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Monday, Mar. 06 '17, ח' באדר תשע"ז
HEADLINES:
1. HOTOVELY: ENOUGH OF LIBERMAN'S SCARE TACTICS
2. 'TRUMP WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE TO MOVE EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM'
3. FOOTAGE REVEALS SYSTEMIC CHILD ABUSE IN DAYCARE CENTERS
4. SIGN OF THE TIMES: MORE ROADS - AND EVEN MORE CARS
5. THE QUESTION AN MK ASKED A GRIEVING FATHER
6. TEL AVIV TRAIN STATION CLOSES FOR SIX DAYS
7. THE MACABRE TRIAL OF PROF. GEORGE BENSOUSSAN: VERDICT TODAY
8. HE HAD THE LAW CANCELED AND DONATED A KIDNEY
1. HOTOVELY: ENOUGH OF LIBERMAN'S SCARE TACTICS
by Hezki Baruch
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) blasted Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman Monday over what she called his efforts to "intimidate" coalition members against annexing portions of Judea and Samaria.
"Minister Liberman is attempting to create a reality that does not exist yet in Washington," Hotovely told media outlets.
Earlier on Monday, the Defense Minister warned coalition members that annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria would have dire consequences for Israel's relationship with the new White House.
"Anyone who wants to apply Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria needs to understand that such a step will bring immediate repercussions from the new US government."
"We received a direct - not indirect - message: 'Apply sovereignty and you will be cutting ties with the new government.' The coalition must explain, once and for all, that we will not apply sovereignty. Anyone who wants a crisis and who has 20 billion NIS to spare is welcome to apply sovereignty."
But Hotovely pushed back on Liberman's claims, saying no such message had been received.
"The political dialogue with the Americans hasn't started yet, the current administration hasn't put together any strategic plan for the region yet. The American government is open to considering new policies and all of the options are still on the table."
Hotovely slammed Liberman's "intimidation" of supporters of annexation, saying his comments harmed Israel's position vis-à-vis the United States and ability to determine policy.
"This unnecessary intimidation damages Israel's ability to act freely."
2. 'TRUMP WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE TO MOVE EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM'
by Eliran Aharon
[youtube:2025489]
A congressional delegation sent to Israel to examine the issue of relocating the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem arrived this weekend for a fact-finding mission to assess the practical and political implications of the move.
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security Ron DeSantis (R-Florida), a member of the delegation, told reporters at a press conference Sunday evening that President Trump intends to stand by his campaign pledge to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel's capital, Jerusalem. Israeli journalists have been writing articles doubting Trump's intentions since the inauguration.
According to DeSantis, Trump's inauguration and the selection of Ambassador-Designate to Israel David Friedman were exciting moments following eight years under President Obama, during which relations between Israel and the White House were "not simple."
"The American people are excited to see the embassy move from Jerusalem after fifty years," said DeSantis, referencing the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War.
Contrary to media reports that the Israeli government and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had asked the White House to hold off on the proposed embassy relocation, Rep. DeSantis said Israel's leadership was unified in its support of the move.
"I also met with Netanyahu and everyone [in the government] was in favor. Maybe Netanyahu is waiting for the confirmation of the new ambassador. In my opinion, [the delay in the relocation] is a logistical problem."
Regarding speculation by opponents of the embassy move that the relocation could increase tensions in the region, DeSantis said the threats seemed overblown.
"I can't know what will be in the future. I do know that there are advantages to moving the embassy, and one of them is honesty. We have to be honest that Jerusalem is the capital [of Israel]. There is no real argument about that at all. America stands behind its ally, Israel. Just as we condemned the UN [Security Council] resolution, we stand by our friend's side."
DeSantis added that by relocating its embassy, the US would likely cause other countries to do the same.
"I don't know how many countries will take this step, but if the US does this, we will see more countries joining."
3. FOOTAGE REVEALS SYSTEMIC CHILD ABUSE IN DAYCARE CENTERS
by Arutz Sheva Staff
An investigation of several WIZO, Emunah, and Na'amat childcare centers has revealed systemic abuse, with footage showing caregivers hitting, cursing, and neglecting their young charges, Yediot Ahronot reported on Monday.
The abuse and negligence was discovered after parents found footage and recordings from hidden cameras and voice recording devices.
Hadas' (name has been changed) mother said the story started when she collected her 2.5-year-old daughter from the Jerusalem-area daycare which she attended. When she asked her daughter how the day went, Hadas said, 'The preschool teacher hit me' and demonstrated a stinging slap on the face.
The next morning, Hadas' mother sent her daughter to daycare with a hidden voice recorder, and listened to the recording at the end of the day.
"It sounded like a horror movie," Hadas' mother said. "The caregivers screamed at, insulted, and hit the children."
Hadas' mother is not alone. Several parents have complained the "supervised" daycare centers are not actually supervised, and no inspectors come to check them. This allows daycare workers to do whatever they want, the parents claim.
In a daycare center run by Emunah in a central Israeli city, two daycare workers can be heard arguing about a 3-year-old they once forgot at a public park.
In one daycare center in Israel's north, daycare workers were videotaped repeatedly ignoring children's requests to eat or drink. And in another Jerusalem-area daycare, one of the daycare workers can be seen losing control, screaming at the children, and hitting them.
"Some of these workers would never be allowed to work in a grocery store," Chani (name has been changed), who is a daycare worker herself, told Yediot Ahronot. "They hit the babies, scream at them, then go out to have a smoke and leave the babies unattended."
One Yediot Ahronot reporter tried to get accepted as a daycare worker, and found the daycare manager did not ask about credentials or experience.
"I need someone now, can you be here in another hour?" the manager asked.
An Emunah spokesperson said, "This is a very general statement. If it is true - and I assume it's not imaginary - we have to understand that the exception does not reflect the rule.
"The rule is that every individual problem which has been exposed and proven true has been immediately and properly dealt with. We do not compromise on these things.
"This general accusation harms thousands of preschool teachers and daycare workers who give of themselves every day and work responsibly and lovingly. This accusation also does not make sense when we remember that waiting lists for Emunah daycare centers are hundreds of children long.
"Because of our impressive accomplishments in the area of childcare, we won the Israel Prize in 2008. It is well known that Emunah daycare centers are severely understaffed, and it could be that some of our workers did not deal properly with the children. But these are isolated cases, and none of them have been reported as severe."
Na'amat said, "It's hard to address such general accusations. We will be happy to address specific difficulties. In general, Na'amat deals properly with every accusation of improper handling of children. In every case, Na'amat works quickly and efficiently to eliminate the problem.
"Every Na'amat daycare is under strict pedagogical supervision, but since this is a large system with thousands of workers, and since we are suffering from severe manpower shortages, mistakes and exceptional circumstances can happen. The system's quality is measured by how efficiently it deals with these issues."
WIZO said, "We have asked Yediot Ahronot to send us the full investigation, including recordings, documents, and all relevant information. After we receive these materials, we will learn, research, and respond appropriately."
4. SIGN OF THE TIMES: MORE ROADS - AND EVEN MORE CARS
by Hillel Fendel
The State of Israel continues to grow apace, symbolized by increasing traffic jams and density. Just in 2016 alone, the number of miles traveled on Israel roads by motor vehicles jumped by 3.4 billion kilometers, or 6.2%, to over 58 billion kilometers.
The number of new cars sold in 2016 was 286,000 – 12.5% more than the year before – or 5,700 a week.
Already in 2014, Israel's roads and highways were the most crowded among the 35 member countries of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), with more than 2,500 vehicles per road-kilometer. The situation has only grown more acute since then.
Israel is building more roads, but cannot keep up with the increase in vehicles. Between 2000 and the end of 2015, miles traveled grew by 50% and the number of cars jumped by 70% - while road area grew by only 40% and road-length was only 17% higher.
A new measure relating to the problem of traffic jams in Israel has been added to the Transportation Ministry's annual working plan. It shows that a trip on Israel's roads and highways in the afternoon and morning hours takes 64% longer than the same trip at night. The Transportation Ministry has set itself a very modest goal: to lower this number to 62%. Why such humility? The explanation is that it is due to all the ongoing infrastructure work.
The solution clearly lies in public transportation. Many projects are underway to this end, including new or expanded light rail routes in Israel's three largest cities (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa),and expanded train routes between cities and various parts of the countries. However, only 47% of the objectives set for 2016 for these programs were met.
It can therefore be expected that as Aliyah and Israel's birth rate thankfully increase, the problems will not go away – but they are being worked on.
5. THE QUESTION AN MK ASKED A GRIEVING FATHER
by Shimon Cohen
Today is the 14th anniversary of the Haifa bus 37 suicide bombing, in which an Arab terrorist blew up a bus in the northern city of Haifa, killing 17 passengers and injuring over 50 people.
Among the victims was 17 year old Haifa resident Tal Kehrmann. Arutz Sheva sat down with Tal's father, Ron Kehrmann, who, along with other parents of terror victims, led the campaign against the release of terrorist from prison.
"Our struggle was not directed against the family itself," Kehrmann said of his fight to prevent the Shalit Deal, the release of more than 1,000 terrorists, some with blood on their hands, in exchange for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been illegally held captive by the Hamas terrorist organization without access to the International Red Cross from 2006 until 2011. "Instead, we turned to the politicians and the decision makers."
"We voted on different ways to release the captive soldier instead of surrendering and releasing 1027 terrorists, and then another 20 terrorists," Kerhmann said. "We suggested that the Bank of Israel not allow the replacement of old coins from Gaza with New Israeli Shekels (NIS). We proposed that that the shipping of washing machines [to Gaza] be stopped [in order to put pressure on Hamas to release Shalit] without surrendering and releasing thousands of terrorists, which endangers Israeli citizens. And [our warnings about the dangers of the mass release of terrorists] proved to be accurate. Seven people have been killed [by freed terrorists] and the new leader of Hamas is a man freed in the deal. Today we cry over spilled milk."
Kerhmann recounted the question one MK, who is still serving in the Knesset today, asked him after the attack in which his son was murdered. "How many people do you represent?" the MK asked.
"When I heard that question I realized what counted to him. I didn't have the price he wanted, and I realized that the session was over. It is a question that has echoed in my ears for 14 years, and I have learned that there are very few politicians with whom it is possible to talk about concrete matters,"
6. TEL AVIV TRAIN STATION CLOSES FOR SIX DAYS
by Chana Roberts
Tel Aviv's Hashalom Station will be closed for six days starting on Monday morning, due to work on the tracks and infrastructure.
Hashalom Station is expected to reopen the morning of March 12.
The station's closure is due to tunnel boring machines (TBM) working to allow the light rail train to tunnel underneath Hashalom Station.
Southbound trains will end at Tel Aviv Savidor Central Station, and northbound trains will end at Tel Aviv's Hahagana Station.
There will be a Nahariya-Be'er Sheva train which bypasses Tel Aviv altogether.
Free shuttles within Tel Aviv and additional bus lines to and from Tel Aviv will compensate for Hashalom Station's closure.
In addition, the IDF will provide soldiers with alternative transportation to and from army bases.
Bus line 777 will shuttle passengers between Tel Aviv's Savidor, Hashalom, and Hagana railway stations and between the Savidor station and Ben Gurion Airport.
Line 777's schedule is as follows:
-6:00am-9:00am: Fill up and go
-9:00am-3:00pm: Every 10 minutes
-3:00pm-7:00pm: Fill up and go
-7:00pm-11:00pm: Every 10 minutes
On February 19, Israel's first tunnel boring machine began clearing land for the tracks of Tel Aviv's planned light rail train.
7. THE MACABRE TRIAL OF PROF. GEORGE BENSOUSSAN: VERDICT TODAY
by Inna and Michael Rogatchi
The die-hard traditions of the Dreyfus Affair
Just a few months ago, in October 2016, a dedication took place in the Swiss city of Mulhouse, bordering on France, that brought out crowds. The city was celebrating the unveiling of a statue of Alfred Dreyfus, born in the city, in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of his pardon. It certainly took them a while.
Today, witnessing the scandalous trial of distinguished scholar George Bensoussan, it is hard to withstand the temptation to recall the Dreyfus Affair and rename the case the Dreyfus-Bensoussan Affair.
We are personally acquainted with George Bensoussan, and he hosted and was a key speaker at the French national premiere of our film, "The Lessons of Survival," shown at the Memorial de la Shoah in Paris in the spring of 2015. We are familiar with his academic work and the many books on the Holocaust in which he is shown to be an outstanding historian, a scholar of integrity, and a thinker who has contributed much to the understanding of the Holocaust as a process.
George Bensoussan also is a highly reputed authority in the specialized area of Jewish communities in Arab countries. He is a hard-working, productive academic who has contributed significantly to humanitarian causes.
Observing the current macabre-trial-in-progress, one cannot help but think of just two possibilities regarding the incomprehensible, completely irrational behaviour of both French organizations and the juridical authorities: either the Dreyfus Affair mentality is still thriving in the country of the officer who was utterly loyal to his country but had 'sinned by default' - that is, by being born Jewish; or French society's way of life in the 21st century makes it prone to a recurrence of the one of the most shameful episodes of French history.
The resurrection of the Dreyfus Affair seems to be perceived by much of the French public and juridical institutions with shocking enthusiasm. In fact, since October 2015, France has been galvanized by what is known as the Bensoussan Trial.
The Stalin show-trials are alive and well
The chronicle of distinguished historian George Bensoussan is in the public domain. To recapitulate briefly, in October 2015, Bensoussan, head of of the Memorial de la Shoah editorial department, was invited by famous French philosopher and member of the French Academy Alain Finkielkraut to participate in a radio program and discussion. In the course of the discussion, Bensoussan, who was born in Morocco and knows the reality of life in the Arab world first-hand, referred to remarks made by Algerian-born Professor Smain Laacheron of Strasbourg University on the topic of anti-Semitism among the Arab families in France, in a film shown on French TV3.
In his portrayal of the anti-Semitic atmosphere which has become the norm in the Arab milieu of France, but is still regarded as an unspoken taboo in France, at least publically, Laacher described extensively the phenomenon of what he called 'domestic anti-Semitism' in Arab families, with such details as "one of the parents' insults to their children when they want to reprimand them, is to call them 'Jews.'" Laacher also said on the record, in the movie broadcast on French TV3, that "anti-Semitism in Arab families is first of all domestic (...), it is in the air that one breathes" – all this according to the transcript of the film.
In the radio program discussion which caused the entire brouhaha, George Bensoussan praised professor Laacher for his bravery, and said, re-phrasing Laacher: " as Laacher very bravely said ( ...), in France, in Arab families ( ...) anti-Semitism is imbibed with one's mother's milk."
It took only three days for a group of pro-Islamic activists to bring their claim against George Bensoussan to the French media watch-dog, CSA, accusing the historian of propagating "biological racism." The absurd accusations snowballed with maddening energy and speed. The absurd does have the characteristic of multiplying in no time, as George Orwell could tell you.
The pro-Islamist organization Le Collectif Contre l'Islamophobie en France (Collective Against Islamophobia in France, CCIF) wasted no time in bringing the case against George Bensoussan to the Paris prefecture which, in a surprising move, decided to prosecute.
That, in our view, was and is the essential point of yet another shameful public trial in France, astonishingly similar to the Stalin show-trials.
There are many organizations involved by now in the Bensoussan Affair, and the French public is also able to observe the intensifying battle within French Jewry, itself divided on what its position should be regarding the senseless witch-hunt of a distinguished Jewish historian.
But in our opinion, these are not the essential things to concentrate on, because the story is hardly surprising.
The core of the matter goes back to November 2015 and the hurried decision of the Paris prefecture to prosecute the distinguished historian in criminal court for paraphrasing another academic. Not only France, but the rest of the world must become familiar with the name of the prosecutor and anyone else who contributed to the Kafka-like realities that occurred in Paris in late January 2017 when the trial took place. George Bensoussan himself, most perceptively, named it 'intellectual terror.'
It is chilling to admit that George, his friends and people in similar positions in France are living in a literally Kafkian reality.
Remarkably, the film, in which sociologist Laacher gave a long tirade explaining the roots of the current anti-Semitism in Arab families in France, was publically aired in France back in 2015 two weeks after George Bensoussan talked about it, without any consequences for Laacher. Moreover, Laacher published several articles in the leading French media, including Le Monde, both before and after the radio program in which George Bensoussan mentioned him, with no reaction from any of those enthusiastic organizations and activists, and no prosecutor's interest in him at all.
In the process of the public defense of Bensoussan, several well-known academics of Arab origins were named, men who analyze the phenomenon of anti-Semitism in Arab families in their works and who expressing the same opinion, facts, and analyses publically as did Bensoussan; none of them had ever become the subject of any punitive action or reprimand.
The court hearings in Paris at the end of January 2017 were surreal, with witnesses for the prosecution stating that 'anti-Semitism, indeed, is rooted in many Arab families in France, but not in every family'; with experts issuing delusional opinions like 'while Arab families indeed call their children Jews, it is not regarded as an insult, but rather a normal part language and life.'
It seems that in modern France, both Kafka and Orwell are grossly outdated. But not Emil Zola, at least not his trial. The Bensoussan trial, in fact, is a 120 year old re-run of the first Zola trial, that other shameful French saga.
George Bensoussan: Emil Zola 120 years later
When people compare renowned Jewish historian Bensoussan to Dreyfus, it is an immediate and understandable association. In fact, the essence of the criminal case and trial of Bensoussan and the way it proceeded is astonishingly similar to the first trial of Emil Zola in 1898 when that great French writer decided to come to the defense of Dreyfus.
The criminal case against Zola was filed a few days after the publication of his now famous J'Accuse article on the front page of the Aurora journal. Like the Bensoussan case, the accusations were brought against both Zola and the media (in the Bensoussan case, the French Culture program in which he spoke).
120 years ago, three passages from a long article by Zola were used to sue him for defamation and libel. Today, two phrases are the reason for the claims against Bensoussan.
Zola was convicted and sentenced to the maximum punishment for the "crime" of which he was accused, one year in prison and a fine of 3,000 francs, a huge sum in 1898.
We are 'relieved' to know that France has become more 'progressive': George Bensoussan was not sent into exile while awaiting the verdict, as Zola was; and during his trial, the prosecutor demanded a modest enough penalty of 1,500 Euro.
The supposed justification for prosecuting him, a distinguished historian with an impeccable record of academic research and many books to his credit, a man of high international reputation - boggles the mind. Charged in criminal court for a metaphor? Why should George Bensoussan now have a criminal record? What about his and his family's nerves, health, and emotions? What about the moral consequences of this ongoing witch-hunt, persecution and trial?
What about the very idea of prosecuting a person for alluding to another person's statement?
Under the circumstances, it feels really farce-like to mention anything about freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, and any freedom of the individual in France today. These 'freedoms' are prisoners in the grotesque realities of the present-day French legal system and public atmosphere.
It is also far from farcical to learn that Bensoussan has been forced to collect money from his friends and supporters to be able to pay the legal expenses in the over 16-month continuing absurd litigation.
The death of human rights in France
The French media are full of articles describing the case, in the very same way they did with both the Dreyfus and Zola trials. From that coverage, one is astonished – or not – to see that there are several very visible French human rights organizations, including LICRA, the Jewish left-wing body, attacking Bensoussan along with the pro-Islamic Collective Against Islamophobia, as well as the French Human Rights League. There are also the Muslim SOS Racism organization, called a 'human-rights body which developed into political movement' by Le Monde, and Movements Against Racism and Friendship with People.
Public organizations can be affiliated in any way they choose, but it is ironic to see an originally Jewish human-rights body, LICRA, transformed into what it is today. In general, the tendency of organizations proclaiming their devotion to human-rights to act in screamingly biased ways is a worrisome growing phenomenon everywhere, not only in France. What is really serious here is the fact that in France such activities not only find their way to criminal court, but are heard there with alarming sympathy.
One cannot help but remember the phrase of Pascal Bruckner, well-known French philosopher and writer, from his classic work "The Tyranny of Guilt": "Europe relieves itself of the crime of the Shoah by blaming Israel (...)". In the same work, Bruckner also wrote of what he called 'quiet re-legitimization of the hatred of the Jews" masked under the disguise of "the Palestinian question."
In the decade since the publishing of that modern classic, its author Pascal Bruckner has felt his verdict turned on himself, literally: like George Bensoussan, he was tried in the Paris courts in January 2017 for his words during a TV appearance at ARTE in 2015 where he called for naming the people and organizations who were "collaborators in the murders of twelve journalists at the Charlie Hebdo office." As in the Bensoussan case, many French intellectuals of the highest calibre went to the defense of Bruckner. In his case, the court rejected the claims. His supporters celebrated 'the victory of the freedom of expression' in today's France, as if this outcome was a pleasant surprise. We are not discussing North Korea here, are we?
The verdict on the George Bensoussan case is expected on March 7th, 2017.
Farce? No, Alarm.
The unbelievable facts of the George Bensoussan trial, the act by the Paris prefecture, the actions of the organizations claiming defense of human rights, the atmosphere in that large European country where today a distinguished academic is actually being tried for a paraphrase, could be called 'a farce' if it was a political fable, a mini-anti-utopia. But as it is really happening, it does indicate, along with the trial of Pascal Bruckner, an alarming breach of real human rights and freedom in one of the biggest Western countries.
Not surprisingly, many well-known figures in France were outraged at what French Academy member Alain Finkielkraut called 'a trial of an opinion'. They are defending George Bensoussan actively and tirelessly.
We are joining their ranks and are calling to all our friends and colleagues, all those people who do not feel indifferent towards the reincarnation of the Zola and Dreyfus trials to protest the trial of George Bensoussan strongly and to support the renowned historian and man of integrity with all our strength and determination.
It would be worthwhile to recall some critically important historical facts that are direct consequences of the late 19th century Dreyfus trial: That is when the Antisemitic League of France was officially launched as a legitimate organization - in 1889 - thus paving way for legitimized racial hatred – and we know the price that French Jewry and thousands and thousands Jewish people who were in France paid for that during the Second World War.
Of the other consequences, the League for Defense of Human Rights, the first ever organization for defending human rights was established by several leading defenders of Dreyfus led by senator Ludovic Trarieux, former French Minister for Justice, in 1898, as their way of organizing Dreyfus' defense. All of them had been electrified by Emil Zola's J'Accuse which directly prompted their action.
The Dreyfus Trial resulted in the awful public ceremony of the officer's degradation. The general atmosphere of hysterical and violently anti-Semitic France at the time, made a profound, shocking impact on journalist Theodor Herzl who covered the trial for the Austrian Neue Freir Presse. Significantly, Herzl completed the first version of the book which has become the manifesto of modern Zionism, in the few months following the Dreyfus trial.
In the final version of Der Judeenstaat, Herzl wrote: "If France – bastion of emancipation, progress and universal socialism – [can] get caught up in a maelstrom of anti-Semitism and let the Parisian crowd chant 'Kill the Jews!', where can they be safe once again – if not in their own country? Assimilation does not solve the problem, because the Gentile world will not allow it - as the Dreyfus affair has demonstrated so clearly".
People who act with such bias, such open hatred, and such bigotry towards historian George Bensoussan in France today seem to be genuinely unaware of the real strength of history, which always pays back those who ignore it.
Inna and Michael Rogatchi are co-founders of The Rogatchi Foundation – www.rogatchifoundation.org, and is internationally renowned artistic and philanthropic couple. Inna Rogatchi is writer, scholar and film-maker; Michael Rogatchi is renowned artist. Both are active international public figures.
8. HE HAD THE LAW CANCELED AND DONATED A KIDNEY
by Eliran Aharon
[youtube:2025512]
Stephen Colman is part of a special group. In fact, 140 kidney donors spent this past Sabbath together, in what can be called a meeting of generous people who have literally given of themselves in order to save the life of a stranger.
The event was held in the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem by the Gift of Life Foundation and its founder, Rabbi Yeshayahu Heber, who was galvanized by his own experience as a dialysis patient who had to leave his job in education due to his kidney disease. The Gift of Life Foundation works to encourage organ donation in order to end the phenomenon of waiting lists for badly needed organs in Israel.
During the event, medical professionals and donors held discussions on ways to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation and to improve the process of organ donations in the instances when living people can donate.
Among the participants at the event were Professor Aaron Hoffman, the Director of the Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantation at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, and Professor Eitan Yefe Nof,the head of the Kidney Transplant and Cancer Research at Hadassah Ein Kerem. After the conclusion of the Sabbath, the donors gathered for a photograph of 140 people who only have one kidney each.
Rabbi Yeshayahu Heber said: "When we began eight years ago, I set myself a goal to make Israel the first country in the world where the waiting list is reversed, where there are are more people who want to donate a kidney from their bodies in order to save a life than people waiting to receive kidney transplants. Indeed, this proves that we're on the right track and that thanks to the participation from the general public we will be able, with God's help, to [continue to] save lives."
The donors discussed among themselves the feeling they had when they met someone whose life was saved by a donated organ, and the realization they had saved another's life.
The Gift of Life Foundation has aided 405 people in donating a kidney to date. There are approximately 6,000 people on kidney dialysis in Israel today, of which between 800-1,200 are waiting to receive a donated kidney.
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