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Tuvia Book
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Tuvia Book
Author, educator, Tour-Guide, artist
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The Heart of the Matter: SACH

This week my family visited Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah project. The Save a Child’s Heart organization, according to the mission statement on its website (www.saveachildsheart.org) is,

An Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. SACH is totally dedicated to the idea that every child deserves the best medical treatment available, regardless of the child’s nationality, religion, colour, gender or financial situation.”

At the hospital we met with Randi Weiss, the dynamic Director of Youth Leadership, who showed us a moving introduction film and then took us around the ICU ward where Dr. Hanita introduced us to patients from Gaza and Africa. The mothers from Gaza were so appreciative of the wonderful staff in the hospital including Fatma, an Israeli-Arab social worker who works on the SACH team as a translator and social worker. Randi explained that part of the SACH mission is training doctors from Africa and the PA to perform the life saving procedures in their countries of origin.

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SACH (photo (c)T. Book, 2015)

After visiting the Wolfson Medical center we then went to volunteer at the recuperation center where the children and their parents or caregivers, mainly hailing from developing sub-Saharan African or Arab countries, are either preparing for or recuperating from the surgery that will allow them to live normal lives.  We met with the special volunteers and played and interacted with the children. My family was deeply moved and asked why there is so little awareness and appreciation outside Israel for all the good that Israel does for the world. SACH is one of many Israeli organisations dedicated to making the world a better place by practicing the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam.

 

SACH child

Happy Post-Op SACH Patient.  (Photo, (c) T. Book, 2015)

Israel strives to be a, “Light unto the nations.”  Daniel Gordis succinctly summed it up when he stated that, in addition to striving for the benefit our own citizens,

This country has become a country, with all of its imperfections, that sees as part of its purpose as looking out for other people.”

 

About the Author
Tuvia Book has a doctorate in education and is the author and illustrator of the internationally acclaimed Israel education curriculum; "For the Sake of Zion; A Curriculum of Israel Studies" (Fifth edition, Koren), "Jewish Journeys, The Second Temple Period to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, 536 BCE-136 CE," (Koren), "Moral Dilemmas of the Modern Israeli Soldier" (Rama) and the soon to be published “Jewish Journeys, The First Temple Period, 1000 -586 BCE” (Koren). Dr. Book was born in London and raised in both the UK and South Africa. After making Aliya at the age of 17 and studying in Yeshiva he volunteered for the IDF, where he served in an elite combat unit. Upon his discharge he completed his undergraduate degree in Jewish history and literature, as well as a certification in graphic design. He then served as the Information Officer and deputy head of security at the Israeli Consulate of Philadelphia, while earning a graduate degree in Jewish Studies. Upon his return to Israel, Dr. Book graduated from a course of study with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and is a licensed tour guide. Tuvia has been working in the field of Jewish education, both formal and informal, for many years. He has guided and taught Jewish students and educators from around the English-speaking world for some of Israel’s premier educational institutions and programs. Tuvia has lectured throughout North America, Australia, Europe, and South Africa. In addition, his artwork has been commissioned on every continent (except Antarctica). Tuvia served as a Shaliach (emissary) for the Jewish Agency for Israel as the Director of Israel and Zionist Education at the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York (Jewish Education Project). He was a lecturer/educational guide at the Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education (AMIIE) in Israel. Tuvia has lectured at both Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University. He is a Teaching Fellow at the Tikvah Fund. He is a research associate at the Hudson Institute. His latest book, "Jewish Journeys, The First Temple Period, From King David to King Zedekiah, 1000 - 586 BCE," (Koren) is part of a series on Jewish history.