Beit Natan, a multi-operational organization that provides
patient support and health education classes to chareidi and
traditional women, is launching a training course in Bnei
Brak. The course will train chareidi women to go out to the
community at large and speak on the importance of early
detection of specific women's cancer.
The training program began on December 19th, with its first
session being held in the Vishnitz Hotel. Funded by the
UJA/New York Federation, the eight-session course will bring
the participants into contact with both Torah and medical
authorities, providing up-to-date information in detecting
and treating cancer. The new Bnei Brak training program,
which has been held in Jerusalem several times in the last 4
years, prepares the women trainees to teach about the
benefits of early detection of specific women's cancers, to
the wider chareidi public.
Mrs. E. Cooperman, director of activities in Bnei Brak will
preside. Mrs. C. Heller, Director of Beit Natan, will open
the sessions with an introductory lecture outlining her
organization's services. Penina Gabai, head nurse at the
women's clinic in Ichilov Hospital, will speak on the
advantages of early detection in cancer treatment. In
addition, Rabbanit Dichovsky will speak on the Torah's
command to guard one's health as it relates to concepts of
hishtadlus and hashgochoh protis.
The following sessions will go deeper into anatomical issues,
oncology, and mammography, as well as the social and
spiritual dilemmas faced by those who suffer from cancer,
with an emphasis on the specific needs of the chareidi
community. The course will culminate with a session in which
the trainees will explain and demonstrate before the
directors their grasp of the course material.
The expansion of this program into Bnei Brak marks an
important turning point in Beit Natan's important work in the
field of preventative medicine. The early detection program
has met with wide success in the greater Jerusalem area,
speaking to some 4000 religious women since 1997. The concern
for the special health needs of chareidi women is extremely
important, as increased awareness of the live- saving
techniques of early detection falls in the category of
pikuach nefesh.
Beit Natan offers a host of ongoing programs based on four
goals: educating women in health matters, providing support
for women patients and their families, researching ways to
maximize efficiency in meeting the health needs of the
religious public, and providing advocacy for religious
women's issues.
Workshops, lectures, publications, a resource center and day
seminars are offered, addressing general health issues as
well as early detection of diseases to which women are prone.
Beit Natan sponsors "Lev Rachel", a help line for women
suffering from cancer, support groups for women and
individual counselling sessions. Beit Natan also manages
Keren Nina, a fund providing financial assistance to
families, and is conducting the first time ever pilot survey
of chareidi women's health habits and attitudes. The Israel
National Institute of Health Policy and Research Services of
the Ministry of Health funds this project.
Named in memory of Nathan and Dora Schreiber, a"h,
Beit Natan was founded in 1997. With a staff of
professional lecturers and volunteers, the patient support
and health- education programs which Beit Natan provides have
gained the praise of organizations such as the Israel Cancer
Society, the Association for the Advancement of Women's
Health, Israeli Ministry of Health, Ezer Mizion, and Lev
L'achim -- all of which routinely refer women to Beit
Natan.
Under the personal rabbinical direction of HaRav Yisroel Gans
of Jerusalem, Beit Natan's groundbreaking work has been
endorsed by HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, rosh yeshivas
Ma'alos HaTorah; HaRav Nachman Bulman, menahel ruchani
Yeshivat Ohr Somayach; HaRav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, The
Bostoner Rebbe; HaRav Chaim Kreiswirth, av beis din
Antwerp, Holland; HaRav Israel Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of
Israel; HaRav Yehoshua Neuwirth, posek, HaRav Mendel
Shafran, rosh yeshiva in Bnei Brak and HaRav Ovadia
Yosef, Rishon LeZion and President of Council of Torah Sages.
Leading rabbonim in Bnei Brak have also offered their
endorsements.
In addition, Dr. Shalom Strauno of the Hala Institute, Dr.
Yisroel Yaffe, Dr. Chana Katan and Dr. Nathan Cherney of
Share Zedek Medical Center offer ongoing medical and
professional guidance.
For more information on Beit Natan's varied activities please
call the center in Jerusalem at 02-6446052. The Lev Rachel
Hotline number is 02-6433447. For specific information on
activities in Bnei Brak call Mrs. E. Cooperman at 03-
5798735.
