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רחוב הנביאים
Ulpan-Or; T-Ulpan Advanced Level
Helena Kagan's House - ֵבית ֶה ֶל ָנה ָכ ַגן
English translation
Dr. Helena Kagan was the first female pediatrician in Israel. Helena
studied medicine in Switzerland and immigrated (made "Aliya") to
Israel from Russia, because she wanted to help Jewish children. She fell
in love with Jerusalem and bought the painter Hunt's house on
Haneviím Street. Helena wanted to open a clinic there.
But the Turks in Israel did not want a female doctor and did not let her
work. Helena rented out rooms in her house and cleaned them in order
to make a living. Her condition was very difficult. Her friends told her:
"Why do you stay in Israel, you can be a doctor in Europe?!"
In 1914 a war started. During the war many children in Jerusalem died
because of poor hygiene. The Turks needed many doctors and were
forced to let Dr. Helena Kagan work with children in Jerusalem. She
opened a clinic at her house and in the old city and treated Jewish,
Christian and Moslem children. Helena worked with the kids and their
families on hygiene and this way saved many children from death.
Initially, the Ultra-orthodox (Khareydi) Jews did not let Dr. Kagan treat
their children, because she was a woman, till one Friday night, when
she was called to come to Meah She'arim neighborhood to save a little
boy, who was very sick and was about to die. Helena treated him and
managed to heal him. This child was Amram Blau who later on became
the head of "Natorei Karta" in Israel. Since that day many ultra-
orthodox children came to Dr. Kagan. Helene even taught their families
how to prevent diseases with the help of hygiene and introduced this
topic to hospitals in Jerusalem.
She was a head of Department of Pediatrics in "Bikur Holim" hospital
for many years. All the children that she took care of - loved her. Her
professionalism and her devotion made her a living legend. She hosted
many famous people at her house. The poetess Rachel lived in a hut at
the yard near Helena's house. Rachel wrote a poem about a pear tree
viewed from the hut's window.
Helena Kagan was awarded (got) the "Israel Prize" in 1975 for her
marvelous work. Dr. Helena Kagan died in 1978.
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