An extended hand

Today was our 4th day of our volunteering at Kaplan. I got to rejoin my partner, Deb, in the ER. Yesterday was a solo day for me there, as she was with someone else. Have to say I enjoy the company of my friend as we compliment each other very nicely. I certainly hope she feels that way, as well.

We have settled in comfortably with our new and old Israeli friends, and we were looking forward to our assignments for the day. Our nurse assigned us the room that contained all of the medications, IV's, with syringes, and needed items to go with these. We were feeling pretty good, as they left us alone to do this. We knew they were trusting of us since they would not have assigned this responsibility to just anyone.

Our day went pretty smoothly, and we ended our time cleaning their cast room. Plaster everywhere, but another challenging assignment to make their ER shine! That is our goal, to leave these places shining and looking new once again.

On the way back to our vans, one man came along who wasn't in the usual fast pace to get where he was going. I smiled and said "Shalom." He turned back to look at me, gave me a second glance and finally said "Shalom." We sort of paused, looking at one another, and then he said he spoke English. I said, "That's wonderful!"

I asked him if he was a doctor here at Kaplan, and he said he was an ENT surgeon and his name was Udi Katzenell. He asked me what I was doing here, and I shared we were the American team from The Friends of Israel. He wanted to know how we got here, and I started to explain we pay our way to come and volunteer. I had an idea what he might be getting at when he asked if I was religious. I said yes, I was religious, I loved God, and I loved the Israeli people because God loves them.

He then went on to explain he had gone to Ethiopia to help doctors there learn surgical techniques, and also helped them with building clinics. He said he helped them with his specialty of cochlear implants. I told him that was another reason the Jewish people are so wonderful because of their compassionate hearts. He said he really appreciated my saying this. As he finished, I said, "God bless you."

I told Dr. Udi that I remembered as a little girl something my dad said while he served in the US Air Force. He had told the family that of all the nationalities that served in the Air Force, none were as kind and generous as the Israeli men and women he served with. It left a huge impression on me then, and it was a privilege to see it first hand while volunteering with the Friends of Israel. I shared with him how we have seen them treat those who are their enemies before they have even treated their own. He nodded, bowing his head, and said he very much appreciated hearing that.

He said he recently operated on two terrorists, and it troubled him to do it, but it was the right thing to do. I told him that was why he was so special. He said he wanted to shake my hand, which we did. We parted, but said we were looking forward to seeing each other again.

Dr. Udi was the first person to extend his hand to me, and I consider it an honor to have met him. I am looking forward to seeing my new found friend. God is so amazing and so awesome!

Shalom,

Diane Pizzola