In his recent Jewish Journal piece “Step-Up Nation” (punning on the great new book Start-Up Nation), Davis Suissa explains how it never occurred to Yonatan Yagodovsky, the director of the international desk at Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel, that the IDF Haiti operation was good PR for Israel. “Maybe we’re stupid and naïve,” he told Suissa. “We just want to help.”
But the truth is, as most of us know, it was good PR for Israel. To that end, the Israeli consulate here in Los Angeles sent The Wire’s own Yael Bar-Tur to Haiti where she spent two weeks with her IDF unit on the ground blogging about her experiences.
Needless to say, she saw a pantload more than the average CNN viewer. Be sure to catch all her blog posts here and find out first-hand what the IDF was up to on the ground in Haiti. And thanks Yael for letting us repost these! The Jewish Federation might have raised more than $350,000 for Haiti relief, which, of course, is paramount to the country’s recovery, but you did something few of us could imagine doing: you got your hands dirty and we’re very proud of you.
It was with tremendous excitement that I began my post as head of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles earlier this month. Our city is home to one of the most extraordinary Jewish communities in the world, primarily because of our diversity. Community members represent every element of the religious spectrum, every age and every socio-economic category. But we all share one common concern: What is our Jewish future?
Beginning today, we need to bring our many communities together to determine our collective path:
What should our priorities be and where should we be investing our resources?
How can we reach out to the tens of thousands of Jews who aren’t engaged in any community?
How can we combat the increasingly high cost of synagogue affiliation and formal education?
How can we ensure that future generations will share our love and commitment for Israel?
Are we doing everything we can to assure that our children and grandchildren remember the Holocaust?
After this recent and devastating economic downfall, what are our most pressing social service needs?
How should we be addressing the needs of Jews around the world?
How do we support the State of Israel as its needs change?
It feels overwhelming to ask these questions and almost impossible to take a step back to consider the answers. But we must.
My goal is create a dynamic new vision for Los Angeles by linking arms with you and beginning a communal conversation. If we’re to create a rich and meaningful Jewish future, we have to be willing to take risks and learn from our failures; to study our past, but not be stuck in it.
I invite you to contribute to the conversation by sending me your questions, or by posting a comment below. Help us as we search for the answers and find the courage to look forward.
This past holiday season, two dozen volunteers from the Federation’s Young Professional divisions banded together to help children in need. They formed the Toy Drive Committee, and set up 20 drop-off locations across the city and valley. Thanks to the generous support of the community, the Committee collected and donated over 4,000 toys.
Recipient organizations and kids said:
“We want to thank you for the abundance of wonderful toys we received from your recent Holiday Toy Drive. We’ve had the pleasure of distributing these toys in hospitals and homes and we’ve seen firsthand how these gifts have provided much-needed joy to children who live with serious, life-threatening pediatric illness.” - Chai Lifeline
“On behalf of the children and families we serve, the Board of Directors and staff, I thank you for the coordination and distribution of gifts and toys collected by the various Jewish Leadership Divisions for the children and families we serve. As you can imagine, the holidays are particularly difficult for them but this donation will help brighten their holiday season.” -Aviva
Congrats to Todd Steiner, Darya Pollak, Heath Binder, Dan Weiser, Danielle Chayot, Allen Steiner, Shira Rockowitz, and Nikita Putnam on your big success!
Watch the video above and check out the photos below. [Read more…]
Yael BT, blogger and communications staffer for the Israel Defense Force, is part of the IDF’s relief mission to Haiti. Yael has given us permission to re-post blog entries about her experience in the wake of recent earthquakes.
So it’s final – we’re leaving Wednesday the 27th. W’ere slowly starting to pack up and transfer patients from the hospital. Much of the equipment (tents, cleaning supplies, food) is being left here for our local translators who have been doing a great job.
As for us, things just keep getting weirder and weirder. Yesterday, the Colombian doctors gave us a salsa lesson. Today, Sean Penn stopped by (still don’t know why). I will try to answer some of your questions from twitter:
What’s the mood?
Like I’ve mentioned, volunteers are in really good spirits, but we’re getting tired. I think everyone is excited to go home. That being said, it will be hard to leave. Doctors and nurses got pretty attached to some patients and saying goodbye is a difficult process.
How is International cooperation?
It’s pretty much like a mini UN here. We have medical staff from Colombia and Canada working with us, and journalists from all over the world popping in.
Medically speaking, there’s a lot of cooperation with the US military, the Miami University hospital and an Italian hospital (both in Haiti), and of course a steady transferral of patients to the USNS Comfort.
What does Haiti need?
It’s a bit of a bubble in here. We see many happy stories and a lot of hope. However, this is only a little bandaid on the huge wound this earthquake caused. Many of the patients we help are in need of long term treatment and the whole country needs a long term plan to rebuild it’s infrastructure. We, the Israelis, are excellent first responders and we’ve worked hard since we got here. But now it’s time for the world to step in and make sure that these people are not forgotten once the news starts getting old.
Why did you go to Haiti?
I don’t know. For those of you who know me, I’m a little anxious. I like to be in control and I enjoy showering When I saw the images on TV of the Israeli delegation, I felt such pride! I knew I wanted to be part of this effort. My job here was to work with the press and indeed I did entertain reporters most of the time. But every free moment I had I spent at the children’s ward or with the babies. I still can’t comprehend the magnitude of this whole operation, but I know it is something that will be with me forever.
Yael BT, blogger and communications staffer for the Israel Defense Force, is part of the IDF’s relief mission to Haiti. Yael has given us permission to re-post blog entries about her experience in the wake of recent earthquakes.
Wow. Today was probably one of the most eventful days here in the camp.
This morning I wandered into the maternity ward. The Dr. asked me if I ever witnessed a birth. I said no, so he told me to stick around, I might have to help. Luckily they handled it pretty well on their own, but I got to help clean the beautiful baby boy and even put the tags on him. The nurse had to leave the room, so she casually called out to me “oh, can you give the baby to the mom?” And that was pretty much the coolest thing EVER.
Not that I even had time to think about it. Shortly after that, Mike came in, a 4 year old boy who was diagnosed with Leukemia, here at the IDF hospital . We started a huge twitter campaign to find someone to help him, and 2 hours later he whisked away to Miami University Hospital.
After that I showered. When I came back, I discovered that our search and rescue team had found a 23-year-old man who had been trapped for 11 days, alive! He survived by drinking liquids that he found around him, mostly his own urine. He is currently being treated here and his physical condition is excellent. The video of the incredible video of the rescue is above.
January 14, 2010
The REC Leadership and Program Awards
New Federation Chairman Richard V. Sandler discussed his vision and goals for the Federation over the next two years as the REC honored outstanding achievers of 2009.
December 12, 2009
Financial Services Division Chanukah Party
The Fed’s Financial Services Division took over Nic’s Martini bar in Beverly Hills, celebrating the Festival of Lights in style.
December 10, 2009 Valley Alliance Women’s Department Awards & Installation
The Women’s Department of the Valley Alliance gathered to welcome their incoming leadership and to honor those who served outstandingly on behalf of our community in the past year.
December 8, 2009
Valley Alliance Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Valley Alliance included the installation of the new board as well as a tribute to outgoing Federation president John Fishel and a welcome to incoming president Jay Sanderson.
December 5, 2009 Vodka Latka Chanukah ‘09
An all-out Chanukah celebration for the entire young professional community.
December 2, 2009 Gala Dinner Honoring John Fishel
The Skirball Center was overflowing with well-wishers honoring outgoing Federation president John Fishel in a tribute to his 18-year career with The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.
Yael BT, blogger and communications staffer for the Israel Defense Force, is part of the IDF’s relief mission to Haiti. Yael has given us permission to re-post blog entries about her experience in the wake of recent earthquakes.
January 20, 2009
9:22 am — 6.1 Quake
Jumped out of my sleeping bag today to a 6.1 earthquake, not a nice wake up call. The ground was literally sliding around.
Spent the day escorting reporters. Yesterday we had two kids come in (brother and sister) who were buried for 7 days! They walked out of the hospital today. Walked! It was amazing. Even the doctors, who usually keep their cool, where so touched.
Here is a picture of me and my friend Max. He may look little, but he is a decorated soldier (probably ranked much higher than I am). Max found a survivor at the U.N building a few days ago.
Feels like it’s been a week already; I can’t believe this is only my second night. Met some more people today at the camp, everyone is so nice and relatively relaxed. There is a Psychiatrist and a social worker here with the military, and they are definitely busy. I am exhausted, so I can’t imagine what the doctors feel like. We are all kind of slurring our words and mispronouncing our own names.
Nothing has sunk in yet, at least not for me. Right now I am exhilarated at the thought of the people we’re helping. Still haven’t had time to think about those we aren’t. I know it will kick in sooner or later.
Yael BT, blogger and communications staffer for the Israel Defense Force, is part of the IDF’s relief mission to Haiti. Yael has given us permission to re-post blog entries about her experience in the wake of recent earthquakes.
January 19, 2009
1:34 pm – Hello from Port-au-Prince
I have finally arrived at the Israeli Military hospital here. My journey was pretty nightmarish- LAX to Puerto Rico, PR to Santo Domingo, then stuck overnight in Santo Domingo. 5:30 am we left for the airport with a driver who did not stop at one red light and I am not exaggerating!
In the airport we scrambled around for a flight, it was only private jets and aid. We finally boarded a tiny private jet (after paying the pilot too much money) and somehow landed in Port Au Prince.
The airport was pretty chaotic – like a mini UN with soldiers and people from all over the world. We asked pretty much every nation for a ride and finally got a ride to the hospital with the wonderful people of Timoun lakay – a charity for children (www.timounlakayfoundation.org).
The streets were pretty crazy, packed with people. no one crying or screaming, didn’t see any blood or what they see on the news. Just thousands of people sad, jaded, walking around aimlessly.
2:22 pm -The Israeli Hospital
In a foreign country in the Caribbean I have never felt more at home.
There are over 200 Israelis here–over 100 medical staffers (doctors, EMTs etc), search & rescue and logisitcs workers, and everyone is incredibly nice. Most of the medical staff are reserves, doctors that left their families and practices in Israel and jumped on a plane. The hospital is huge – there is an ICU, a Pediatrics unit, an ER, an Xray machine, an operation room and even 3 incubators with 3 beautiful babies. Although I am just here to report, I have never been prouder in my life.
I stumbled upon the two pediatrics tents and gave the kids some dolls I had brought from home (luckily I am a 27 y/o who owns some stuffed animals…) and even helped feed one gorgeous 6-year-old boy with an amputated leg who’s name I don’t know. He then fell asleep with the doll and that was pretty much worth the whole trip.
6:06 pm – For those who are asking…
We sleep in tents. The food is ok–today I had canned tuna and mustard for dinner, but we are lucky to have anything. It is HOT!
9:27 pm – Surreal
I don’t know what time it is (late?). I am in the baby ward sitting on a field bed trying to get some work done. I’m sharing the bed with a girl who is about 3 hours old, covered in a towel. So far we are not bothering each other.
We have a few locals with us translating. I always ask about their families and they usually reassure me that everyone is fine. I asked one man and got the answer I didn’t want to hear. His wife and kids were at home, he was lucky to be outside when the quake hit. He used to work at a bank but the bank is gone as well. He said that God does whatever he wants. He wasn’t angry, just accepting and so happy to be alive. Surreal.
CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen visits a Haiti hospital where patients who’ve survived the earthquake are dying because of infection, and the Israel I.D.F. field hospital where modern medical care is saving lives.
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It was with tremendous excitement that I began my post as head of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles earlier this month. Our city is home to one of the most extraordinary Jewish communities in the world, primarily because of our diversity. Community members represent every element of the religious spectrum, every age and every socio-economic category. But we all share one common concern: What is our Jewish future?
When I saw the images on TV of the Israeli delegation, I felt such pride! I knew I wanted to be part of this effort. My job here was to work with the press and indeed I did entertain reporters most of the time. But every free moment I had I spent at the children’s ward or with the babies. I still can’t comprehend the magnitude of this whole operation, but I know it is something that will be with me forever.
Jumped out of my sleeping bag today to a 6.1 earthquake, not a nice wake up call. The ground was literally sliding around.
