementing the
around here."
On
Dec.
21,
Congress
bridges to peace," said Falk.
Children's Health Act and developing
Dr. Rana Hajjeh, a medical epi-
increased
the
CDC's
its programs for asthma, lead poisoning "Even people who have no
demiologist
who led the Washington,
annual budget appropria-
hope for peace in the
and land mines.
D.C.-based
anthrax
investigations in
tion for fiscal 2002 by
region could see the value
Now, Levine helps prepare the
Capitol offices and postal facilities,
$400
million,
to
$4.3
bil-
of having collaborative
NCEH, and state and local health
voices a similar view. Hajjeh, a
lion, with an extra $512
health projects. It's impossi-
agencies, to deal with future terror
Muslim, says she has felt "no trace of
million
devoted
to
devel-
ble to pursue in the current
attacks, whether conventional —
discrimination at the CDC. But, of
oping a smallpox vaccine
explosions involving mass casualties, for environment, but I hope
course, I have serious concerns about
for every American.
we can return to it one
example — or those involving biologi-
how Americans perceive Muslims."
,,
daY
Funding for some areas
cal agents, such as anthrax or smallpox.
Hajjeh, 37, an expert on fungal
was cut back, including
Levine has had an intense religious
infections, grew up in Lebanon. She
chronic disease programs,
response to the attacks and their after-
was in Africa researching an AIDS-
which experienced a
Influenced By Judaism Cindy Wein baum.
math. "This really was an attempt to
related fungus on Sept. 11 when she
budget
slashed
by
$175
Some Jews at the CDC
undermine the values we hold dear as
was called home to work on anthrax.
million,
or
23
percent.
Jews, chief among them the sanctity of acknowledge how explicitly Jewish beliefs
She says she was "terrified at what
While many at the CDC worry about
and practices influence their work.
life," she said.
the
climate would be like," but when
how terrorism may affect their work and
"The whole social justice aspect of
Henry Falk, assistant administrator
she
got to her office in Atlanta, she
the health and security of the nation,
at the CDC's sister agency, the Agency Judaism is why I decided to go into
found
a big sign on her computer that
most profess to ignore the ideological
public health and to work on diseases
for Toxic Substances and Diseases
said,
"We're
so glad you're home."
roots of the recent attacks, at least while
that affect poor people," says Dr.
Registry, also in Atlanta, says his staff
While
her
colleagues, a number of
they're on the job.
Cindy Weinbaum, 35, a medical epi-
usually works on cleaning up major
Jews among them, have continued to
Weinbaum
says
scientists
at
the
CDC
demiologist specializing in hepatitis.
hazardous waste sites. Since Sept. 11,
be supportive, she says her daughter
are "too professional to let religious affil-
"From a Jewish perspective, it is
many have worked to assess asbestos
has experienced some anti-Arab feeling
iations affect their work" and adds that
important for me to use the skills I
exposure at Ground Zero and anthrax
at the Montessori school she attends.
she spends no time at work contemplat-
have in the places of greatest need."
contamination at sites in Florida.
"Her teachers are great and they made
ing the fact that extremist Muslims per-
She is a member of Lev Shalem, an
Falk is a member of Atlanta's
sure the offending children understood
petrated
the
Sept.
11
attacks,
or
that
Atlanta Reconstructionist congregation.
Congregation Beth Jacob and Young
American support of Israel may have fig- why what they said was hurtful and
Since September, Weinbaum has
Israel, both Orthodox synagogues. He,
wrong," she said.
ured prominently in them.
counseled physicians and other health
downplays the role Judaism has played
But to Hajjeh, who is an American cit-
But
she
admits
that
the
terrorism
officials who (-nil to report patients with
in his professional response to recent
izen,
it reflected the "fairly widespread
signs of anthrax infections. She also stud- and the public response to it have
terrorism.
misunderstanding
among Americans
made her "more aware of not only
ies data reported from the field and rec-
"I have many strong feelings as a Jew
about
Muslims
and
Islam ..."
worldwide anti-Semitism, but also of
ommends antibiotics when appropriate.
about what has happened, but I don't
Just as the Jewish tradition of tikkun
American
anti-Arab
sentiments,
which
Weinbaum, who has a young daugh-
think it enters much into my work," he
olarn, the repair and healing of the
are equally misplaced."
ter,
was not accustomed to working long
said. "I think because our country was
world, has drawn many Jews into heal-
into the night. In the first frantic weeks
attacked, I responded patriotically, like
ing and medical professions, Hajjeh
of the anthrax crisis, she worked over-
we all have. As public health specialists,
points out that Islamic tradition also
Muslim Colleagues
time along with everyone else. But "at
we want to hone in on the urgent health
reveres the practice of medicine.
Weinbaum says she finds it ironic that
some point, I just realized that I needed
concerns that may emerge."
"The Koran says, 'Whoever heals
the lead biologist, epidemiologist and
to observe Shabbat, and that was more
But Falk says he regrets a recently

ters. These are dedicated public health
professionals who consider themselves
Americans and scientists first, and
whose Jewish identity factors into
their work only occasionally, if ever.
But for some, the experience of being
on the front lines, at
Ground Zero, has
heightened awareness of
their Jewishness and
their patriotism and has
sparked a deep spiritual
response, even as they
continue to work on ter-
rorism-related projects.