This episode of Federation’s Imagine Israel Podcast marks 50 years of a reunified Jerusalem. In keeping with the theme of uniting diverse faiths to live together in peace, we speak with a few guests who represent the unity and division of Israel’s capital city, bringing change through medicine at Jerusalem’s emergency clinics. Join us as we hear from three doctors at the forefront of the emerging field of emergency medicine in Israel. 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Dr. David Applebaum who revolutionized the field of emergency care in Israel. In 1990 Dr. Applebaum opened Israel’s first private emergency care clinic, which today sees over 150,000 patients  a year. Emergency medicine in Israel is a new specialty, recognized for the first time in 1999. Dr. Applebaum was tragically murdered in a terrorist attack alongside his daughter, the day before her wedding. As we hear from his former colleagues, it is apparent that Dr. Applebaum’s memory lives on.

Uniting Jerusalem though Medicine

Celebrating 50 Years of Diversity in Jerusalem

Rabbi Gottfried is co-founder and director of Beit Tefilah Israeli, a fast-growing, multi-generational community that is renewing and revitalizing the landscape of Judaism in Israel. Under the radar from the official Jewish religious establishment in Israel, and for more than a decade, a grassroots movement of Israeli Judaism is emerging, gaining supporters and slowly changing the way Israelis connect to their Jewish identity. Hear how Esteban’s approach to prayer, song and celebration has introduced an alternative outlet for spiritual expression that has become an international phenomenon. Explore the balance between sustaining religious tradition and accommodating social change with Federation’s Imagine Israel Podcast host, Robbie Gringras.

• Israel’s New Way to “Do Jewish”

At age seven, alongside her parents and many of her 12 siblings, Oshra Friedman left Ethiopia and escaped to Israel via Operation Moses.* Now a proud Israeli, Oshra has devoted her adult life to bridging socioeconomic gaps and promoting social mobility for groups on the periphery, including but not limited to Ethiopian, Russian and Arab Israelis.

Crossing Continents to Connect Communities

Social entrepreneur and Israeli philanthropist, Avi Naor has dedicated his philanthropic work to the survival and sustainment of Israel. Naor’s work focuses on two initiatives impacting Israel’s youth today: road safety and education.

Investing in Israel’s Next Generation

Patrick Levy was one of the first individuals in Israel to be diagnosed with HIV and soon after became an activist for policy change to improve the lives of those living with the virus. Patrick eventually worked his way up, serving for three years on the Israel AIDS Task Force. To this day, Patrick continues his life’s work to advocate on behalf of those whose voice is not heard in Israeli society.

The Refugees and Refused in Israel

Learn how Gitler turned his one-man mission into Israel’s largest food bank rescue network, known as Leket Israel, The National Food Bank, which provides food for over 200,000 impoverished Israelis every week. After making aliyah (moving to Israel) from the US in 2000, Gitler began his food rescue efforts from his car by rescuing meals from catering halls and delivering them to local nonprofits that serve the needy. Eventually, Gitler founded Leket in 2003, working with 200 partners to collect and redistribute more than 28 million pounds of fresh, perishable, quality food that would otherwise be considered waste from farms, hotels, military bases and catering halls. Hear Gitler’s inspiring story as he visits Greater Washington.

Joseph Gitler, CEO and Founder of Israel’s Largest Food Bank

Federation’s Imagine Israel podcast connects Washingtonians to Israel and Israelis through the lens of social change. Israeli Theater Artist Robbie Gringras facilitates thought-provoking dialogues with interesting Israelis, focused on the intersection of their lives, work, passions and Israeli society.