On Sunday January 30th 2011 at Temple Emanuel, our community will have the opportunity to present their health care questions and concerns to CA Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, and LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky in a Public Action with our partner One LA and member organizations around the greater Los Angeles area. We will gather and stand together for change.
This action began with a conversation between Rabbi Laura Geller and several members of Temple Emanuel’s social justice committee which led to further grass roots dialogues where strategies and priorities were established over recent months. This public action represents the beginning of a committed path to change in health care in the State of California.
Is health care a Jewish issue? Well of course it is! In this Shabbat’s Torah portion Mishpatim, we read of the foundation of the principles that define individual, communal, and judicial responsibility for the healing of the injured and ill.
What do we do when someone becomes sick – are we allowed, indeed, are we obligated to save and preserve life whenever possible? Looking for relevant Jewish sources on this topic, Rabbi Stephanie Kolin of Just Synagogues graciously provided revealing material…… [See the link below at the end of this blog for the full text of these quotes] “The Torah gave permission to the doctor to heal, and it is even a commandment. Even more so, it is the commandment of saving a life. One who prevents himself from doing so is considered to have shed blood.”
Compelling questions for discussion flow from this text such as “How often does health insurance (or lack thereof) interfere with a doctor's ability to uphold the commandment of pikuach nefesh (saving a life)?” You and I have heard horror stories in the news of just such cases – and even in our own community we know of incidents where treatment was refused and friends and/or loved ones were lost.
Here is another quote from the same text: - “One who has medications, and another person is sick and needs them, it is forbidden to raise their prices beyond what is appropriate.” Again this is an issue close to the hearts of the members of our own community and you will hear their stories on Sunday.
Who determines "appropriate" prices for medications in this country? We will be posing this very question to Dave Jones and Mike Feuer – will they be able to regulate the rates of health insurance…??
Rabbi Elliot Dorff, a pre-eminent voice and authority on Jewish medical ethics wrote: “The fact that more than 40 million Americans have no health insurance is, from a Jewish point of view, an intolerable dereliction of society's moral duty. The Torah, the Prophets, and the Rabbis of our tradition all loudly proclaim that God commands us to take care of the poor, the starving and the sick. Given the current costs of health care, almost all of us fall into that category. On both moral and religious grounds then, we simply cannot let the present condition continue; we are duty-bound to find a way for all American citizens to be able to afford health care, for all American citizens.”
What are your thoughts…Do you believe Jews have a moral responsibility to speak out on behalf of individuals who deserve health coverage but are unable to acquire it? Or are we only obligated to care for other Jews? This coming Sunday, when we confront and discuss this and other vital health care related issues with our Public Action partners; we will be a unified voice for ALL communities in Los Angeles and California.
NATIONAL NEWS.
Last night was the State of the Union address and the White House is committed to answering your questions. The 2,000+ page Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is a much debated issue. You may address President Obama or a White House staff member in this regard via live online events they have provided for your questions in the coming days. See the link directly below.
We would love to hear your comments about how this new law affects you and/or your family? Are you for or against and why?
Post your stories and/or comments about this very important issue before Sunday and we will continue the conversation after the event. Watch this blog for updates and important information!
The link below is to the wonderful resources discussed above.
We would love for you to join us this coming Sunday afternoon at Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 90211 from 3 pm to 5 pm. Please let Diane Vanette know whether you will attend BY E-MAILING HER at diane.vanette@mac.com.
[We know this topic is compelling and emotional for many people. For the purposes of civil conversation, please make sure your comments are written from your own perspective, and refrain from making generalizations about others, or criticizing other commentators. It is important that our conversation be kind and respectful, as will be expected at the public action on Sunday.]
[We know this topic is compelling and emotional for many people. For the purposes of civil conversation, please make sure your comments are written from your own perspective, and refrain from making generalizations about others, or criticizing other commentators. It is important that our conversation be kind and respectful, as will be expected at the public action on Sunday.]
Exciting news! In addition to our state insurance commissioner Dave Jones, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Dr. Michael Katz and Senator Fran Pavley will speak on Sunday. Dr. Katz is the new Director of Health Services for the County of Los Angeles. We are looking forward to a respectful exchange of ideas from One LA participants and our special guests.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who has cancer and who could not get treatment because he had no insurance. He died when he was very young. A life wasted because nobody spoke up for him. Please speak for us on Sunday. We cannot be there but we need something to change!
ReplyDeleteThank you
I have a step sister who had a pre-existing condition and she was not even diagnosed for the correct disease for years because she had no insurance and the hospital did not care. We vote and we will vote for those who help us.
ReplyDeleteCNN reported this morning that a man who has cancer and was about to have an operation had his insurance cancelled because he was 2 cents short on his payments. His wife ran into the operating room and stopped the operation when she waa informed of this by the insurance company. The insurance staff were unrepentant but the CEO apologized.
ReplyDeletePresident Barack Obama Tuesday during the State of the Union address said he was willing to revise the health care law and commented that anything can be improved; but he was not willing to return to the time when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good thing that you are doing. Thank you for helping us to make health care changes in Los Angeles. My children need health care and they are not treated because I cannot afford health care and I am not yet legal in the country. I am waiting for my papers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic forum this afternoon. Being in that room with so many others sharing a common desire for equitable health care - as a human right - was incredibly inspiring. Thank you to everyone in leadership on this initiative. It made me so hopeful that we can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful event. Health Care is a right every citizen has. Many years ago the Insurance companies were NON-PROFITS. Why have we allowed the public and necessary right to affordable health care to become a for profit endeavor?
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