Friday, May 18, 2007 THE JEWISH PRESS Page 73

“[Of our] many responsibilities, none [are] more important than [protecting] children who otherwise would not be born…”

This was the sentiment strongly felt by all at the 30th Anniversary Luncheon of Efrat on Capitol Hill on Wednes-day, April 25, 2007. While expressing these heartfelt words, Senator Mel Martinez (R- Fla) echoed the theme that re-sounded through the afternoon, of our duty to protect the sanctity of life, and the inestimable value of every single child.

In his invocation, Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz, law pro-fessor at the University of Maryland and an expert on medi-cal ethics, spoke of the connection between Pesach, the Holi-day of Freedom, and Shavuos, Yom Tov of Matan Torah. “Free-dom only has meaning when it is linked to the Law. Free-dom without responsibility is destructive. Responsibility is the hallmark of the dignity of a human being.

The story of Efrat is one of an organization that has undertaken the responsibility to preserve the dignity of the human being, and one that is engaged in constant hatzalas nefashos. Based in Israel, Efrat has saved over 25,000 Jew-ish lives by providing financial and emotional support to expectant women in distress.

The afternoon was a tribute to Dr. Eli Schussheim, the president of Efrat. Dr. Schussheim, after embarking on a ca-reer as a surgeon, decided to volunteer much of his time to Efrat, because he “…felt he could save more lives” that way. Dr. Schussheim spoke movingly of the value of each individual life.

Dr. Schussheim delivered heartfelt thanks to the many friends and supporters of Efrat, including luncheon chair-man Woli Stern; prominent Efrat supporter Hirsh Wolf; Aaron Teitelbaum, director of the American organization Efrat C.R.I.B. (Committee for the Rescue of Israel’s Babies); Eduardo Ezban, Mexican representative of Efrat; and Ezra Friedlander of the Friedlander Group, “who worked to make this event such a success.”

Dr. Eli Schussheim enjoys relationships with several members of Congress who respect his innovative approach to the issue of saving lives in Israel. Senator Jim Inhofe and Senator Richard Lugar stopped by to offer congratulations on this important milestone in EFRAT’s history.

In addition, Dr. Schussheim personally thanked the

Capitol Hill Salutes Dr. Eli Schussheim And Efrat

(L-R) Hirsch Wolf; Dr. Eli Schussheim; U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN).

respective members of Congress for “…giving us the strength and power to continue. God bless America, a true friend of Israel.” Those in attendance included Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Rep. Trent Franks, and Senator Jim De Mint.

Other distinguished speakers included William Daroff, Vice President of United Jewish Communities, and Morton Klein, President of Zionist Organization of America, who lobbied for the Ashcroft – Solomon Bill. Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of the Kashrut division of the OU and friend of Efrat, proclaimed, “The vital work of Efrat – one of hatzalas nefashos, mamash – can not be overstated. All of us here have an obligation to do whatever we can to further the support and growth of Efrat.”

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Director of the Washington office of American Friends of Lubavitch praised the work of EFRAT, saying:

“One who saves one neshamah is as if they saved the whole world. And every neshamah that comes so close to entering this world and has people enabling its mother to financially survive and endure the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth, is then another life able to sanctify this world with Torah and mitzvos, bringing the entire world closer to Hashem.”