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UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Press Release)--Global environmental issues, which also specifically affect the Middle East, offer opportunities for cooperation between Israel and its neighbors, according to an environmental researcher and scientist working on the ground in Israel.

At a workshop, held yesterday at the United Nations in conjunction with a conference, “Climate Change: How it Impacts Us All,” Clive Lipchin, Director of Research at the Arava Institute, said: “There are multiple environmental issues challenging the region. To find solutions requires that we cooperate.

“For instance, most of the water sources originate in the West Bank. In addition, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are all part of the Jordan River watershed. We see these transboundary issues as not just challenges, but opportunities.”

The workshop, titled “Water Security and Climate Change,” was sponsored by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. The Arava Institute, the premiere environmental teaching and research program in the Middle East, is also the premier model in the region for cooperation on transboundary environmental issues. Its student body is comprised of Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, as well as other nationalities, who study and live together, building networks of knowledge and understanding.

Located on Kibbutz Ketura, in the Arava region of Southern Israel, both it and the kibbutz were founded by members of Young Judaea, Hadassah’s Zionist youth movement.

Among the specific environmental issues impacting Israel and its bordering countries are: the reliance on seasonal and unpredictable rainfall for water; the prospect of a rise in sea level due to global warming that will affect the Mediterranean coastline where the majority of people live in Israel, Egypt and Lebanon; the pollution of surface and ground water; and the increasing intensity of the sun, resulting in growing desertification.

Opportunities for cooperation span the spectrum of solutions. Sea water is a potential source for water to meet a radically growing demand, but desalination technology is so energy intensive that it is not currently feasible on a large scale using traditional energy sources. According to Suleiman Halasah, a student at the Arava Institute who is involved in a bi-national solar energy project between Israel and his native Jordan, “It is necessary to find sustainable and renewable energy resources to solve the Middle East’s water problems.”

Lipchin believes that whether through government bodies or NGOs, regional cooperation is the answer. “International bodies are realizing that security issues are related to environmental issues,” he said, pointing to NATO, which gives funding to the Arava Institute through its Science for Peace and Security program.

“In the Middle East we all use the same ground and surface water. The water is the same. What is different is the socio-economic and cultural environment of the users. We must come together to deal effectively with all these issues,” stated Lipchin.

The preceding story was provided by Hadassah

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Squatters get generators and meals after their new apartments collapse

AROUND THE TOWN—Dr. Merle Fischlowitz, a retired psychologist and noted counselor, is the newly elected president of the 19-member board of Mainly Mozart, the nonprofit performing arts organization that produces chamber music and orchestral programs in San Diego County and in Baja California. Fischlowitz succeeds Christopher Weil. “My main goal as president will be to expand the visibility of Mainly Mozart and increase the outreach of its programs to new audiences in the community,” said Fischlowitz, whose term as president runs through October of next year.

CYBER-REFERRALS—San Diego Jewish World appreciates the individuals and organizations who by their posts or their emails alert the Jewish world to articles of interest. We gratefully acknowledge their important contributions to helping all of us stay informed. If you would like to join our volunteer team of story-spotters, please notify us of Jewish-interest stories that you spotted in news publications in your area. Please write to us at sdheritage@cox.net.

● Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles: A story in the Jerusalem Post about Israeli soldiers foiling an attempt by Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to kidnap one of its soldiers, and the ensuing gun battle killing at least 10 Palestinians. Here is the link.

● Jay Jacobson of St. Louis Park, Minnesota: A commentary by Emma Hayward of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on the Islamist party's seemingly favorable chances in tomorrow's elections in Morocco. Here is the link.

● Hillel Mazansky of San Diego: A kabbala-toon video produced by Chabad entitled "filling the hole." Here is the link.

● Cantor Sheldon Merel of San Diego: A column by Denis MacShane in the Washington Post about growing anti-Semitism in Britain and continental Europe. Here is the link.

● The New York Times: Syria said Israeli planes over flew its territory and jettisoned ordnance over an unpopulated area after they were detected. Israel had no comment, nor did the U.S. State Department. Here is a link to the story.

● Norman Sarkin of San Diego: A campaign by a pro-Israel Christian group called the Jerusalem Prayer Team, which is circulating a petition urging Israel's government to retain control of the Temple Mount in any negotiations with the Palestinians. Here is the link to the site.

● United Jewish Communities: Israel's President Shimon Peres met with Pope Benedict XVI in Italy. Here is the link.

IN MEMORY—Fred Lewis, a golden-voiced announcer who also was San Diego's biographer as the host of the interview show, The Heart of San Diego, died today.

JEWISH POLITICAL FIGURES—

● Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Caucus, says Republicans from the Eastern Seaboard are being mobilized on Tuesday, September 18, to participate in a lobbying effort to persuade Congress to maintain the course in Iraq.

●San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis joined California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at a news conference today to protest a decision by a three-judge panel that California's prison overcrowding requires the early release of felons. They called for construction of more prisons and rehabilitation centers.

● U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (Democrat, California), breaking his silence on a shoving incident at the Dulles International Airport last month, says he was tired after a long flight, and offense was taken and there was much misunderstanding with an airline baggage handler. Now, he says, he wants to get the incident behind him.

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News Sleuths:

Watching the media gathering and reporting the news of Jewish interest

Who: Tom Casey, State Dept. deputy spokesman
What: Press Briefing
Where: U.S. State Department
When: Wednesday, September 6, 2007
Subject: Israel-Syria

QUESTION: Have you … been able to figure out what happened in -- over Syrian airspace?

MR. CASEY: Matt, I'm where we were on this, this morning, I've seen press reports. Those stories conflict with one another so really I just don't have anything for you on it.

QUESTION: Okay. And then the Nigeria situation, what's --

MR. CASEY: Yeah, let me tell you what I've been able to find out about that. Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy and the Consulate in Lagos did issue a Warden Message that alerted Americans to the possibilities for attacks on commercial and/or official installations, Western commercial or official installations, in the country. My understanding of this is that the information that we had was not specific in terms of either a target or any particular timing. But as we always do when we have any kind of information, particularly when we feel it appropriate to share it with our own staff and employees, we also have an obligation to make sure that that is shared as well with the broader American community. And of course, along with this general concern, we provided or the Embassy provided to folks on the ground there, some general security awareness tips and encouraged them to take an active role in their personal security and review the kinds of security practices they are doing for themselves. And certainly, given some of the other known problems in Nigeria in terms of criminality and kidnappings and other things, I think that's frankly just good advice regardless of circumstances.

QUESTION: Okay. So you don't know if this was occasion to buy any specific inventory.

MR. CASEY: Well, again, I think there is always a stream of information coming in and we certainly know that there are various kinds of extremist groups that are active in Africa as well as in other parts of the world. But this was not occasioned because we had information about a specific threat to a specific location or specific -- or timed to a specific event. It's more of a general set of information out there.

QUESTION: So it could have been put out last week or the week before or --

MR. CASEY: Well, again, I think we make these assessments based on the total amount of information available, and the information that we had at this point made us think it'd be an appropriate time to do this.

QUESTION: Can we go back to Syria for a second?

MR. CASEY: Yeah, sure.

QUESTION: The media reports -- you know, I mean, I think that there are officials hearing government statements about this, if I'm not mistaken.

MR. CASEY: Yeah.

QUESTION: Do you not believe those statements? It's not like people are citing unnamed sources about it or, you know --

MR. CASEY: No, but Arshad there have been statements made by the -- there have been contradictory statements made by Syrian and Israeli officials. What I can't do is try and tell you that we have any information that would be able to substantiate any of the charges that have been made.

QUESTION: So you don't have information that would substantiate the charge of some kind of bombing of Syria by Israel?

MR. CASEY: Again, I'd leave it up to the parties to describe what happened. I don't have anything beyond the press reports and, you know, we'll leave it to them to try and sort this out.

QUESTION: Do you know if people are trying to find out on the ground that your people in Damascus are --

MR. CASEY: I'm sure that our embassies, as always, both in Damascus and in Israel, will be following this as well as other issues closely. I'm not aware that anyone's making any specific focus on this at this time.

QUESTION: Is Welch still there?

MR. CASEY: I believe, David, yes, is still in the region. He's still in Israel. He's been consulting with Israeli and Palestinian officials. That's part of his regular ongoing consultations with them and also will certainly, I'm sure, touch on issues related to the Secretary's future travel.

Greater San Diego County

JFS tells schedule of adoption programs

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)--Adoption Alliance is a non-profit adoption agency licensed by the State of California. A program of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Adoption Alliance provides programs and services that facilitate, support, and celebrate adoption. The program serves individuals and couples who are seeking to expand and enhance their family through adoption, regardless of their age, religion, culture, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Adoption Alliance has several upcoming programs, including a presentation on International Adoption Medicine on October 2; Parent Education Workshops starting October 18; and The Adoptive Journey: From Birth to Adulthood on November 4.

On Tuesday, October 2, Michelle Dern, MD will present on International Adoption Medicine. She specializes in the care of internationally adopted children. Children adopted from foreign orphanages are at increased risk for many health problems, including infectious diseases, toxic exposures, nutritional deficiencies, developmental delays, and emotional disorders. The presentation will be at the Jewish Family Service Turk Family Center, located at 8804 Balboa Avenue in San Diego, from 6:30-7:30 PM. Participants must RSVP by September 25 to (858) 637-3060.

Four Parent Education Workshops will be offered during the months of October and November. Programs and topics include:

·       October 18—The Foundations of International Adoptions • Michelle Greenberg, MSW

·       October 25—Developmental Perspective and Parenting • SAGE Workshops

·       November 1—Trauma and Loss and the Impact on Attachment • SAGE Workshops

·       November 8—Adoption: A Lifelong Developmental Process • Michelle Greenberg, MSW

All workshops are offered at the Jewish Family Service Turk Family Center (8804 Balboa Ave., San Diego 92123) on Thursdays from 6:30-9pm. Individual sessions are $25, with the complete series offered at $100/individual and $150/couple. All courses are required for Adoption Alliance clients and a certificate of completion will be provided to each participant.

On Sunday, November 4, Adoption Alliance will be presenting "The Adoptive Journey: From Birth to Adulthood in honor of National Adoption Month." The program will feature Jill Cole, DSW, Chief Program Officer of the Worldwide Orphan Foundation. The following three workshops will be offered: All you Need to Know About International Adoption; After the Adoption: Creating an Everlasting Bond; and A Journey Through Identity: An Adult Adoptee Panel. The program will take place at the Jewish Family Service Turk Family Center (8804 Balboa Ave., 92123) from 1:00-4:30pm. Advanced registration is required. Registration is free for families and the general public, and $35 for professionals obtaining 3.5 Continuing Education Units. Childcare will be available at a nominal fee.

Few choices in life are as significant as the decision to adopt a child. Adoption Alliance is aimed at making the adoption process as smooth and effortless as possible by offering: home studies; pre-adoption counseling; parent education workshops; post-placement services; counseling and support groups; infertility support; resource lending library; adoption conferences and seminars; post-adoption support; and licensed counselors specializing in the adoption process. For more information about Adoption Alliance and the above programs or to register, contact Michelle Greenberg, MSW and Adoption Alliance Program Coordinator, at (858) 637-3060 or visit www.jfssd.org.

The preceding story was provided by Jewish Family Service

Women of Qumran to be Sept. 10 topic

SAN DIEGO—Were there any women at Qumran, the Essene village associated with the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. if yes, what were their roles?

Prof. Sidnie White Crawford of the University of Nebraska's Classics and Religious Studies department will lecture on the topic at 8 p.m., Monday, September 10, at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Crawford serves as president of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem.

The preceding story was provided by San Diego State University's Jewish Studies Program

Songs of the Bible subject of Sept. 19 lecture

SAN DIEGO—Rabbi Morey Schwartz will examine songs in the Bible that speak of returning to God, to better days, to Israel, during a free presentation sponsored by the Agency for Jewish Education from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 19, at the Lawrence Family JCC. More information is available via the AJE at (858) 268-9200

The preceding story was provided by the Agency for Jewish Education in San Diego

s provided by Jewish Family Service

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Baby Heart ...
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At that time, surviving newborns received a pacemaker immediately after birth to correct the condition. Prof. Rein and a team of Hadassah physicians decided that delivering the baby by Caesarian section and immediately attaching an external pacemaker was the best solution. And so it was – then. The baby boy was delivered, the pacemaker connected and his heartbeat jumped to 120 beats a minute. Eventually, a permanent pacemaker was implanted in the baby’s chest and he went home 10 days later in perfect health.

The parents decided to hold off on having more children because there was a high probability that another pregnancy could result in another baby with similar condition, which it later did, but with completely different results.

The first child was born eight years ago just before Hadassah's Pediatric Cardiology Research team completed their invention of the fetal kinetocardiogram. A novel methodology at the time, modeled on an adult ECG, it enables physicians to analyze the fetal heart rate and blood flow. Their new methodology could detect many conditions, including early changes in fetal heart conduction associated with Lupus.

In 2000, the doctors told the mother that, based on their research, they were able to detect early heart blockage in the fetus and treat it before it became irreversible. When she became pregnant again, the fetal heart condition was monitored from the 14^th week of gestation. At 18 weeks, the first sign of heart blockage was detected. This was immediately treated with medication and the fetal heart conduction returned to normal in a few days. A few months later, she delivered a normal baby boy, with a normal heart and no need for a pacemaker. This was the first time prenatal therapy prevented a life threatening condition from developing. The Hadassah findings were published in the prestigious medical journal Circulation in 2001.

Recently, this extraordinary story was repeated when the woman became pregnant again and carried another fetus with the same condition. She and her fetus received the same monitoring and intervention. Last week, she delivered another healthy baby boy.

This is the only case of repeated treatment and prevention of complete fetal heart blockage that has ever been reported. Prof. Rein and his colleagues, gynecologist Dr. Uri Elhalal, pediatric cardiologists Dr. Zeev Perles and Dr. Gavri Sagui, and Lupus specialist Dr. Dror Mevorach – among others – conducted the basic research, which evolved into clinical research and resulted in a direct clinical application with an extraordinary outcome.

The preceding story was provided by Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem