Making A Difference
Volunteer agency fills in the cracks in Israel's health and human services system.
Schlesinger. "But the needs have
become so critical. If anybody in Israel
needs help, first the social worker tries
the government, then calls us."
hen you share a lunch with
All Israeli citizens are enrolled in
David Schlesinger, you have to
Kupat
Cholim, the country's national
remind him to eat. His zeal for
medical
insurance program. However,
his cause takes precedence over everything ,
like private medical insurance in the
else.
United States, Kupat Cholim limits its
Schlesinger, who runs an import-export
coverage, Schlesinger said. For example,
business based in Jerusalem, was in
he said, if a child has muscular dystro-
Detroit June 17-20 to raise awareness of
phy, the insurance generally pays only
Baruch Urnarpeh, the volunteer medical
25-50 percent of the full cost of a
services organization he founded in 1993.
wheelchair.
He spoke at a parlor meeting in Oak Park
"Medical services in Israel are over-
and at a Sunday breakfast organized by
worked,"
he said, choosing his words
Congregation Keter Torah. He also took
carefully.
"The government is not filling
his message, by invitation, to several
Jeff' Garden of West Bloomfield meets with David Schlesinger, founder o
the
needs
100 percent. So people go to
Jewish-owned businesses.
Baruch
Umarpeh.
hospital
emergency
rooms. But the hos-
"He is the organization," said West
pitals
can't
afford
to
treat everyone for
Bloomfield businessman Jeff Garden, who
free.
has known Schlesinger about five years.
Baruch Umarpeh is the primary source of non-
"Look, I don't blame the government," he con-
"It's not like a big operation, with a big office and emergency ambulance service in Israel, frequently
tinued.
"About 85 percent of the budget goes for
driving the same patient back arid forth to the
lots of employees."
security.
How can we expect them to do every-
Garden said Schlesinger is "completely devoted
hospital every week for treatments.
thing?
to what he's doing. What he raises goes right to
"Every hospital depends on us;" Schlesinger
"I'm only a businessman," Schlesinger said over
.
people in need."
said. "Hadassah Hospital does not have ambu-
and
over. But his devotion to helping others has
Baruch Umarpeh, whose name means "blessing
lances; Shaare Zedek does not have ambulances.
put
him
in the limelight.
and healing," was initially formed to run blood
Alyn charges money for their ambulances. When
Shaul
Yahalom,
chair of the Knesset's Labor,
drives in Jerusalem's Orthodox communities. "For they call us, we go; we don't charge."
Welfare
and
Health
Committee, called him "an
us, they roll up their sleeves. They say, 'Take it,'"
angel of a savior in the form of a man."
Schlesinger said. "They don't even ask is it going
Another admirer is Zvi Shir, who manages the
There To Help
to religious or not."
blood
service center for Magen David Adom,
Although Schlesinger and many of his volun-
Here are a few other stories from the Baruch
Israel's
emergency medical service agency. In a
teers are members of Israel's Orthodox communi-
Umarpeh files:
recent
letter
to Schlesinger, Shir wrote, "I have no
ty, the majority of those they help are secular, he
A teenaged girl hides in her Jerusalem home.
doubt
that
it
[Baruch Umarpeh] will have in its
Injuries to her face from a terrorist attack have
‘ said.
power
to
save
many victims of terror, to release
Today, the organization is probably best known
left ugly scars, and she is afraid to go out in pub-
them
from
their
trauma and from their situations,
for its rapid response teams, which provide free
lic. The organization is paying for reconstructive
❑
which
seem
uncorrectable."
paramedic and ambulance support to victims of
surgery.
The Israeli Center for Familial Dysautonomia,
terrorism.
But the primary function of Baruch Umarpeh is
which treats more than 100 children and adults
filling in the cracks left by other medical and
who suffer from this degenerative central nervous
social service agencies — and that takes a , lot of
system disease, cannot afford to supply families
money. Last year, the organization spent more
with the life-saving medical equipment they need
than $1.7 million on care and assistance. This
once they leave the hospital. The center has
year, Schlesinger said, that figure should exceed
turned to Baruch Umarpeh to pick up the slack.
•
$3 million.
"I'm not usually looking for publicity," said
DIANA LIEBERMAN
Special to the Jewish News
W
JFS Re-Elects Leemis
Terran Leemis of Bloomfield Hills
has been elected to a second term as
president of Jewish Family Service.
Leemis has served on the JFS
Board for the past eight years, most
recently as treasurer and executive
committee member. She serves as
7/ 2
2004
58
Englender, treasurer; Sandra
treasurer of the United
Danto, Amy Hoffman
Jewish Foundation and is on
Haimann, Melissa Orley Lax
the board of governors of the
and Jennifer Silverman,
Jewish Federation of
members at large.
Metropolitan Detroit.
Stewart Weiner remains on
Elected to the JFS execu-
the executive committee as
tive committee are Gina
immediate past president and
Horwitz, Mark Landau and
Leemis
chairman
of the nominating
Barbara Tukel, vice presidents;
committee.
Irving Nusbaum, secretary; Shaul
Elected to first terms on the JFS
Board are Armonite Albalak, Rose
Handleman, Gerald Kaplan, Bassie
Shemtov and Ron Yolles.
At the meeting, Rick Kalish was
selected as Volunteer of the Year;
and Risa Berris was named
Employee of the Year.