Crossing the Yarden

By Yarden Frankl

The "Gates of Justice"

Almost all kids at some point have accidents that require more than a band-aid. This week, my daughter tripped on our steps and received a rather nasty wound. Upon the advice of one of our neighbors, we set out for Sha'are Zedek hospital to find a surgeon who could stitch her up.

I must admit that I felt overwhelmed when we entered the emergency section of the hospital. Hundreds of people have been treated here after horrific terrorist attacks. I don't know how doctors in Israel who work with trauma are able to withstand seeing the terrible consequences of terrorism and yet continue saving precious lives. In our war on terror, the surgeon with the scalpel has been just as critical as the soldier with the gun.

On the wall of the lobby is a plaque in memory of Dr. David Applebaum, the former director of Emergency Services at Sha'are Zedek who saved countless lives only to lose his own in an attack. At first I felt guilty taking a little girl in need of stitches to a place which specialized in stitching whole lives back together. Then I realized that doctors here must be thrilled to be able to treat a child with an easily reparable scrape rather than people whose lives will be permanently damaged.

We had to wait for the surgeon for awhile, and I noticed how the waiting room reflected the diversity of Israel. There was a Haredi family with a bunch of children with Peyos running around. I watched with amusement as an Israel woman tried to convince the orderly why she could not wait to see the doctor. A few Arab-Israelis were speaking with each other while patiently waiting. Then a trio of soldiers with a prisoner in hand cuffs and leg cuffs came in and waited with us.

As the time went by, I looked at the prisoner and wondered how his mind worked. Did he look around the waiting room and instead of seeing a collection of human beings, just see "political" targets. Did he even consider that no Palestinian hospital even comes close to this modern, clean facility? Did he notice on the walls the names of Jews around the world who had contributed to build this house of healing? In Israel, hospital rooms, ambulances, and medical clinics are named for those who are inspired by the Jewish value to "choose life." In Gaza, many public facilities are named after suicide bombers, encouraged by a culture that worships death. Did the prisoner even consider that he, an enemy of the state, was being provided medical care by the very state he seeks to destroy?

Finally it was Miriam's turn and the surgeon patched her up with the help of a medical student. Kol HaKovod for young people in Israel who decide to go into the fields of healing. It is an unfortunate fact of life that we will always need highly competent medical professionals here. But I pray that they will spend most of their careers helping children get over typical accidents rather than having to be soldiers in our war against terror.

Shabbat Shalom from our blessed nation.

© 2005, 2006 Yarden Frankl