Dr. Mustafa Yassin, an orthopedist from the Rabin Medical Center, and Dr. Kassis Shukri, a plastic surgeon from Ziv Medical Center in Safed, worked for two and a half intensive days with a Palestinian medical team at Shifa Hospital, Gaza's main medical facility. They were able to obtain special entry permits into the Gaza Strip for their mission. Their medical aid was sponsored by the Physicians for Human Rights organization in Israel, and Operation Smile, an American organization which operates 30 medical centers around the world.
Dr. Shukri coordinates Operation Smile's Israeli activities. He had been on a previous mission to Gaza, and he noted that presently the medical situation is even worse, due to very old equipment and lack of updated technology at the Gaza medical center. He stated that in the entire Gaza area there is only one plastic surgeon serving hundreds of cases every month.
During their time working at Shifa Hospital, Dr. Shukri treated over 30 children ranging from two months to 14 years of age. He performed four complicated surgeries, treating congenital anomalies such as a cleft palate, deformities, and cuts and burns. Most children had life-threatening conditions, having suffered from long-term deformities.
The two doctors aim to continue their work in the Gaza Strip, depending on security conditions and their ability to get entry permits to the Palestinian territories.
Current scholarship recipient, Maria Portnoy, demonstrates the enormous impact of your generosity over the years. Born in Ukraine, Maria immigrated to Israel with her family at age six. She majored in robotics during high school and is now in her second year at the Dina Nursing School.
Passover is a significant milestone for anyone on a diet or even for those of us trying not to gain a few pounds, for unlike other Jewish holidays which also have many fattening foods; Passover is especially difficult as it lasts for 8 days.
A special interfaith
mission to Israel, of
Jews and Christians
from New Jersey and
across the USA, was
launched in November
2006 under the leadership
of Mr. William
Sutter, head of Friends
of Israel and Alan
Respler, head of the
Jewish Community
Relations Council of
Southern New Jersey.