The New Maternity and Pediatrics Wing is represented by the lavendar semi circle - center - above. 
see architectural renderings

BACKGROUND
AHMC is dedicated to providing the highest quality comprehensive health care for the population of Israel who live in the poorest yet fastest growing area of the nation as well as the outlying areas of Judea and Samaria.  Assaf Harofeh serves all people without regard to race, religion or the ability to pay. The philosophy of Assaf Harofeh is modeled after the great Hebrew physicia and Scholar, Assaf, who more than 1500 years ago wrote the Israeli physician’s oath

“…. and ye shall not harden your hearts against the poor and the needy, but heal them”. 

Assaf Harofeh promotes the human right to dignity through its commitment to compassionate health care.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
 3rd largest government hospital in Israel - 826 bed facility
- Serves over 400,000 people between Tel Aviv & Jerusalem
- A teaching hospital, affiliated with the University of Tel Aviv’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine
- Houses the National Referral Center for 
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
- On Campus School of Nursing, School of Physiotherapy 
and School of Radiology.
 

THE ABA METHOD FOR TREATMENT 
OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Dr. Dina Zachor, Developmental Neurologist and Director of the Alut Center for the Assessment and Treatment of Autistic Children at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center announced that the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) method for the treatment of autistic children is proving effective.  According to Dr. Zachor,  “after one year of testing at the preschool for autistic children up to the age of three, it has become clear beyond any doubt that the method is highly effective for developing the IQ, learning language and creating social communications. After a single year of therapy, three of the children at Alutaf are about to be mainstreamed in regular classroom settings”.

With the ABA method, concepts are broken down into unit particles and eachof them is handled separately. Dr. Zachor added that studies performed in Europe and the United States have shown that the method is especially effective between the ages of eighteen months and five years, with the minimal therapy period being two years. Therapy is administered by a specially trained therapist, in cooperation with the parents. According to the statistics, some 240 children diagnosed as autistic are born in Israel each year.

The ABA method involves a significant financial expenditure, due to the need for a large number of therapists and many hours of therapy. In the past, the method was used in Israel only by well-to-do families who studied the method and implemented it on their own. Approximately two years ago, Alut decided to adopt the method, train therapists, develop a therapy program and set up special educational frameworks.
 

"He was like a tree of life for all who grasped his message" 

Left to Right: Mrs Mary O'Connor Ward, Ms Sandi Merle, Dr Benjamin Davidson (Director AHMC), Father James Loughran, Dr Martin Katzenstein (Head Neonatology OLM)

   On May 14th a ceremony was held commemorating the Cardinal's last known project, an affiliation between an Israeli Jewish Hospital (AHMC) and A Catholic Healthcare Giver, Our Lady of Mercy (OLM).  A tree was planted at the AHMC in Israel by his sister, Mary O'Connor Ward
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The affiliation is said to be the first of its kind in 2000 years fostering medical cooperation including shared research and treatment methods and student exchanges. John Cardinal O'Connor was a great humanitarian of our times, a major advocate of improved relations between Jewish and Catholic faith groups, a man with a passion for children and for the sanctity of every human life.
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"He was like a tree of life for all who grasped his message" 
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Mrs. Ward said of her brother at the ceremony on the hospital grounds. 

JOHN CARDINAL O'CONNOR 
IS REMEMBERED AS:
- A man of deep compassion, great intellect and tireless devotion to
humanitarianism
- A provider of comfort and care to the sick, elderly and disabled.
- An advocate of interfaith healing and understanding, playing a
significant role in helping to establish diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Israel.
- A man dedicating his life’s work to protecting and defending the
inalienable rights of all people.

GOAL
- To create a living memorial to one of the greatest humanitarians of our time.
- To provide badly needed services and comfortable surroundings to the children of our future.
- To continue to provide the best possible facilities for all who need care, regardless of race, creed or color.
 

EXECUTIVE BOARD, AF OF AHMC
Kenneth Kronen,  Chairman  -   Robert Kastin, Esq.,  Treasurer
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PROJECT CHAIR
Sandi Merle 
Author/Children’s Advocate
SANDIMERLE@cs.com
 

Mary O’Connor Ward
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Reverend James F. Loughran, S.A.
Director, Graymoor Ecumenical
& Interreligious Institute
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Dr. Mary Healey-Sedutto
Hope for a Healthier Humanity
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Susan Chandler
Intl. Marketing Entrepreneur
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Rhoda Levental
Development Director, AF of AHMC
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HONORARY ADVISORY COUNCIL

Rabbi Jack Bemporad
Center for Interreligious Understanding
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His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua
Archbishop of Philadelphia
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Rabbi Moses A. Birnbaum D.D.
Plainview JC; Interreligious Chair LIBR
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Rabbi Gary M. Bretton-Granatoor
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, NYC
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Eileen Ward Christian, Esq.
Fidelity Nat’l Insurance Co.
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Thomas Durkin, Esq.
Durkin & Durkin
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Florence D’Urso
International Philanthropist
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His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan
Archbishop of New York
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Honorable Vito J. Fossella
U.S. Congressman, New York
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Baronessa Flavia Frati-Spagnola
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Rabbi Paul L. Hait
Exec. Dir. Emeritus, NY Board of Rabbis
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Nat Hentoff
Journalist/Author
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Michael Hont
Emanuel Foundation
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Your donation  goes to the building of the THE JOHN CARDINAL O'CONNOR PEDIATRIC CENTER as pictured above. His name will be emblazoned across the top arc of the building's roof. The plan is for a 3 story building which may be done one floor at a time as funds are made available.
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Ideally we will be able to raise the first $1.8 million for the entire 
Infra-structure, then the remainder of the 6 million dollar project for
the entire 3 floors. (In the U.S.A. that same building would cost at least $25 million.) 
 

I am pleased to report that 26 individuals have received a brochure describing the subject project.  10 of these have contributed an average amount of $547.50 for a total amount of $5,475.00.

The largest single contribution (from the Cardinals Navy Family) to date has been $2000, whereas the smallest has been $50. Thanks, I think we are off to a great start!

 GEORGE F WARREN  VP/CFO NMCRS
warrenge@hq.nmcrs.org
 

general information
MARY WARD
mmtward@aol.com
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donations
 RHODA LEVENTAL
 (212) 481-5653
ahmcny@optonline.net
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... I have no doubt ...
We quickly became good friends. He told me one of his highest priorities was Vatican diplomatic recognition of the State of Israel. I have no doubt that because of his intervention and closeness to His Holiness, the pope, that diplomatic recognition became a reality.
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Edward Koch - "Hizzonor' - Mayor of NY

... if a person saves but one life ...
  My mentor, my teacher, my friend, Cardinal O'Connor, has gone to a world far better than our own.  In Judaism we believe that if a person saves but one life, he has saved the whole world.  John O'Connor saved many lives. People of all faiths should emulate this man's example — his moral courage — in this way we may be saved and the whole world too. Requiescat In Pace, Your Eminence. 
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... firm to his convictions ...
    No matter how difficult the situation, no matter how severe the criticism, no matter how vicious the sneers emanating from the press, Cardinal O'Connor remained firm in his convictions.  I believe the most important virtue this man had was moral courage.  I recall that when he first came to New York a group of Orthodox Rabbis with long beards came to him and asked that he be a leader in the fight for family values in New York City. John O'Connor promised them that he would lead them in the good fight - he would not let them down. He never did. 
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   Rabbi Dr. Morton H. Pomerantz, (Reform movement of Judaism,  a state chaplain - New York.) 
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...cherished friend of Israel ...
"Cardinal O'Connor was a cherished friend of Israel, responsible for monumental strides toward the historic reconciliation between Jews and Catholics...May his legacy serve as an inspiration and an example to future generations."  Ambassador Shmuel Sisso, (consul general of Israel)
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