Issue #3 October 2007 / Cheshvan 5768

Israel Senior News
News and Issues affecting
Israel's Seniors
Issue #3 October 2007 Cheshvan 5768

Dear Readers,

We have noticed a number of themes running through the poetry and articles
that we have received. What makes it so interesting is that all of our
writers approach these issues from a different perspective, reflective of
their culture, professional background and life experience.
Keep sending in your submissions! Israel Senior Life is intended to
reflect your lives and opinions and you are the best people to do this!
As winter begins to creep around the corner, this month we are featuring a
number of articles and poetry related to the medical profession and how it
treats older people.

Wishing you a healthy winter,

Tamar Wisemon
Editor
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Or Akiva man arrested for allegedly
beating Holocaust survivor, 85
As printed in Haaretz

Police on Sunday arrested a 30-year-old Or Akiva resident on suspicion of
having assaulted an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor in the town last
Thursday.

Police suspect that Avi Strikovsky assaulted Ogen Radar, his neighbor,
because of a dispute over watering their apartment building's common
garden. He will be brought to court for a hearing this morning, and police
intend to ask that he be remanded until the end of his trial.

The assault took place at about 2 P.M. last Thursday, during the holiday
of Simhat Torah, as Radar was coming home from synagogue. According to
Radar's son, David Radar, Strikovsky was lying in wait for him near his
home. "He beat him all over his body, then went away and left him there,
bleeding," David Radar said. He added that Strikovsky apparently used a
sharp instrument, as his father suffered a deep cut on his forehead.
Radar managed to drag himself home and press the panic button he had
installed, which summoned both his son and the police. They took him to the
hospital for treatment.

"This was an attempted murder," David Radar said. "My father has a heart
problem, and a single punch could cause him to collapse."
This is the second time in a few weeks that Strikovsky has attacked Radar,
but after the first incident, the court released Strikovsky on bail.
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Israel Seniors Month 2007

Israel Seniors Month 2007 is taking place from October 7^th through
November 7^th.

During this time, seniors in Israel can enjoy a host of benefits such as
free or reduced entry to museums and theaters, tours, nature parks, classes
and special events. Many are for seniors' groups but discounts are also
available to individuals.

For more information, or to obtain a 90-page booklet (in Hebrew) listing
the attractions, contact:
The Department for Volunteerism for Seniors,
10 Yad Harutzim, Talpiot, Jerusalem
Tel: 02-670-8326
Fax: 02-670-8255
Email [mailto:avrahamei@molsa.gov.il] avrahamei@molsa.gov.il
____________________________________________
.
THE ART OF HEALING
by Monty M. Zion M.D.

Prior to commencing studies for the medical profession, one must have
completed courses in mathematics and in physical science. In the first
years of study at university, courses in physics and chemistry, followed by
physiology and biochemistry further point to the fact that medical
practitioners need to have a good basic knowledge of science.
But when one enters the clinical years of study, one learns that while the
basis for our profession is scientific, the practice of medicine is, in
fact, an art. For those who do not wish to participate in this art, they
take further studies in physiology or other basic sciences and embark on
careers of pure research.

The art of medicine involves establishing a diagnosis and prescribing or
administering treatment. The diagnostic art was particularly important in
my own field of practice, namely cardiology. It provided me with many years
of great enjoyment of my work. With all the technological advances over the
past half a century, this art has become less and less important and it
would be fair to say that cardiology today is, in fact, more of a
technocracy.

What is of concern to the older generation of physicians is the fact that,
pari passu with technological advances, what has suffered, unnecessarily,
is the art of healing. This became especially noticeable to me during and
after my wife’s recent prolonged admission to hospital.
What, in fact, do I mean by the art of healing? Of course, an accurate
diagnosis and application of appropriate treatment are essential
pre-requisites.

But for healing to be effective’ the patient has to be confident and
adequately reassured as to his progress. He has to feel that the medical
staff have an empathy for him and his family, and he has to experience a
certain amount of psychological support. So often the doctors visiting my
wife while doing their rounds would discuss her case and leave without
saying a word to her. A few words of reassurance accompanied by a gesture
such as holding her hand and certainly smiling while talking, would have
made a great difference to the healing process. Indeed, after a few days in
hospital, my wife mentioned to a young doctor how much a greeting
accompanied by a smile would be appreciated.

We are all familiar with the fact that in modern medical practice, the
doctor in his office is faced with his PC computer and fails to look at the
patient at any time during the consultation. A few glances at the patient
and especially sufficient time being applied to a physical examination with
appropriate information given at that time, can work wonders.

We, in the medical profession, have wondered at the popularity of what is
today known as alternative medicine. While some forms of this have been
accepted by the profession as being physically beneficial, even if a
physiological explanation is not apparent, many are well accepted by the
public even though claims of cures are so often exaggerated and
unconfirmed. Why are these treatments so popular and well accepted?

Because the practitioners concerned are expert at applying the art of
healing, which we, as physicians would do well to emulate.

Prof. (Emeritus) Monty M. Zion MD is former Chief of Cardiology at Shaare
Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem and subsequently Medical Director of the
Cardiac Institute of Kupat Cholim Meuhedet in Jerusalem.
__________________________________________________
Israeli-developed PeriBoost provides relief for PAD sufferers
As noted by Israel21c.org

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects 12% to 20% of Americans age 65
and older. The best thing to do if you suffer from PAD, a chronic condition
that happens when a plaque blockage occurs in a peripheral artery in the
legs or pelvis, is to walk. Walk, and walk, and walk. The act of walking
enlarges and expands the small blood vessels around the artery, ensuring
that you receive a steady flow of blood to your legs.

For some patients with PAD, however, walking just isn't possible. Perhaps
they have an injury or swelling, perhaps they are elderly or diabetic. The
upshot is that oxygen-rich blood does not reach the lower limbs. This
causes pain, changes in skin color, ulcers and difficulty in walking and
may even lead to gangrene and amputation.

Now, Israeli start-up PerAssist has developed a new treatment that offers
PAD sufferers a chance to save their limbs by developing a medical sleeve
called PeriBoost which improves blood flow to the lower limbs of PAD
patients in much the same way that walking does.
PeriBoost was developed by Dr. Aaron Hoffman, the chief medical officer of
PerAssist, Director of the Department of Vascular Surgery and
Transplantation at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and an associate
professor at the faculty of medicine at the Technion-Israel Institute of
Technology together with water engineer Gaby Weizman.

The PeriBoost is intended for the legs only, and requires treatment for
three hours daily over three months. It is not painful, according to
company, and the patient can function normally throughout the procedure.
Says PerAssist’s CEO, "The blood vessel is not like a muscle, it has no
sensors or nerves. All we are doing is pushing it and this does not cause
any pain. The patient can eat, sleep, read - whatever they want. They won't
feel a thing."

If all goes according to plan, the product could be out in the European
market by the end of next year, and in the US in 2009.
___________________________________________
Marking Israel's "Seniors' Month"
Ezrat Avot's
Student Photography Contest
"Israel 60 Plus"
Deadline – 11^th November 2007
Enter by mail or email
[http://www.ezratavot.org/?categoryId=17333] Click here for more details
Visit Ezrat Avot at www.ezratavot.org
___________________________________________________
Medical Tests
by Michael E. Stone

Lots of people in the clinic,
all waiting for the same tests,
older and younger,
sicker and stronger.

Each has body,
fear, apathy or apprehension.

Each is tested,
sonared, dopplered,
scanned and grammed.

No real people check them,
Just machines with operators.

The results will take a week.

Michael E. Stone FAHA, PhD., DLitt. Serves as Gail de Nur Professor of
Comparative Religion and Professor of Armenian Studies emeritus at the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has lived in Jerusalem since 1960. Prof.
Stone has been writing poetry since turning 59, around nine years. He
studies and translates medieval Armenian poetry, including the recent
translation of a 6,000 line medieval epic poem on Adam and Eve (Oxford
University Press).
_______________________________________
RETIRED
by Jill Sadowsky

She’s washed the pots and cleaned the house
The daily news she’s read.
Her husband must be so worn out
He’s fast asleep in bed.

She’s shopped for food
And mowed the lawn
Her work is much admired.
He says; “It must be nice for you,
Now that we’ve retired.”

Jill Sadowsky is an English teacher and grandmother living in Raanana. She
made Aliya in 1963 and is the author of a book in Hebrew, "Bachu L'Ma'anam"
(Weep for Them). Her writing has appeared in numerous publications in
English and Hebrew.
_________________________________________
Anglo Retirees Tutoring Schoolchildren

Project Mesila places senior volunteers in elementary schools to provide
individual assistance to Israeli schoolchildren struggling in their English
studies.

Available for this new school year in Jerusalem and Bet Shemesh.
[mailto:info@ezratavot.org?subject=Please contact me about volunteering
for Mesila] Click here to learn how you can become a Mesila volunteer.
__________________________________________
We hope that this e-zine will give you a window onto life for seniors in
Israel today.
Every month we will send you the latest news, together with profiles of
veteran Israelis, reviews, articles and poetry written by or about seniors.
To subscribe or to submit your article or request Writers' Guidelines - email:
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