I have to admit, I wasn’t at all up to date with the unfortunate situation in Haiti until this morning. I knew that there had been a catastrophic earthquake with a tremendously high death toll, but I must admit that I didn’t really pay it much mind (I know, there’s no excuse, I’m a political science major).This morning, on my way to class, I was handed one of the few free papers in Israel, Israel Hayom, and proceeded to read it front to back. Now I can say that I am quite an expert on what had happened in Haiti, at least from the Israeli perspective.
The (many) articles in the paper about the Israeli efforts to aid the disaster-ridden country brought tears to my eyes (yes, I am a sop; I cry a lot). If I’m not mistaken, Israel sent over a team of 40 of their best doctors (we’re talking the heads of hospitals here) and 40 nurses, as well as army medics and ZAKA members (acronym for “Zihui Korbanot Ason”, Identifying Victims of Disaster). According to one of the articles, there had been a single Haitian doctor that many of Port au Prince’s victims had been going to before the Israeli team arrived. Since arrival, the Israeli team set up a field hospital and has since been treating hundreds of Haitians who have come seeking medical care. The team has even delivered a baby (promptly named Israel by his mother).
Reading these articles, I got the same feelings I get every Yom HaZikaron/Atzmaut- pride. I’m proud that our country stepped up to the plate to help another country. I’m proud that despite all the anti-Israel sentiment that has been running rampant recently (which, by the way, according to that same paper, is on the mend in several places), Israel was able to see past politics and send its people to provide the-aptly-named humanitarian aid with the intention of helping other people. Because that’s what we all are, after all- people. We may have different beliefs, political tendencies, and nationalities, but we are all people. 
