Even before soldiers serving in the South began complaining about inadequate supplies – especially food – emergency volunteer collection sites were set up all over the country. Israelis – who for the most part have served in the army themselves and/or have sons and daughters and grandchildren serving in the army – understand the needs and are quick to respond. Among the first in Jerusalem were Aba and Pamela Claman, the founders of Thank Israeli Soldiers, who put out a call on social media for the provision of funds or supplies to stock emergency kits, each of which will contain critical daily essentials required by soldiers in times of war.
Food collections were taken up at the Shtiblech in Katamon on Monday and throughout the week, and probably will continue for the duration of the war. A collection and volunteering center was also set up at the Talbiyeh branch of the Minhal Kehillati (Community Administration) at the former President Hotel at 3 Ahad Ha’am Street. Organizers asked for lunch boxes, toilet paper, paper towels, sandwich bags, napkins, bread, buns and pitas, canned foods, shampoo, shower gel, snacks, sweets, soft drinks, coffee/tea and sugar, fortified milk, spreads, disposable plates, hot and cold paper cups, hot food dishes, wet wipes, garbage bags, large water bottles, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, towels, underwear for men and women, socks, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and anything else a soldier might need. For further information, call: 0776094747.
What was heartwarming to see was how ultra-Orthodox and secular volunteers were working together to sort and catalog foods, blankets, toiletries, etc. The blankets, incidentally, were all new and still in their wrapping. Many donors had filled supermarket tote bags with products. At the entrance to the building were several free-standing racks of slightly worn clothing donated to help people who had lost their homes or left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.
There are, of course, other collection centers in other neighborhoods, as well as fund-raising drives.
Hazvi Yisrael congregation in Talbiyeh is collecting financial donations on behalf of Keren Ashkelon at the request of David Zwebner, a member of the executive board of Keren Ashkelon and long-time active member of the synagogue.
Donations can be made through Bank Hapoalim (12) Branch 686; account #551230; with Keren Ashkelon as the payee.
Stocking up on food
■ FOOD IS part of the Jewish psyche. There are certain foods associated with Jewish holidays, and sometimes they begin to appear in stores before one holiday is over and the next is still way ahead. As people hurry to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, rolls, and canned goods in the event of a prolonged war, many supermarkets are short-staffed; some staff have been called up to serve, some have to stay home with young children. “Discount king” Rami Levy is calling for volunteer replacements and additional salaried workers to ensure that his chain can continue to provide good service to the public.
Giving praise to United Hatzalah
■ DURING THE first two days of the war, Kan Reshet Bet kept interrupting broadcasts for updates from Magen David Adom, while completely ignoring United Hatzalah, which this year is celebrating its 18th anniversary.
However, Health Minister Moshe Arbel had no hesitation in praising both paramedic organizations. On the first day of the war, United Hatzalah and Lahak Aviation, while under fire, transported nine seriously wounded people to hospitals in central Israel. In addition, 300 other wounded people were taken to hospitals by ambulances that drove to the South to reinforce other rescue operations.
United Hatzalah also supplied the most vulnerable areas with bulletproof vests, helmets, and medical equipment. All together, United Hatzalah volunteers, working closely with IDF medical units, treated more than 1,000 people in the South and center of the country during the first two days of the war.
Tripping at home
■ ALMOST EVERYONE at one stage or another trips at home. It could be due to an uneven carpet or an item placed where it shouldn’t be or not being careful enough when emerging from the bath or the shower. Usually, it results in a bruise or some swelling. Sometimes it could also be broken ribs, a broken ankle or a broken leg, depending on how and where one falls.
In the case of Idan Ben Zeno, a 38-year-old balloon artist and father of five from Gilo, it was a lot worse. Getting up in the middle of the night in response to the call of nature, he suddenly felt dizzy in the bathroom and called out to his wife, Galit who, fortunately, was awake.
Immediately after to calling her, he lost consciousness. Galit found him in a pool of blood, managed to rouse him, and tried to get him to stand up. He had fallen between the door frame, with his hands pinned under his body. When he tried to move, there was no feeling in his arms or legs. It was something he had never experienced before.
Galit managed to extricate his hands and dragged him a short distance from the bathroom door. After a few minutes, the feeling in his legs returned, but his hands remained paralyzed. Eventually he was taken to Hadassah-University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, where he was initially treated for a head wound.
After complaining of pain, weakness, and paralysis in his hands and legs, he was examined by Dr. Muhammad Shahwan, an orthopedic specialist in spinal surgery, who quickly referred him for imaging tests.
When Ben Zeno emerged from the MRI, he was prepared for surgery. Dr. Ohad Einav, a specialist in orthopedic surgery with expertise in complex spine surgery, spinal trauma, and degenerative spinal surgery, was called in to participate in the operation.
A neck CT scan showed cervical spine stenosis in the upper vertebrae. The MRI had revealed spinal cord injury around those vertebrae and swelling of the spinal cord.
On the decision of the Spinal Surgery Unit’s director, Dr. Josh Schroeder, it was decided that the two senior surgeons Shahwan and Einav would perform the surgery due to the complexity of the operation.
Working with them were anesthesiologists Dr. Wladyslaw Ozerki and Dr. Haitam Mesmer. The surgeons performed a procedure where the spinal canal was released, and the vertebrae were fixed in the area of the injury.
Recovery from such a delicate and complicated operation is not swift. Ben Zeno, who had a lot of orders for balloon arches for Rosh Hashanah, was unable to fulfill them. The physicians explained the recovery process to him, and though he is anxious to go back to work, he knows that it is in his best interest to follow their instructions. He realizes that without the successful surgery, he might have been paralyzed for life. He can now walk, move his fingers, and use his palms. He does not take any of this for granted, and daily thanks God and the wonderful team at Hadassah. He will be even more grateful when he gets back to his balloons.
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