ADELLE SHIRI'S BLOG

Friends of United Hatzalah

United Hatzalah's response time is now under 3 minutes. By doubling the current volunteer corps and increasing the ambucycle fleet and defibrillators, United Hatzalah will achieve its goal of a 90 second response time - anywhere in the country.

The mission is to support the lifesaving efforts of United Hatzalah of Israel. United Hatzalah of Israel is the largest independent, non-profit, fully volunteer Emergency Medical Services organization that provides the fastest and free emergency medical first response throughout Israel. United Hatzalah's service is available to all people without regard to race, religion or national origin.

United Hatzalah has more than 1700 volunteers who come from a complete spectrum of Israeli society, religious and secular, male and female, Jewish and non-Jewish. Not only have the volunteers been able to redefine the government’s status quo of emergency first response, Arab and Jews are also working together, side-by-side, and have been able to break down religious barriers through United Hatzalah's sole mission and unifying motivation: to save as many lives as possible.

United Hatzalah volunteers, all of whom are trained and certified as EMTs, paramedics or doctors, respond to any medical emergency in their vicinities, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. United Hatzalah volunteers establish a life-saving bridge of medical care to nearly 200,000 people each year within 2 to 3 minutes from a distress call. Volunteers treat an average of 500 people each day and individually respond to an average of 360 calls per year in Israel.

United Hatzalah trains and equips emergency first response volunteers who live and work in communities, cities and kibbutzim throughout the entire State of Israel in order to provide a more rapid, effective medical intervention. A proprietary GPS based deployment technology identifies the most qualified and closest volunteer to an emergency, maximizing efficient allocation of resources and minimizing response times. Fully equipped ambucycles travel nimbly through traffic, narrow alleys and obstructed roadways to bring all the necessary medical equipment an ambulance carries to the scene of an emergency.

Given the success that United Hatzalah has experienced in Israel and the thousands of lives it has saved since its inception, United Hatzalah believes that its distributed emergency response model can be easily replicated to save lives throughout the world. United Hatzalah has already been recognized as an international leader and is currently collaborating with global organizations.

United Hatzalah considers lifesaving to be of utmost value. While maintaining transparency, honesty and loyalty, United Hatzalah will continue to save lives in Israel, on a completely voluntary basis, in order to provide critical medical treatment to every citizen in need. United Hatzalah partners with other emergency agencies including ambulance companies, firefighting and rescue services, the army, and the police. United Hatzalah integrates into the existing emergency service framework by filling the gap between the time an emergency call is received and the arrival of institutional emergency services.

Please, make a donation; https://www.israelrescue.org/donate.php

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV)

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV)

"The village will be a place of hope, where traumatized youth can "dry their tears" (Agahozo) and "live in peace" (Shalom)."

Tikkun olam (literally, "repairing the world," and practically, "engaging in social action") is one of the core tenets of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. At the Village, to undertake tikkun olam as a central project because of the strong contribution it offers to the youth of Agahozo-Shalom themselves, as well as to the surrounding communities.

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) is a residential community in rural Rwanda. Its 144 acres are home to youth who were orphaned during and after the genocide in 1994. The Village is designed to care for, protect and nurture these young people. It is a place of hope, where "tears are dried" (signified by the Kinyarwanda word agahozo) and where the aim is to live in peace (from Hebrew, shalom). The marrying of these two languages and concepts in the name of the Village is intended as a reminder of the success of similar efforts in Israel, where genocide also changed the face of a nation.

Within Agahozo-Shalom’s supportive and structured community, the rhythm of life is being restored, with the ultimate goal of equiping young people who have lived through great trauma to become healthy, self-sufficient, and engaged in the rebuilding of their nation. The environment of love and safety created at Agahozo-Shalom serves as the backdrop for programs designed to help our teenagers grow both emotionally and intellectually. The experiences they accumulate at their village home are intended to help them at every level of their future development.

In addition to healing oneself, Agahozo-Shalom teaches the principle of serving the community, both locally and globally. The young people at Agahozo-Shalom are learning through principle and practice the value of mending the world around them (as are the many volunteers who join us from around the world). Our graduates will emerge from Agahozo-Shalom as balanced adults who are not only able to care for themselves and their families, but who are committed to making their community, their country, and their world, a better place.

The Spark of an Idea
In November of 2005, Agahozo-Shalom Founder Anne Heyman and her husband, Seth Merrin, heard a talk about the Rwandan genocide. At a dinner after the talk, Seth asked the speaker to identify the biggest problem Rwanda faced. The answer was the vast number of orphans with no systemic solution to support their well-being and development.

Immediately Anne, a South African-born lawyer and mother of three living in New York City, connected the challenge of the Rwandan orphan population to the similar challenge that Israel faced after the Second World War. When there was a large influx of orphans from the Holocaust,, Israel built residential living communities called youth villages. Anne was inspired to bring this model to Rwanda.

Misson - To enable orphaned and vulnerable youth to realize their maximum potential by providing them with a safe and secure living environment, health care, education and necessary life skills. Education and service are used to model and create socially responsible citizens in Rwanda and around the world.

PHILOSOPHY
The goal of the Village is to restore hope and opportunity to traumatized young lives. A place of learning and renewal, the Village offers a safe, nurturing environment where Rwandan youth can gain the skills and self-confidence they will need to fulfill their individual potential and make an active contribution to a stronger, more peaceful Rwanda.

Repairing the Individual
The philosophy behind ASYV is based heavily on the Yemin Orde Youth Village. We believe that there is a timeline in every life, and that it is important to recognize that each traumatized youth has a past, present and future. Trauma causes a break between the past and the present, traumatic events that they need be to repaired in order for the young people to live in the present and be able to dream of having a future.

At the Village, each teenager will deal with their traumatic break on two levels. One is called tikkun halev, meaning “repairing the heart” in Hebrew. This includes individual therapies that range from music and art to seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. The second level of the therapeutic process in tikkun olam, meaning “repairing the world.” The notion is that an individual’s healing can be furthered by doing acts of kindness for others and the feeling that they have a part in creating a more just world.

Focus on Learning
ASYV focuses on developing students both cognitively and socially. Schooling is geared towards the ideal of university but also provides students with choices for vocational tracks. Broadly, the Village education focuses on communal participation, and encourages the spirit of volunteerism as a means for sustainable development and community enrichment. It also seeks to expand each student’s talents, skills, and capacity to become not only functioning members of society, but leaders of their communities.

Financials
Where does the money come from? / Where does the money go? 

Three Easy Ways To Donate Please, Click Here

KAV-OR Organization

"Kav-Or", Distance Learning and virtual playground for Children in Hospital

"Kav-Or", Distance Learning and virtual playground for Children in Hospital, a registered public association (NGO), first began operating in 1993 at the "Kaplan" Hospital in the city of Rehovot and at the "Sha'arei Zedek" Hospital in Jerusalem. "Kav-Or" initially operated from within the framework of educational initiatives taken by the David Yellin College of Education in Jerusalem. In 1997 the initiative became an independent registered association, with a Board of Directors of its own, and its goals were redefined. The Association center is, to this day, located at the College, which continues to provide it with great assistance.

"Kav-Or", operates in more than 100 schools children's wards in 27 hospitals, from Eilat in the South to Nahariya in the North. Kav-Or also treats children victims of terrorism who require medical and psychiatric treatment because of the trauma they have undergone. Kav-Or provides its services to hospitalized children from all sectors of Israel's society - veterans and immigrants, religious and secular, Jews and non-Jews – many of whom are from underprivileged backgrounds. To support its work, the Association works with many volunteers as well as with a Friends association.

"Kav-Or", works in collaboration with Ministry of Education schools located in hospitals as well as with additional organizations working to help the children. The program has earned the recognition of the Ministry of Education and Culture and is highly regarded.

Hospitalization involves fears and pains and children's being cut off from their familiar surroundings. In order to alleviate these difficulties, the "Kav-Or" organization provides hospital classrooms as well as stand-alone and portable computers and peripheral equipment, designs friendly learning environments and runs a special website for children that is also translated into Arabic and allows access to activities in additional languages. "Kav-Or" computers have rich and user-friendly menus to access programs, learning software and games, in various fields of  interest and adapted to various age levels. Menu content is updated to keep up with innovations in the field. The Kav-Or website is composed of two sections, one for the general public and the other, requiring a password, offers hospitalized children a variety of activities.

Take a virtual tour "Kav-Or" Org

Bilingualism Gives Kids an Advantage

Bilingualism Gives Kids an Advantage.

The Boldrini Hospital - Cancer & Blood Diseases

The Boldrini Hospital - Cancer & Blood Diseases

The Early Childhood Center Boldrini

The Centro Infantil Boldrini is a reference hospital in Latin-America, acts 33 years ago in the care of children and adolescents with cancer and blood diseases.

The Boldrini Hospital is an example of hope, of social commitment, however there is plenty to do: to achieve complete compliance, promoting the development of scientific research to assist in the understanding of cancer, which constitute the pillars of performance of this entity. For both, partnerships with universities, government, society and entrepreneurs are crucial.

It is through solidarity that humans do evidence of true humanity.

The mission
Caring for children, adolescents and young adults with blood diseases or cancer through medical and multidisciplinary, regardless of socioeconomic level, race or creed, and to develop teaching and research.

Overview
Being a Centre of Excellence in the diagnosis, treatment, teaching and research of cancer and hematological diseases in children, adolescents and young adults.

The values
- Work grounded in comprehensive care to patients and their families.
- Multiplier Center of expertise, technologies and services.
- Use of national and international protocols of treatment.
- Research funding.
- Innovative character, working with pioneering the process of humanization of hospitals, promoting since its inception the dignity and the respect to all persons who seek the hospital.
- Ethical management through transparency.

How to help: visit http://www.boldrini.org.br/site/default.asp

 

JDC - Ethiopia; "This Is a Soul"

JDC - Ethiopia, "This Is a Soul"

View Trailer - Dr. Hodes lifesaving work in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is considered a low-income country-less than half of the country can read and write and almost a quarter of the population lives on less than $1/day.

The 1984 Operation Moses and1991 Operation Solomonmassive airlifts transported Ethiopia’s Jews to Israel. Following Operation Solomon, JDC started to take care of approximately 2,800 Felas Mora left behind in Addis Ababa. Some years later, JDC developed an emergency assistance program using medical clinics in Addis Ababa and Gondar, implementing a nutrition program for malnourished children as well as other health-related initiatives. As of December 2009, JDC’s clinic in Gondar is tending to the medical needs of the more than 9,000 Felas Mora awaiting emigration from Gondar to Israel.

Need
Poor sanitation and a lack of access to modern medical treatments and education are among the crippling challenges facing Ethiopia.

Response
JDC—through its global non-sectarian arm, JDC-IDP—lends its expertise in public health and education. Efforts include:

- Raising sanitation standards by building water wells, latrines, and irrigation systems.
- Life-saving medical programs, including heart and spinal surgeries as well as treatment for Hodgkin’s disease.
- Construction of 6 schools in rural Ethiopia and launching of a university scholarship program for young women.

Impact
JDC’s humanitarian initiatives have reached many people in the communities of Addis Ababa and Gondar with critical help:

- Thousands of individuals are receiving medical care through JDC’s newly opened clinic in Gondar. 
- Dozens of children have successfully undergone spinal surgeries or cancer treatment through JDC’s partnership with the Mother Teresa Care Center
- Nine wells have been built and are providing clean drinking water for villages in the Gondar region. 
- Hundreds of children now study in comfortable conditions in the rural schools recently built by JDC. 
- 30 needy students have received scholarships to complete their university studies; 24 for completion of their nursing studies.

Support Dr. Rick Hodes' Lifesaving Work - Donete now

Check Out New Book: This Is a Soul: The Mission of Rick Hodes, by Marilyn Berger.

Sukkot - Property and pursuit of happiness

by Eliah Succot art Gallary

“And you should take for yourself on the first day the fruit of a citron tree, the branches of date palms, twigs of a plaited tree and brook willows; and you shall rejoice before HaShem, your G-d…” 
Yayikra (Levíticus) 23:40

Our Sages teach us (Vayikra Rabba 30:12) that the Four Species we are commanded to take on Sukkos represent 4 different categories. The lulav, a palm frond, is from a tree that has “taste” but no smell. The Hadas, the myrtle, has a pleasant smell, but no taste. The Aravos, willows, have neither smell nor taste, and the Esrog has both smell and taste. Rav Samson Rafael Hirsch writes that all that we receive from Hashem falls into one of these four categories. 

He expounds on the descriptions of the categories. There are certain basic elements in life that are part and parcel of our existence, such as air that we breathe, light that illuminates, the concept of beauty and the sense of smell. The Hadas, which has an odor but no taste, represents these items that by their very unadulterated nature sustain us and bring us joy. Our enjoyment thereof is passive and requires no effort, such as smell. In nature, we also find those items that can be utilized by man for his benefit in their natural state, but man needs to take some form of action to benefit. The Lulav, which has taste but no smell, is representative of these items, such as fruit and vegetables. Lastly, there are items that require toil and effort in order to extract benefit therefrom. These items would not exist where it not for the productive labor of man. Houses, clothing, utensils, and the like are represented by the Arava, which has neither taste nor smell. The Esrog, which has both smell and taste, is the embodiment of completeness and perfection, an item that gives boundless joy and sustains with no effort required to derive that benefit. 

We are commanded to take the Four Species on Sukkos. We are commanded to take, for ourselves, together, four objects that represent all that we could possibly get from Hashem. We are to take them, and do as the verse says and “rejoice before Hashem (our) G-d.” All should understand at the harvest time, the time immediately after we have had our fate for the coming year sealed, that Hashem is the One and Only who gives us whatever we have. He has given us these things to use, but as a means to an end – not as an end themselves. These things are tools, so that we can live and thrive in the service of Hashem, perform His mitzvos, and rejoice in that we were given these gifts, before Hashem, on Sukkos. 

The commandment to take the 4 species is inextricably tied to the commandment to dwell in the Sukkah. R’ Hirsch writes that the commandment to dwell in the Sukkah comes at a time when the harvest is just about complete. Our houses and silos are stocked, and we no longer feel the same worry and concern that drove us to beseech Hashem for a successful year. We can now sit back and look forward to the coming winter months in comfort and tranquility. 

Of course, this is the ideal picture, the best case scenario. There are many people for whom this is only a dream. The harvest was poor. What was stored is not nearly enough for survival, for one’s self or family. Every morning they may wake up not knowing how bread will find its way to their table to sustain them, their wives, children, all those who upon them they depend. 

All of us have, no matter the situation in which we find ourselves, must go out to the Sukkah. Dwelling in the Sukkah may remind us that although we have money, one’s fortune comes and goes. What we have is from Hashem and Hashem only. Our forefathers once lived in huts in the desert, not mansions on a landscaped estate. Only Hashem provided for them at that point – and that fact will never change. And this fact should bring solace to the destitute. Hashem provided for and sustained the entire nation of Israel for 40 years in the desert. He protected us from the elements, understood our needs, and delivered to us that which was required. He was there for us then, and He will always be there for us, even when the situation seems hopeless.

The Sukkah reminds us that all we possess comes from HaShem. The Four Species remind us that we must use all that Hashem gave us to serve Him – as that is why we received it. The Sukkah is supposed to prevent us from assigning too much significance to the earthly possessions we have amassed. The Four Species teach us how to properly evaluate the true worth and value of these possessions - as vital tools in the service of Hashem. The Sukkah instructs us how to raise G-d above earthly possessions, and the four species instruct us how to elevate our earthly possessions into holy instruments used in the service of G-d. 

- Perhaps this symbolism is the reason why some have the custom to specifically recite the blessing on the Lulav and Esrog in Sukkah. Precisely in the location where we are supposed to be reminded that all we have is from G-d is where we sanctify the Lulav and Esrog with a blessing, and remind ourselves that all we have is to be sanctified as well, to the service of Hashem.

by Rabbi Yehudah Prero / Torah.org

Sukkos - Property and pursuit of happiness

Teleton - AACD

A 14ª edição do Teleton será realizada nos dias 21 e 22 de outubro de 2011

Mais uma vez a AACD contará com a parceria do SBT, responsável pela geração e transmissão do evento para todo o país, durante mais de 24 horas, ao vivo.

Com o objetivo de ampliar a quantidade de atendimentos, que até 1998 eram centralizados na unidade de São Paulo, a AACD criou o Teleton, uma maratona televisiva que busca conscientizar a população a respeito das possibilidades de um deficiente físico, gerando grande mobilização social.

Além de prestar contas das atividades realizadas pela entidade, é uma das principais ferramentas de captação de recursos da instituição.

Em 2010, o evento arrecadou R$ 23,9 milhões, valor destinado à construção de uma nova unidade da instituição, em Mogi das Cruzes (SP), que deve ser concluída em outubro de 2011. 

Você pode doar para o Teleton a qualquer momento. Com a sua contribuição, a instituição poderá manter os atendimentos que já realiza e atender mais de 32 mil pacientes que estão na fila de espera.

Curiosidade

Criado em 1966 nos Estados Unidos pelo ator Jerry Lewis, que teve um filho deficiente físico, o Teleton é realizado em mais de 20 países da Europa, América do Norte e América do Sul, anualmente. A América Latina possui uma organização dos países que realizam o Teleton, a Organização Internacional dos Teletons (Oritel). O objetivo da Oritel é favorecer a troca de conhecimento entre os países e instituições, além de possibilitar uma melhor integração entre aqueles que visam uma sociedade mais justa e produtiva para os deficientes físicos de todo o mundo.

As empresas que apoiam causas sociais, como o Teleton, são preferidas por consumidores e formadores de opinião. Contribua para melhorar a vida de milhares de deficientes físicos.

Como doar por telefone:

0500 12345 05 – R$ 5,00
0500 12345 10 – R$ 10,00
0500 12345 20 – R$ 20,00
0800 774 2011 – para doações acima de R$ 30,00
www.teleton.org.br – doação de qualquer valor acima de R$ 5,00

Faça sua parte, clique no link para ver mais formas de ajudar  http://www.aacd60anos.com.br/quero-ajudar/doacao.aspx

Rosh Hashanah - Shana Tova Umetukah

Painting by artist Rochelle Blumenfeldl

L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem
 "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

The Jewish New Year is a time for reflection, in which God begins the trial of every human being. The day celebrates the anniversary of the creation of man, the sixth day of Creation of the World.

Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, falls on the Hebrew calendar dates of 1 and 2 Tishrei, 5772 - Secular years: 2011:  September 28 (at sundown) at 30

Note that in the Jewish calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Rosh HaShanah on the sunset of Wednesday, the 8th of September.

The opportunity of Rosh Hashanah is too important to leave things to chance. Here's a short list of what you need to know.

Pre Rosh Hashanah

A key component of preparation for Rosh Hashanah is apologize to everyone you have wronged during the past year. The greatest extent possible, we want to start the year zero and no one to keep some pending against us. Each must also be quick to forgive those who wronged them.

Many people have the habit of going to the mikveh before Rosh Hashanah, after noon. The mikveh (bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism), which has the power to purify certain spiritual impurities, may be an important step in the process of teshuvah (repentance). Some have the custom of visiting the cemetery on the morning of Rosh Hashanah, and pray at the grave of the righteous. Of course not pray "to" the righteous, but for God that hear our prayers on their behalf.

The morning before Rosh Hashanah, we do Hatarat Nedarim, cancellation of all the promises (vows). In terms of the Torah, say something simple like "Do not eat more candy" can be considered a vote 'legal'. So, before Rosh Hashanah, halted all votes, they were made intentionally or not. This is done by prostrating before three men (or ten if possible) and asking to be freed of the votes that were made. The annulment of the text can be found in a Siddur or Machzor of Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah - "Head of the year" 

How to Help Somalia

Options For Famine Relief
In the scorched-by-drought Horn of Africa, the famine continues to take its biggest toll on the most vulnerable. In southern Somalia alone, the crisis has killed 29,000 young children in the last 90 days

Many organizations and funds have mobilized to provide relief:

UNHCR has asked for $136.3 million and suggests donations such as $7, which provides therapeutic food for a malnourished child.

The British Red Cross and The Kenya Red Cross are both accepting funds online or through mail to first mitigate the crisis and then help people in the region restore their livelihoods.

Mercy Corps has helped deliver water to 16 Kenyan villages in the last few days, providing relief to almost 120,000 people. The organization is accepting donations to continue expanding its work.

Oxfam, in conjunction with Save The Children, is appealing for $144 million. Any amount is welcome, but the Oxfam site suggests $50 to provide 200 people a day's supply of clean water or $100 to feed a family of six more than two weeks.

The International Rescue Committee is accepting donations that will provide medical screenings, expand water-supply systems and offer help for pregnant women, among other efforts.

The ELCA World Hunger Relief is accepting donations to provide immediate aid to refugee camps in the Horn of Africa. One hundred percent of donations will be used for regional relief, including filling a food distribution gap by providing enriched porridge to children and the elderly who are too weak to eat dry food.

A donation to Action Aid will help deliver emergency supplies of food and water, and provide support, ensuring people don't become reliant on food aid.

The U.N. Children's Fund asks for help in assisting the more than 2 million children who are malnourished.

International Medical Corps' is accepting donations as it ships food and oil to four refugee camps. The Corps will also construct additional latrines and bathing areas.

IsrAID - The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid