Dental Volunteers for Israel on Righteous Crowd this Week!
A volunteer teaching the importance of dental hygiene to children in Jerusalem.
Dental Volunteers for Israel
Providing Free Dental Care for At-Risk Youth
Many Jews traditionally bless their children on Friday nights after lighting the Shabbat candles. These blessings come from this week’s Torah portion, Vayechi, in which Jacob bestows a special blessing on his twelve sons before his death. In the spirit of blessing young people, this week we are supporting an organization which offers free dental care to at-risk youth in Israel.
Read our interview below with Michelle Tova Levine, Director of International Relations of Dental Volunteers for Israel.
What is the mission of Dental Volunteers for Israel?
Dental Volunteers for Israel (DVI) aims to prevent suffering among the Jerusalem area’s most vulnerable population, by providing free, high quality dental care. DVI is the only clinic providing totally free oral health care and education from age 4 to 26 and has done so since 1980. Recently, DVI began to treat needy elderly and Holocaust Survivors, providing free dentures. Volunteer dentists, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are the mainstay of the clinic’s staff. As a result of their efforts and corporate donated supplies, DVI is able to treat almost 3,000 needy patients annually, and on a shoe-string budget.
Who has inspired you in the work that you are doing?
DVI was founded in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Trudi Birger, may her memory be a blessing. During Trudi’s work with needy families, she became aware of their physical and psychological suffering due to severe dental problems. She could identify with these children, having had her own teeth knocked out by a Nazi guard in a concentration camp. Trudi Birger passed away on her 75th birthday, however, DVI’s Board of Directors is fully committed to her vision and dedicated to continuing the clinic’s work.
What has surprised you about working with Dental Volunteers for Israel?
I had no idea how early one could begin to lose teeth. Seeing 18 year olds with visibly missing teeth, and learning about how that would impact their futures, made me realize how critical access to dentistry is in reversing the cycle of poverty.
What are some non-monetary ways for others to get involved?
Any licensed dentist is welcome to volunteer at DVI's free clinic in Jerusalem! Many times their spouses or family members also help out in the office, which is incredibly helpful, as none of our staff is full-time. They often help us reach a local newspaper or Federation newsletter back home, which is key, as we rely on local press back home reporting on their community member's involvement as our major vehicle for public relations and spreading the word.
To learn more about Dental Volunteers for Israel, click here.