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.