In promoting the upcoming SACH Photo Exhibit event in NYC, ALBUM+ will donate $1 for every PHOTO that people take of a HEART (anywhere!).
1) Download ALBUM+ for iOS (http://bit.ly/fotogether_ios) or for ANDROID (http://bit.ly/fotogether)
2) Use the code HEART
3) Take photos!
For info on our Preview Party for the SACH Photo Exhibit in NYC, click here, https://www.facebook.com/events/252364048152146/
Although we just started volunteering with the kids at Save a Child’s Heart, we immediately connected with them and had a great time. Together we did many fun activities such as coloring, putting together big puzzles, playing lego, and listening to music. The great thing about Save a Child’s Heart is that the language barrier between us and the kids doesn’t even matter. Playing and laughing with them is what brings us closer together and makes us have an amazing experience. It’s truly inspiring to watch these kids go through what they have to and still be as wonderful as they are. Always with smiles on their faces, the kids demonstrate the most positive attitudes and views on life. Having the opportunity to work with the kids at Save a Child’s Heart is truly fortunate and special. They have such a positive impact on us that will most definitely last us the rest of our lives.
As a fairly new SACH employee, this year marked my first ever SACH international board meeting. The international board meeting took place in Israel and was a weeklong event that consisted of meetings in Tel Aviv, a visit to the West Bank, regional conference and the opening of the new SACH house. It was a great opportunity to meet all the SACH board members from around the world, SACH supporters and of course SACH doctors.
To kick off the international board meeting, there was a dinner at Debbie Silver’s house in Cesesera. Debbie and I got to know each other quite well as we were paired up as roommates in Tanzania for the Climb Your Heart Out campaign. Never been to her house before, the dinner provided a good excuse to not only meet and mingle with fellow SACH supporters but to also see my roomie from Kili. At the dinner, I got the opportunity to converse with Palestinian doctors that are training and/or working at the Wolfson Medical Center. Knowing I would be going to the West Bank with the international board members in a couple days I inquired about inquired their hometown. As I have never been to the West Bank so I had plenty of questions to ask them. The dinner at Debbie’s house was great; she was great a host, I met some amazing people and that of which included meeting Yael Dayan (Israeli politician).
As the days past during the week of the international board meeting, I continued to anticipate the visit to the West Bank. From being in Israel as often and as long as I have, I drove by it plenty of times always but always on the way to somewhere. For me, the West Bank was a mark on the map of somewhere I knew of but never been to. I constantly heard about things happening in the news there or just saw it from a car window but never went there. I guess I always saw it as a place that you went with purpose and I supposed I just never had that purpose until now. Being so close in proximity to me, I knew that the West Bank and Tel Aviv couldn’t be further from each other. They were both worlds apart from one another and it was those differences that bred my curiosity for the place. Luckily for me, I was finally able to witness those differences first handedly with my visit to the West Bank with the international board members.
The day started off meeting at the hotel in Tel Aviv and from there we boarded a bus. The bus was bound for the West Bank and none of us really knew what we were doing but rather we all had a rough idea. We knew we were going to visit a hospital in Ramallah and Nablus, we knew we were going to eat lunch at some point and we knew that we would be back in Tel Aviv in the late afternoon. Rather than that we laid clueless. Just before entering the West Bank, we transferred busses. We left the Israeli bus and boarded the Palestinian bus. As we continued to drive we entered the West Bank and slowly I began to notice it was as if we were in another country. Billboards and ads no longer read Hebrew but instead were in Arabic, the infrastructure was noticeably different and peoples’ attire drastically changed from what I was used to seeing. As we entered Ramallah, the first stop we had was Yaser Arafat’s grave. I never imagined myself there and it wasn’t until we were standing in front of his grave did I really digest the reality of who’s grave I was standing in front of. This moment evoked various emotions from the group I was with. While being taken to his grave was a sign of great respect, for some it was a hard moment to take in. After the grave, we traveled to the Ramallah Government Hospital. There, we met with the director of the hospital and were given a tour of the ICU, emergency room and pediatric ward. After seeing the hospital, we traveled to Nabluswhere we were given a presentation from the director of the Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. He shared with us about the hospital and the various ways the hospital has become more advanced. After the presentation we enjoyed a delicious tradition Arab style lunch and even got to some a little nargila with one other. As we finished lunch, we boarded the bus and we were Tel Aviv bound.
From traveling to the West Bank, I was not only able to learn first handedly about the hospitals in the West Bank but I was able to also able to witness the hospitality the West Bank had to offer and I am already looking forward to me next visit.
I am proud to have joined Save a Child’s Heart in Azur, Israel as a Young Ambassador. This is a wonderful organization, and as I complete my stint in China as an English teacher, I hope to do as much as I can for the organization–including maybe getting involved in the organization on the ground in China.
I have a special fondness in my spiritual heart for the people of Israel, so I am “over the moon” for this chance to help young children in need of surgery for their physical hearts.
From the website: “Save a Child’s Heart, transcends national boundaries and political differences, building bridges of peace and understanding between Israel and the nations of the world. The goals that he [Dr. Amram (Ami) Cohen] lived for are being carried on by the organization he so successfully created. This is a most fitting memorial to his uniquely productive life.”
Since beginning my internship at Save a Child’s Heart earlier this month, I have had the
opportunity to work on the Follow Up Project. I have read over interviews of children SACH has helped and have written profiles about their current location and condition. I love learning individual stories and really seeing how happy and how far these children have come since their surgeries. I truly believe in this organization and I am very happy to be a part of it. I have yet to visit the kids in the house after working in the office for a couple hours, but I’m looking forward to doing it in the near future.
My name is Jacob Kornfeld. I live in San Diego, California and I am 13 years old. I am in seventh grade at the San Diego Jewish Academy. My family and I belong to Congregation Beth El conservative synagogue. My parents are very involved in the Jewish community and have always talked about the values of Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam. As part of my bar mitzvah, I wanted to take the opportunity to do something for others.
I chose Save a Child’s Heart because it is an organization that gives sick children a chance to live. This project is meaningful to me because of its connection to kids around the world, regardless of their origin, beliefs or financial situation. I am honored to be supporting such a great cause. I visited SACH when I was in Israel last summer. It was life-changing to meet the kids and see Israeli and Palestinian doctors working side by side. I can’t wait to visit again the next time I am in Israel.
My original goal was to raise enough money to sponsor one child through heart surgery. I have asked my family and friends to help me with this goal. Our Jewish Federation agreed to help me raise money also, so my cousin and I built a web site to let people know about my project. In August I had a benefit concert to fundraise for this project, and to help educate my community about SACH. I was also fortunate to have the SACH International Photography exhibit there. I have already surpassed my original goal and now hope to raise enough money to sponsor another child.
I love to play sports, especially football and lacrosse. I have always enjoyed having family dinner for Shabbat and attending summer camp I also love to read, to play the piano and to hang out with friends. I am so thankful to Save A Child’s Heart for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to make a difference.
Jacob, our ambassador of the month, is an ambitious 13 year old from San Diego, California. Growing up with the values of Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam, Jake has decided to support SACH in honor of him becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Jake has already surpassed his goal of raising $10,000 with the help of family and friend online as well as a successful benefit concert this August. Jake is certainly an inspiration for all young leaders and we hope that he will continue his involvement with SACH. Read more about Jake and other ambassador’s here.
Having been a longtime supporter of SACH through participation in community fundraising events back in Toronto, I had already made up my mind before coming to Israel to remain involved while here. Going bowling in Toronto with friends for the Bowl Your Heart Out SACH Fundraiser was a powerful experience in itself however; I lacked a strong connection to the cause.
I had sent out emails for the bowling tournament asking for support so I could participate with less thought put towards where the money was actually going. After having visited the house and interacted with the children, I take all the more pride in my efforts to raise money for this tremendous cause.
Life is of pinnacle importance in Judaism and when you can contribute to saving a life, it changes your own. My life began to change at the SACH house while attempting to entertain a group of young children suffering from a multitude of heart conditions. Their own knowledge of their situation was limited but their outlook on life was tremendous. This is an experience I will have with me to look back on as one of the defining moments of my Israel experience.
Breaking down cultural, linguistic and political barriers in the name of survival is just another part of my Jewish responsibility, which SACH helped me recognize. I cannot wait to visit again and strengthen the relationships I have made and see all of these children leave the hospital with a healthy and bright future ahead.
