Photo #1 APF Shelter
Photo #2 Sderot School Children
Photo #3 APF and MDA
The Doctors' House Call that Saved Lives in Sderot
Heart and Soul in Sderot
Twenty doctors and nurses attending the American Physicians Fellowship's (APF) Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Course in Israel visited the embattled town of Sderot on Monday, May 12th.
They helped to dedicate a $20,000 reinforced bus shelter for the Torani Hadash School procured by contributions to APF. One day earlier, tens of school children raced to this and nearby shelters when a Kassam rocket fell nearby. There were no casualties.
The APF Course participants also dedicated a new $10,000 vitally needed defibrillator system at the Sderot Magen David Adom Station.
*Photo #1 - In photo from right to left: Dr. Norton J. Greenberger, APF President and Dr. Mike Frogel, APF Vice President
*Photo #2 - Dr. Norton J. Greenberger and Dr. Mike Frogel with Students from Torani Hadash School
*Photo #3 In the photo from right to left: Dr. Mike Frogel, APF Vice President and Dr. Norton J. Greenberger, APF President, and Mr. Moshe Vaknin and Mr. Avi Tiger of MDA
All photos were taken by Sasson Tiram
Shelter
Shelter plaque
APF Launches Sderot Fund
March 2008
Dear Colleagues,
As many of you know these are very difficult times for the State of Israel. This is particularly true for the city of Sderot and environs that are inside Israel adjacent to Hamas controlled Gaza. During our last Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Course in Israel (November 2007) our APF group of 34 healthcare professionals visited Sderot. We all experienced a close encounter with a Kassam rocket (filled with nails and ball-bearings) landing a half hour before our arrival to Sderot.
The highlight of our visit there was meeting with the Sderot medical, social work and psychological professionals who volunteer, at the risk of life and limb, to care for the 20,000 inhabitants of a “war zone” under constant attack. Since the beginning of the second intifada in the year 2000 over 7500 rockets have hit Sderot and the surrounding areas. The pace has greatly accelerated to over 800 in the first two months of 2008. 13 people, including children, have been killed, hundreds physically injured and thousands suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Countless homes, businesses, schools and most importantly families have been shattered by the constant bombardment. Two weeks ago an 8 year old child who could not find shelter lost his leg. Simple things such as shopping, going to school or having a backyard barbecue are overshadowed by fear. An early warning system urgently repeating “color red” provides only 15 seconds to find shelter.
In light of these ominous facts APF funded and erected a shelter in Sderot’s Torani School’s parking lot on February 18, 2008 to offer protection to the brave school children of Sderot and their families. Many more are needed, in addition to the medical, economic and psychosocial programs required.
We are hereby announcing the establishment of “The Sderot Fund” to be used for the safety, protection and well being of the inhabitants of the city and surrounding areas under attack.
As stated in the Leveticus 19:16 “You shall not stand aside while your fellow’s blood is shed.”
We urge you to contribute by clicking here and typing Sderot Fund in the comments section or by sending a check to our office Attention: APF Sderot Fund.
Please remember to join/renew your APF membership and to support our fellowship and emergency preparedness volunteer and training programs.
May G-d bless us and the people of Israel with peace and prosperity.
Thank You,
Norton J. Greenberger, MD, APF President
Michael Frogel, MD, APF Vice President
APF and Taglit/birthright israel Medical Student Tour
APF in conjunction with Taglit/birthright for the 3rd year will be sending a group of Medical/Nursing students to Israel for 10 days for FREE! Please visit our Medical Student Tour Page to learn more and to see our poster available for downloading.
If you are interested in pre-registering please contact Sarah at sarah@apfmed.org . Full registration begins on February 12th 2008.
Student Tour
