“I feel really proud that I had the opportunity to help out at this time of crisis. “Dr. Adam Zeitlin, local physician in Kew Gardens Hills, packed up and rushed to use his skills to help Eretz Yisrael. “We all have a place as a Jewish nation. I wanted to give my hand in a time of need.”
Dr. Zeitlin spent three weeks in Yerushalayim at Herzog Medical Center Chronic Care Hospital. Due to the war, evacuated areas sent patients and there were also fewer physicians available. They had approximately 40 extra beds filled with patients, but with fewer doctors working there.
Dr. Zeitlin was sent by the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel (APF). The organization was established 70 years ago for the sole purpose of reinforcing the Israeli healthcare system with licensed medical professionals from North America to step in on a moment’s notice and assist in Israeli civilian hospitals in the event of a national crisis. Now, as it was then, APF is the only organization that partners with Israel to maintain an Emergency Medical Volunteer roster, ensuring that medical assistance to Israel remains just a phone call away.
Dr. Zeitlin’s trip to Israel happened very quickly. Amir Goldshtein, the executive Director of APF, held a Zoom meeting with 50 physicians to determine who would be eligible to come. From that meeting, two physicians ended up going and one of them was Dr. Zeitlin. You had to be ready to leave immediately and to be able to stay for an extended time. In addition, you needed the correct skill set. Dr. Zeitlin received an emergency medical license that was valid for six months, which came about through APF working with the Health Ministry. His work involved caring for geriatric patients in a chronic ventilator unit. His colleague, who also came to volunteer was Dr. Liss Gruen of Denver, Colorado. She worked in acute rehabilitation.
He shared that they became integrated into the Israeli hospital quickly. They helped to lessen the burden of the patient load for the staff. He shared that he was assigned patients who either spoke English or had a family member or aid who spoke English. The records were in Hebrew, and he used Google Translate when necessary. He was able to record his records in English. “We saw how the medical care was delivered there, and it was a mutual learning experience between the visiting physicians and the Israeli ones. He said the doctors translated back and forth at meetings.
The doctors and patients were not all Jewish. There were Muslim doctors and patients as well as Christian and Jewish ones. When asked if there was tension with the Muslim physicians, he responded that they all worked side by side and everyone was professional. Dr. Zeitlin shared that he was impressed at the level of medical care there, as well as at the quality of the facilities.
He shared how he met people from other Jewish groups who had come on a mission to help Israel and who were staying in the same hotel as him. There were also families from evacuated areas staying there. Morale was high. When eating breakfast at the hotel, they’d see children with their families. The parents would pack lunches for the kids and send them off to school from the hotel.
He said that while he was there, he felt secure. He was there during a terrorist attack at the Kosel, and also there was a siren that went off last Shabbos at 5:00 p.m. He was davening in the hotel shul, which happened to be the safe room. It makes sense on many levels that the shul was the safe room!
In Israel, he said that there was a sense of fortitude, and the feeling that we will get through this, among the people he met. There was a strong sense of togetherness, as well. There is sadly a tremendous number of serious injuries. People were very appreciative of the visiting physicians. He felt this in taxi rides back and forth and from what people said. So many volunteer missions came, and they also included Christian groups and people from all over the world. He met chayalim at the hotel, too. The hospital gave the visiting doctors a bon voyage party when they were leaving. Dr. Zeitlin said, “I feel we accomplished what we were sent to do, and that was a great feeling.”
The need now in Israel is for mental health professionals to help with trauma and rehab for long-term injuries. The community is so proud to have members like Dr. Zeitlin, who use their skills to help klal Yisrael. May Hashem bring us an end to the war, and may He give us peace and Mashiach now!
By Susie Garber
