Bridges-homeopathy in israel


By amy inspector-rozen, lch 
 Last year, with the inception of the Bridges segment, The American Homeopath began a tradition of exploring Professional Homeopathic Societies around the globe. With each issue, a different national association is profiled, revealing the history, standards of operation, and services the organization provides to its members. Our world tour started with one of the "oldtimers" of homeopathy, Great Britain, and proceeds now to our next destination...Israel. Homeopathy has quite recently taken root and been blossoming here at record pace. In September, while visiting Israel, I had the great pleasure of meeting and interviewing Yair Shemmer, who is a prominent homeopath and teacher in Tel Aviv and the current Chairperson for the Israeli Association of Classical Homeopaths (IACH).
History 
 Joseph Reves, best known for his "Circle of Elements" model, was the first Israeli homeopath who began teaching a small group of homeopaths in the 1980's. In the mid-80's, Steve Waldstein started teaching in Israel, followed by George Vithoulkas and other teachers who were influential in homeopathic education in Israel. This first nucleus of classical homeopaths, along with other Israelis who studied abroad and then returned to establish practices in Israel, steadily grew in numbers during the past two decades. In this short span of time, a thriving community of homeopaths has swiftly been developed. With a very active professional association, at least four schools, and expanded integration with the Israeli medical establishment, homeopaths, at present, are the most organized and developed association in the field of alternative medicine in Israel.
Iach 
 The Israeli Association of Classical Homeopaths (IACH) was founded in 1993. The IACH was modeled after the British Society of Homeopaths, adapting their by-laws, Code of Ethics, and structure. Their Board of Directors consists of one Chairperson and nine members elected for two-year terms. The following committees run much of the IACH activity: Ethics/By-laws, Internal Inspector, Membership/Acceptance, Education, Seminars, and a Journal Committee, which biannually publishes, "Homeopathic Times," which circulates to over 800 people.
Membership 
 As the sole homeopathic professional body in Israel, the 50 professional members and 120 student members of the IACH consists of both medical doctors and professional homeopaths from all around the country. The National Register of Homeopaths is published yearly in Israel and distributed widely throughout Israel, particularly to all pharmacies. The annual membership fee for a professional member of the IACH is 660 shekels, approximately $120. Members have access to malpractice insurance by a private insurance company for an additional $365 per year.
 The first step to become qualified for membership is graduation from an accredited school. (School accreditation is based on ICCH guidelines; currently, one Israeli school is accredited and another school is in the process of becoming accredited.) Alternatively, one can become a member by receiving minimum training in a school and passing the association qualifying exams. Once this basic groundwork of study is accomplished, applicants must submit 5 case studies, each with 2-3 followups (not necessarily only 'cured' cases, but an adequate analysis of the patient's response to the remedy is required). They are also required to have a site visit and an interview with the Acceptance Committee in order to join the IACH.
 The organization maintains high standards for its members, yet they try not to be rigid as to methodology or personal homeopathic philosophy. "No one formula," says Yair, "can cover the life force. It is very spontaneous and mysterious. As homeopaths, we must be open-minded, we must start with a formula and then be able to let go of it."
Seminars and provings
 The Israeli Association of Classical Homeopaths holds a case conference every year. Generally, they hold an additional three to four seminars each year, featuring international speakers. This year, 2000, they will be hosting Paul Herscu, Jayesh Shaw, Frans Vermeulen, and Massimo Mangialavori.
 The IACH has recently dedicated considerable energy into research and provings, including the proving of 'Olive,' in collaboration with Jeremy Sherr, a substance which holds important significance to the diet, trade, history, and symbolic value (the olive branch) of Israel.
Legality 
 Like in the U.S. , the legal status of homeopathy in Israel remains somewhat unclear. According to formal Israeli law (Common Law), only doctors can practice medicine. This means that only MD's can formally practice homeopathy without any limitations. However, the medical establishment is not yet convinced that homeopathy is anything more than the placebo effect, therefore there has been no law forbidding the practice of homeopathy by non-doctors. Homeopathic remedies are sold over the counter in Israel.
 In this uncertain state of affairs, the IACH is directing its efforts to establish clear guidelines and high standards, in the hope of achieving the proper legislative support in the long run. As it seems now, this goal is very attainable for a few reasons. Not only does homeopathy and alternative medicine have great support by the general public, but it is also becoming the medicine of choice by the Orthodox Jews. Most of you reading this are aware of the great split between the Orthodox Jews and the secular Jews of Israel and the ongoing political clashes between them. As it stands, a number of Orthodox Religious Parties are strongly represented in the government, particularly in the Health Ministry, which they have virtually taken over. This provides for a favorable climate for legislation of homeopathy in Israel. The list of Israeli Homeopaths, by the way, comes from all the full spectrum of the cultural rainbow, from Orthodox, to secular, to Kibbutznik, etc. One homeopath, Shirley Gilad, has established a charity clinic to work with Palestinians, providing homeopathy to people in that community.
 Quite similar to what is happening in various states here in the U.S. , in 1992, homeopaths banned together with other alternative medical professionals and formed an Umbrella Coalition. This organization includes only those fields that have conventional medical training within their studies: acupuncture, naturopathy, reflexology, massage, and homeopathy. Israeli homeopaths have opted for this mode of organizing for the purpose of legislation, and in the past year the umbrella coalition has been very active. Their lawyers have already drafted a bill for the acupuncturists to establish a national council with register, and the lawyers are now formulating a plan for the homeopaths, based on their wishes.
Homeopathy and the public 
 The Israeli populace can be described as very dynamic, active and young; open to change, new ideas, and very influenced by Europe and the U.S. A. Many young Israelis go to India to travel and study, where they become open to Eastern philosophy and alternative thinking; they come back wanting to do something like this in Israel. There is a saying in Israel, "People vote with their legs." And it seems that these days, people's legs are walking them over to the local homeopath, more and more. The public is very disillusioned with conventional treatment, and they are seeking out less invasive methods, in general. All of this makes the public demand for homeopathy in Israel very strong.
 This is not only "back room homeopathy,"- homeopaths in Israel are extremely visible. Every major hospital in Israel has opened an outpatient department for homeopathy and other alternative disciplines. Some of these clinics work with therapists that are not certified MD's, and others only with MD's. They offer patients a preliminary interview with a doctor who then directs the patient to the appropriate therapy. This method also screens for pathology, which would necessitate medical treatment. Yair heads the homeopathic department of one of the major hospitals in Tel Aviv. They see about 20- 30 patients a week, they are separate, not integrated into the hospital itself, but do research together. Presently they are studying homeopathy in the treatment of digestive disease (Crohn's, UC, etc.) Other such studies, by IACH member Michal Yakir at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, has been done about the effect of homeopathic remedies on PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) and another, with the cooperation of the Psychiatric department, about homeopathy and GAD (General Anxiety Disorder). One of the aims of the IACH is to introduce association members to hospitals and health organizations.
 Apart from hospitals, there are at least four major health organizations that provide general health care, and they have all opened various alternative health clinics around the country. The social health system of Israel is similar to that of the U.K.  They have their own clinics, in which homeopaths do work, and sometimes they even reimburse private consultations with homeopaths. The National Health Fund has opened a large alternative clinic in Tel Aviv, complete with homeopathic computer program.
Accomplishments 
 With all the great accomplishments of IACH, including their tremendous public support, their work within the hospital setting, and their important research, Yair declares the greatest accomplishment of IACH to be the harmony with each other within the organization. Yair characterizes the typical Israeli homeopath as "deep, having a sharp, quick mind, sometimes to the point of impatience or rudeness; wanting to learn, to climb to the top the fastest way possible." With this character sketch could easily come ego clashes, but this has not been the case. "People have really been able to put egos aside," says Yair. "Our motivations are clear and idealistic-to work for the advantage of homeopathy." What are the challenges that lie ahead? Yair comments, "Homeopathy is in a process of finding its identity between spiritualism and medicalism."
Building bridges
 I asked Yair how he thought we could continue to build our international community of homeopaths. His answer, we need to be in communication, learn from each other's successes and mistakes, and support each other. To this end, the IACH sent a donation to NASH for the legal defense. In concluding our conversation, Yair stressed that homeopaths from the United States are invited and encouraged to visit local Israeli homeopaths when in Israel, the best way, he felt, to "build bridges." The following contact people would be happy to arrange for this:
 Shirley Gilad
 Hageffin 8
 Caesarea 38900
 (Tel) 06-626-4327
 Yanai Lev-Or
 Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek
 (Tel) 04-989-6837
 053-720-041
 Dr. Rina Markovitz
 Habroshim 11
 Haifa
 (Tel) 050-373-141
 David Schlesenger
 Dizengoff A-255
 Tel Aviv
 (Tel) 03-544-4423
 Yair Shemmer
 Ha'amavak 98
 Givatiam 53521
 (Tel) 03-571-4868
 052-384-962
 Amy Inspector-Rozen is a graduate of The College of Homeopathy in London, England. She lives and practices in Morristown, NJ. Tel: 973-983-7092 Email: sarozenaol. com

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