Avraham Elimelech Firer (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: אלימלך פירר; born 1954) is an Israeli

rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

. He is chairman and founder of Ezra LeMarpeh, a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

established in 1979 that provides medical assistance to the needy.

Biography

Avraham Elimelech Firer was born in

Bnei Brak Bnei Brak or Bene Beraq ( he, בְּנֵי בְּרַק ) is a city located on the central Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean Israeli coastal plain, coastal plain in Israel, just east of Tel Aviv. A center of Haredi Judaism, Bnei Brak covers an are ...

, the fifth of nine children. His father, a teacher, immigrated from Galicia. He is married to Feige (Tzipora), a kindergarten teacher, with whom he has ten children.Don't call him doctor
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Social activism career

Firer matches sick people with the best hospitals, physicians and treatments available for their conditions, in Israel and abroad. His organization, Ezra Lamarpeh, operates a fleet of ambulances, a special ICU for flying patients abroad, Home Care Network that cares for

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

stricken children and a Video-Conference System for international medical sessions. Firer is an ordained rabbi. According to Harvard Medical School's Dr. Ivo Janko, Firer and his organization provide integrated services unparalleled in the world. The body of judges who awarded the Israel Prize to Firer described his tireless work and the inspiration offered by his "boundless energy, patience, cheerfulness and serenity, which are essential conditions for working with the sick, the elderly and the needy, who more than anything else need emotional support." Ezra LeMarpeh assists anyone who turns to it for help, without discrimination: Jews and non-Jews, religious and secular. Doctors accept Firer's suggestions and referrals, and his office is open for consultation and advice at all hours of the day and night. Firer's work is purely voluntary.

Awards and recognition

In 1997, Rabbi Firer was awarded the

Israel Prize The Israel Prize ( he, פרס ישראל; ''pras israél'') is an award bestowed by the State of Israel, and regarded as the state's highest cultural honor. History The Israel Prize is awarded annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state cer ...

, for his special contribution to society and the State of Israel. In 2002, Rabbi Firer was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Weizmann Institute. In 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Haifa. On 10 June 2010, at the Rambam Summit, Prof. Rafi Beyar, Director of Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, honored Rabbi Firer with the Rambam Award 2010. Firer is also the recipient of the Begin Prize.Begin Prize

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firer, Avraham Elimelech Israel Prize for special contribution to society and the State recipients Israel Prize Rabbi recipients Israeli chief executives Hasidic rabbis in Israel Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Distinction of Israel Living people 1954 births

Biography

Social activism career

Awards and recognition

See also

References