November 2015

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Victoria
November 2015/5776
About CHW
Supporting Children, Healthcare, and Women in Israel and
Canada for 98 years.
Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW) is Canada's leading Jewish
women's philanthropic organization.
Founded in 1917, CHW is non-political, volunteer driven and
funds a multitude of programs and projects for Children,
Healthcare and Women in Israel and Canada.
For more information, please visit www.chw.ca
About CHW .........................................1
Board Message ...................................1
Chanukah Party ..................................2
Shiva Meal Fund .................................3
Cards ..................................................3
Good and Welfare...............................3
A Peek in our Members’ Kitchens .......4
Israel feature ......................................4
Lab Animal Discovery ..........................5
th
50 Wedding Anniversary ...................6
An Israeli Wearable Tech ....................6
Sunlight Unto the Nations ...................7
3D Map of the Brain............................7
Famous quote .....................................8
Upcoming Events ................................8
Important ...........................................8
Toiletries ............................................8
Board Members ..................................8
Message from CHW Victoria Board—by Membership Chair, Celia Negin
The New Year started on a happy note, socializing in the Sukkah at the home of Sharon
Fitch. Sharon produced a very delectable tea and a good time was had by all.
We are delighted to welcome two new life members, Iris Green-Starr and Eleanor
Mintz.
The New Year brings about a reorganization of the board, who will be working hard
towards making this a stimulating and productive year. We look forward to seeing you
all at our upcoming events. We rely on your continued support in our efforts to assist
in the urgent needs of the CHW projects in Israel - daycare centres, schools and
hospitals. Todah Rabah
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Victoria
“Mark Your Calendar”
Bring Your Spouses, Partners, and friends
To Our CHW Victoria Annual Chanukah Party
At The Jewish Community Centre
3636 Shelbourne Street, Victoria, BC
On December 13, 2015
From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Potluck: Bring Latkes, Appetizer, Salad, Dessert
Don’t Forget Your Menorahs and Candles
Please reply by December 6, 2015 to Celia Negin at [email protected] or (250) 995-1414
As all the details of the party have not yet been decided, you will be receiving further information
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Shiva Meal Fund
Did you know that our CHW Victoria Chapter has a Shiva Meal Fund?
Approved by National, this is an open ended fund, which is not tax deductible. No tax receipts will be issued.
This fund will need to be "topped up" as it is used. You may want to consider donating to the CHW Victoria “Shiva Meal
Fund” in memory of your loved ones, on the occasion of their Yahrzeit.
Reaching out to members and opening our hearts to others in times of great need is a truly wonderful mitzvah.
This is a local endeavour, and will be used only for members of our Chapter. With funds we have collected thus far,
we have now provided 4 Shiva Meals. Thank you to Daryl Levine and Celia Negin who donated to this fund in October
2015.
Please consider contributing to our Shiva Meal Fund. Cheques may be written to CHW Victoria, with a memo
for the Shiva Meal Fund. As always, donations in any amount can be sent to our Treasurer, Esther Laredo, at 4767 Elliot
Place, Victoria, BC V8Y 3E4.
If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact any member of our board.
Todah Rabah, Thank You
CHW Cards/Certificates for Sale—Please note change
We have CHW cards for sale for all occasions. If you mail the card yourself, the cost is $6.00 dollars per
card. Lisa DeGall is now our only card contact person, as well as our National Card Co-ordinator. If you
wish Lisa to mail it for you, then the cost is $7.00 for cards within Canada, and $8.50 for cards to the US
or abroad. This covers cost of cards, envelopes and postage. Please remember to send your cheque to
Esther Laredo, 4767 Elliot Place, Victoria, BC V8Y 3E4. CHW also offers e-cards. All online orders receive an electronic tax
receipt issued for donations of $10.00 or more. If you are donating online, please make sure to mention CHW Victoria as
the chapter, in order that we get the credit for the donation. Please go to www.chw.ca and then go to ecards. You can
contact Lisa DeGall: 250-642-7238 or [email protected] and she will be very happy to help you!
We would also like to remind you that certificates can be purchased from CHW as well. With a donation of
$50 to $99 you can purchase a small certificate, and with a donation of $100 or over you can purchase a
large certificate. You can contact Eleanor Mintz at [email protected] or (250) 479-2425 and she will
be happy to help you.
Good and Welfare
We wish Frances Aknai, Raisa Balagour, Josie Davidson and Esther Laredo Very Happy Birthdays!
Mazel Tov to Sharon and Ed Fitch on their 44th Anniversary!
Mazel Tov to Jan and Stewart Wilson on the birth of their new grandson, Owen, weighing in at 6 lbs. 7 oz.!
Mazel Tov to Edie and Bill Southward on the birth of their new grandson, Morgan, weighing in at 8 lbs. 10 oz.!
We wish Esther Laredo A Very Speedy Recovery!
Best wishes for A Speedy Recovery to Josie Davidson!
Best wishes to Raisa Balagur for a Speedy Recovery!
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A Peek in Our Members’ Kitchens—Thank you to Frances Aknai for sharing this recipe
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
1 butternut squash
2 TBSP oil
2 onions, diced
1 cup diced celery
1 cup sliced carrots
5 cups vegetable broth
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. curry powder
Pepper to taste
Method:
Cut squash in half and then in quarters lengthwise and remove all seeds. Prick each length with
a fork. Place on a microwaveable plate and cook for 8 or 9 minutes in a microwave oven.
OR
Place on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree pre-heated oven until skins are tender, 45
minutes to 1 hour OR cook in microwave oven approximately 9 minutes. Cool slightly. Remove
skin and cut into chunks. Set aside.
Heat oil in large soup pan over medium heat until hot. Add onion, celery, carrots, cinnamon,
ginger, nutmeg and curry powder and sauté until soft, about 10 minutes.
Add broth, water and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Add squash and simmer until all vegetables are tender.
Puree the soup in a blender until smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper .
Nine top off-the-beaten-path places to visit in Israel By Abigail Klein Leichman September 24,
2015—Israel 21c
I will feature one in each newsletter.
Underground Boat Ride in Ramla
This unique boat ride takes you through a 500-square-meter fish-filled reservoir within an eighth-century
arched structure in Old Ramla called the Pool of the Arches or the Pool of the Goats (in olden times, residents
would water their goats between the arches). Five rows of three stone columns each hold up the ceiling and
special lighting affords beautiful reflections on the water. Open Sunday through Thursday and Saturday 8-4,
Friday and holiday eves till 2.
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Lab animal alternative yields major discovery-- By ISRAEL21c Staff September 1, 2015
Israeli scientists recently made history when they built a bionic liver and it revealed new insights
about toxicity in a common pain reliever. This invention could be the solution sought by both
scientists and animal-welfare activists seeking to put an end to live animal testing. Due to consumer
demands for “cruelty-free” products, new regulations (especially in Europe) are restricting the use of
live animals in product safety tests. And scientists are increasingly concerned that animal studies do
not accurately predict the human response to a beauty product or pharmaceutical, especially one that is used on a regular
basis.
Using human cells for safety testing is not practical because the cells die after a few days outside the body. To address this
challenge, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell
Therapy and Immunology in Germany have created a liver-on-chip device mimicking human
physiology. They call it a 3D micro-reactor, or in less scientific terminology, a bionic liver. “The
liver organs we created were less than a millimeter in diameter and survive for more than a
month,” said Prof. Yaakov Nahmias, the study’s lead author and director of Hebrew University’s
Alexander Grass Center for Bioengineering. The breakthrough was due to their idea of adding
nanotechnology-based optoelectronic sensors. “We realized that because we are building the organs ourselves, we are
not limited to biology, and could introduce electronic and optical sensors to the tissue itself. Essentially we are building
bionic organs on a chip,” said Nahmias.
Toxic effects of Tylenol
The sensors in the device allowed them to detect small, rapid changes in cellular respiration that nobody has ever seen
before. This enabled them to identify a previously unknown mechanism of toxicity in the common pain reliever
acetaminophen (Tylenol), as they reported in the journal Archives of Toxicology. The finding itself is just as
groundbreaking as the bionic liver. Scientists had long believed that acetaminophen broke down in the body into a toxic
compound, NAPQI, which could damage cellular respiration. Since the liver naturally deactivates NAPQI, damage was
thought to occur only at high doses and in cases of diseased or compromised liver function.
But Nahmias and his team discovered something startling: acetaminophen itself can stop cellular respiration in minutes,
even in the absence of NAPQI, much faster and at a much lower dose than previously thought. Thanks to the bionic liver,
they now have a likely explanation for off-target effects of acetaminophen. “This is a fascinating study,” commented Prof.
Oren Shibolet, head of the liver unit at Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. “We knew
that acetaminophen can cause nephrotoxicity as well as rare but serious skin reactions, but up until now, we didn’t really
understand the mechanism of such an effect. This new technology provides exceptional insight into drug toxicity, and
could in fact transform current practice.”
Yissum, the R&D arm of Hebrew University, together with the Fraunhofer Institute, submitted a joint provisional patent
application earlier this year and are actively seeking industrial partners to commercialize the liver-on-chip. The global
market for this technology is estimated to be worth $17 billion by 2018. Yissum is also seeking a commercial partner for a
human pluripotent stem cell platform developed at the university by Prof. Nissim Benvenisty as an alternative to animal
testing for various human genetic diseases and pharmaceuticals for “orphan diseases.” “The new disease model system
developed by Prof. Benvenisty offers a complementary approach that can address many of the hurdles inherent to animal
models,” said Yissum CEO Yaccov Michlin. “We are certain that this novel method will have a significant impact on drug
screening and development, and Yissum is currently looking for partners in order to further advance this promising
approach.”
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On our 50th Wedding Anniversary:
Thank you to Daryl and David Levine for sharing their thoughts on their 50 th anniversary with us. Their
anniversary was on August 29, 2015. As Daryl says, “after all, a 50 th milestone only comes once.”
David and I met 58 years ago. I knew before I married David, just why I chose him
for my life partner. Intuition and practical sensibility told me that he was and always
would be, respectful, steadfast, conscientious, reliable, and worthy of my trust.
We share many values; one being, first be true to oneself. Like David, I
have enjoyed the freedom to pursue my soul's desire.
Those freedoms and David's qualities have meant a great deal to me. I am forever
grateful and appreciative for what he has brought to my life. Through David, I am
constantly learning the art of unconditional love; patience, perseverence and the willingness to ask for
help.
What David and I value most, is our relationship, our Family, Friends and Community.
Placing our energies on that which is most important to us has raised us to a higher
purpose and toward a fulfilling life.
As we continue together, from Strength to Strength, we thank you, dear Family and
Friends for adding that special ingredient; your enduring friendship, love and support.
Wishing you and yours, the best of health and the rewards of jobs well done.
An Israeli wearable tech that will disrupt our lives
By Abigail Klein Leichman October 26, 2015
The UpRight wearable training device, embedded with dual sensors, attaches
your lower back with hypoallergenic adhesive strips and gently vibrates every
time you slouch. The Tel Aviv-based company claims that wearing UpRight less
than an hour a day will train your muscles and mind to sit and stand upright
after only two or three weeks of use. An optional companion mobile app
generates a customized training program, real-time feedback, posture analytics, statistics, tips and
techniques.
Sunlight Unto the Nations
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Hadassah Magazine September/October 2015, By Esther Hecht June/July 2015
Israel’s Knesset recently finished installing the world’s largest
parliament-topping array of solar panels—some 1,500 covering about
1.2 acres, generating 10 percent of the Knesset’s electricity.
The solar array is the largest element of the first phase of the Green
Knesset project, promoted by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein. Other
plans include the installation of LED lights, a new environmentally
friendly way to heat the building’s water, automatic shutdown of
computers at the end of the day and desalination of air-conditioning condensation for use in
irrigation. In committee meetings, water is now served in glass pitchers instead of plastic bottles.
Queries, reports and bills are no longer printed, saving up to 50,000 sheets of paper a year.
The project’s first phase is expected to lower the Knesset’s energy consumption by one-third and save
$375,000 annually.
Israel is a pioneer in solar energy; for example, more than 90 percent of homeowners heat water with
solar panels.
Israeli Scientists Help Create First 3D Map Of The Brain By NoCamels Team October 27, 2015
An international team of scientists has created a digital representation of a
rat’s brain, in a project hailed as a breakthrough in brain research. The 3D
model will allow researchers to examine brain phenomena in an entirely
digital environment, where in the past such experiments were possible using
biological tissue only.
This project is a result of years of experiments and algorithm development by 82 international
scientists, aiming to create a supercomputer that details the smallest chemical reactions in the brain.
The data collected will help researchers to better understand the brain and develop new treatments
for brain illnesses.
Famous Jewish Quote:
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“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never
grows old.” ―Franz Ka a
Upcoming Events for 2015
November, 2015—No Event
December 13, 2015— JCC, Chanukah Party. 6 pm to 9
pm. More details to follow.
Thursday January 14, 2016—Lunch at the JCC. 11:30
to 1:00. Details TBA
Board Members for 2015/2016
Sharon Fitch
Past President:
381-1166
Vice President/National Liaison
Marilyn Weisbart
479-4040
Programming Coordinator:
Josie Davidson
383-6478
Celia Negin
Membership:
995-1414
Treasurer/Programming Assistant:
Esther Laredo
658-6550
Important
If you are moving or changing your e-mail
address, please contact Celia Negin as soon as
possible, so we can make the changes
immediately.
Toiletries
Don’t forget to bring your toiletries for
Sandy Merriman House for women or
The Single Parent Resource Centre.
Damaris Notte
Secretary:
656-0752
Newsletter/Website:
Eleanor Mintz
479-2425
Consultants:
Susan Kendal
(520) 339-6568
Zelda Dean
544-1322
Susan Halpert (780) 489-4773, (250) 519-4773
Chairpersons
Frances Aknai
Lisa De Gall
Sherry Sheffman
Publicity:
360-0356
Cards:
642-7238
Telephone:
598-7683