Born to Heal | Full Segment

Welcome. We are here on behalf of an incredible, incredible organization that I've had the privilege to work with many times over the years. Amu, an organization that deals with perhaps the most important topic, especially in the Jewish nation after such a devastating two years. And that topic is of course mental health. You're here with Hellofold, Yehuda Sabinar, >> right? >> Did I say that right? >> Sabinar. >> Sabiner. >> Yes. >> Like El Miller, right? Okay. The event that we're here for is Unite to Heal. again spotlighting this very important topic that unfortunately is too often stigmatized. So it's again incredibly important work but that's not what we're here to talk about because we're here to talk to someone who is and I've never met him before but I'm very excited to hear the story because I've heard snippets I've heard like the trailer the preview of your life and all I have to say is mind blown. So let's start from the beginning. Yehuda where are you from? Where were you born? I was born in New York and when I was uh one months old my parents came here back to Israel. Okay. >> So I grew up in Harov neighborhood. >> I lived in too a little bit. Great second. So your parents are originally Israeli. >> My mother is American. My father is Israeli. >> Got it. And so when you were one month old they came back to Israel. >> That's right. >> Got it. Okay. And you're >> a kassid. >> Agarassid. Now before we get into that for those that are watching that might not be familiar just give me like a highlevel elevator pitch of Gasidus versus Satmer versus Kabad versus any other what is what what characterizes Bisidus versus others. >> Um practically they are the largest the strongest here in Israel. They have a lot of political um power. >> Interesting. um even though this that we split for the last four or five years but spiritually I believe um they were very focused about learning in Eun and not compromising in Hashem. >> Okay. So >> it's a very extremist place. >> Got it. So you would >> they took everything to the next level. >> Right. So, so you would say in addition to having political power because of how big they are, Torah is is, you know, one of the stronger ideals in Gasidus. Is that what you're saying? >> Torah, separation between the genders, everything they took any aspect of to the extreme. >> It's a pretty extreme. I mean, I don't know very much about it, but it's >> we can agree on it. >> Very extreme. Okay, great. So, you grew up and were part of you still are agassed, correct? >> Okay. My understanding >> I'm today part of the Rabshaw's community but still I believe I am Rob alter >> who is what >> we separated as I mentioned we separated >> five years ago >> got it got it got it okay so you grew up in Harnov and at some point something changed you went a little bit I don't not god forbid away from as we say off the der no stayed you're from as firm as any as ever but you took a little bit of a different path correct Um so in in my vision I think it was you know already from the beginning you know in age three four when I have a two brilliant pediatricians in our north neighbor Dr. Matar Dr. Shapira already I asking them uh what should I do in order to be a doctor as you >> three four old years old? >> Yeah. >> You were asking doctors what you need to know to become a doctor at three years old. >> That's right. >> Were you pardon are you like a gen like have you ever gotten your IQ tested? >> No. Like what kind of three-year-old asks doctors what they do to become a doctor? >> You so you're saying basically you were born knowing you want to be a doctor. >> Yeah. I didn't want to be a kid, you know. So I >> Interesting. >> Let's finish already school. Let's finish already. Uh >> you went to regular high like elementary school, high schooler. >> Okay. >> So, >> so just to be clear, those again those that are watching might not be familiar is um strictly Jewish again pretty strict Jewish framework where, correct me if I'm wrong, you don't really learn um secular studies. No math, no English, no science. It's all Torah. Is that accurate? >> It's almost accurate. from age uh 5 until age 13, you're learning a long day. From 8:00 till 6:00 p.m. 1 hour a day, it's secular education. In my case, we didn't got to learn the ABC, the English. Um, no. >> Um, in math, we only learned the four basic, you know, elementary >> um Yeah. >> Got it. By the way, I heard some crazy story. You have to tell me more about it because I we I I mean my understanding from what I heard about your life, we could talk for four hours, but we also are aware that people watching might have ADHD so we have to keep it somewhat uh you know so shab. But there was some story about your dad in a basketball game or something like that. Did I understand this correctly? >> Yeah, that's right. >> Can you tell me that story quickly? >> Um if you want of course >> let's do it like this. So when I came to age um 19 finished tisha bestish etc. I was obviously in the shik process. Um my father was proposed with um um a shot by a matchmaker a very special role for me. >> Yeah. >> Um they didn't add any financial uh background. So my father said this guy is going to learn in his entire life you know Torah and rabbitical studies. So I need someone to share with me um the boundar the the boundaries of that. Um so he refused and then half a year later he traveled to California. He had to have there a meeting with a very wealthy guy, billionaire. And his partner told him, "Look, if you're going to get the meeting in his office, you know, it's very depends what he had in the cereal that morning. He might, you know, get out." >> Yeah. In 2 minutes, you're going to be out of the >> But he's a great fan of the Lakers. So, I'm going to buy you a a ticket to the Golden Ring. >> Um, and I count about your social capabilities. You're going to be a best friend next to MDR. So my father told him listen I am one of the administration um managing Gary Shiva I mean someone going to see me in a basketball game I going to be fired at that second California who going to know you I mean no one here is uhic so he gave him a t-shirt with a basketball u baseball cap you know and he was sure that no one going to mention disguise >> and 10 minutes to the game he already got phone call that didn't should come back immediately in order to be fired. He sat by mistake. He didn't know who he's sitting next to, but he sat next to Leonardo the coprior and Barafeli. Uh, [laughter] >> so it was all over. >> The picture was online. >> Wow. >> All over Israel. >> Wow. That's crazy. Okay, so let's get back to you. So, you knew you wanted to be a doctor and then at what point, you know, then you got married, I assume, but what age did you get married? >> 20. >> 20. And at that point, did you already know that you're going towards medicine or were you still sitting and learning Torah all day? >> Still sitting learning Torah, but really had the desire to do something else. Um 8 months after wedding, uh my wife was in the end of the pre the first pregnancy. She had complications uh of surgical complications were sent to Shiva Hospital. That day was the day of the strike of the residents. 800 of them resigned in one day. Um and we came there standing very long time on the on on the waiting room and the doctors was forced to come back to work by courts orders. So they had a big sign on the back where are four slaveries >> on their t-shirts where >> on the scrubs a big sign. Yeah. >> In other words, they they didn't want to come to work but they were forced to but as as like a strike they put on their scrubs we are here against our will kind of thing. >> That's right. Okay. >> So when we came to the examin examin examining room so I told the doctor as you understand I was young and stupid. I told him aren't you ashamed to go with that uh sign all my entire life I dreaming to come to that point that I am a doctor I willing to work my entire life without salary you know so you because couple dollars in the salary you you're going with such a sign and instead of kicking me out of the room he told me so why aren't you doing it I told him you know what it takes to be a doctor here in Israel I don't have ABC I never um learned the multiplication table so >> obviously I don't have a chance, >> right? >> So I told her it's never late. But that was, you know, the little part. When I came back with my wife to house, she started crying and tell me what did what did happen there in that room? I thought you're going to be the next rabbi there. >> She was there. >> Yeah, obviously. >> Okay. >> I thought you're going to be the next rabbitical. [laughter] >> So she she heard you say that you want to be a doctor and she said, "What just happened?" >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> She was crying, disappointed, etc. And then the other day she came to me and told me, "Look, I love you. We will not break the house for that reason. But I'm not going to be your problem. Your rabbi is going to be your problem. If you're getting his permission to become to become a doctor, I are going to do whatever it takes to be, you know, we're going to travel to Australia. If you this this is the only place you're going to be accepted. >> As long as the Rebi gives you his because that's I mean that is a very again that's that's how the world works. The Rebi makes the decisions, right? Okay. So what happened next? That day I went to to speak with my rabbi and I told him uh about my dreams. It wasn't a shock. [clears throat] Obviously it was the first time in theidic sector in Israel that someone went to wanted to go to medical school first time >> ever >> ever. >> Nobody's ever wanted to be a doctor as >> maybe people wanted to be but no one went to execute that desire. >> Okay. Um and he told me look do it but do it as a religious mission. The world is standing on three beams. Torah refers to learning studying Torah um making um >> prayer prayer and you know uh making charity >> good deeds. Yeah. >> So you can bluff here and you can go to the coil and make make believe that you're learning etc. But in 70 or 80 years you're going to die. And when you come to basing chilala there there's no bluffs. You're going to have to bring receipts. So pick up your beam, pick up your path in life. If you're doing it, if you want charity, take the medicine part as a career and do it as a religious mission. And two weeks later, I started, you know, ABC. >> Seriously? >> And Mac >> where >> um in the first program of the technon university for pre-academic uh program for >> but literally they started you from ABC. >> Yeah. How many other people need to learn the ABC? [laughter] >> So people in in our first class we had 50 we started 57idic uh notidic very religious u men >> orthodox. >> Yeah. And we ended 13 but the first day first day very first you know um lecture that we have from they brought us someone that has a PhD in the philosophy of mathematics to teach us you know to get to minimize the gap. He wrote zed equals the natural numbers you know and half of the class asking what is it zed and half of the class asking what is it uh natural numbers that was it >> so then they literally started you from zero how old were you at this point >> 21 okay so let me just try to understand you [snorts] grew up till you're 21 in the gar world you were married your wife's name >> Raeli my wife's name is look at that um okay and so she heard I mean I assume she knew that your dream was to be a doctor [snorts] before that conversation You never told her. >> We had a meeting of >> one day. >> One day before you you got got engaged. >> One day >> what? >> You met her once before you got engaged. >> I met her twice at the same day. In the morning we had a meeting of hour and a half in the afternoon an hour and 45 minutes and then we were engaged and then 10 minutes without this connection you know no letters no WhatsApp no phones >> in how long? >> 10 months. >> 10 months with no connection >> between the engagement and the married with no >> you have to do another video. to explain this [laughter] stuff to me. But putting that aside right now. So, so she basically didn't really know you at that point. She didn't. >> So, this is a funny one because before I went to meet her, I knew what's the information that her family going to gather about me. You know, good boy, bestiva, probably going to be a big doctor, a big rabbi. Sorry. >> Nice Freudian slip there. [laughter] >> Freud. >> Great. >> And so, I said I don't want to be, you know, mentioned, you know, as a crook. So I told my father I am not willing to met that this uh girl unless you're telling your father that I am not promising to sit and learn to run my entire life. He tried to convince to convince him not to do it but I I insist and when my father told it to her father he was sure it's you know part of the bargaining and how much money he has to put in the process. So I said he said I I didn't ask he should learn to run in his entire life. So it didn't come serious. That's hilarious. Okay. So, >> I tried. >> Okay. So, that that was the first time your wife heard of this aspiration of yours. >> That's right. >> So, her initial reaction was crying and then she said, "I'll stand by you as long as the Reb says yes." And the Rebi said yes. Cuz as as part of other words, he he didn't say to you, "Go build an amazing career in medicine." He said, "The world stands on if Torah is not your thing, go do." >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, then what happened? go to, you know, it was 14 years ago and still at that very um first, you know, conversation that we had, he told me, you're going to fight people in the lowest places in their life, in the best in the worst moment, you know, people with kids with illnesses, >> right? >> Never forget from where you come and why you came to that profession. Beautiful. And and today 14 years later when I working in Schneider's hospital, the best pediatric hospital in Israel, CPR and babies, um I see you um what kind of pediatrician? >> Yeah. >> Any specific specialty or just pediatrician? >> Finishing up pediatrician in the next two weeks. >> Finishing your studies. In other words, >> I'm fitting my residency in pediatric. Uh yeah, in pediatrician. >> And where do you live now? >> In Ben, >> right? You told me that. Okay. And so you live in Manra. You have how many kids? >> Four. >> Four kids. And you're a full-time pediatrician. >> That's right. >> You're doing. >> Do you have time to learn Torah at all? >> Trying, you know, a little bit but not too much. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Beautiful. >> After you started this process at the age of 21, my understanding is you also went to the army. when I was near to clo to finish my studies, I had the opportunity to join late uh late phase of army. Um for >> you want to like annoy your family as much as possible. What is [laughter] that? What why' you go to the army? Like again for those that are watching I mean like as you can imagine everything you've heard till now is extremely you know untraditional for Garrick Hassid but army army is not just not traditional it's like a whole political thing like what why did you go to the army like do you were you a pardon my my dirty language were you a tiny like where did that come from >> first of all I think their garium are pretty much in the beliefs are pretty much okay we we like the country we like our nation we we like our country. You like I mean you like the land, but do you like the state >> as well? >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Oh, so they're not like >> maybe things turn, you know, for the next last decades in the new administration that we left, but but >> really like the place. Okay. My grandfather uh he was a third generation of G. Okay. >> Oh wow. Okay. >> My great-grandfather was fast in Poland. >> Great rebi. >> Wow. >> And still he he made the army. He was uh Yeah. He was wounded in six days war. >> Okay. So it's not that crazy. There is precedent. There are do the army >> in the past. [laughter] >> Right. Today no >> pretty much you know out of 70,000 people believe there is less than 100 or 200. >> Okay. So you did full army. >> No I didn't do full army. I was um trained to join the the reserve for forces. Um in the beginning I was part of a special rescue unit uh search and rescue unit uh playing also abroad. um across the borders of Israel and also in combat across you know uh >> it's the it's the unit that known for the delegations to Miami Nepal Turkey but also during war we didn't f we're going to have a war they are also in charge to all the search and rescue um in the battle you know in Gaza and Lebanon and >> got it you were in the army for how long >> um couple months and then reserve each each year for around uh >> till now you do this >> till now then we had the war you know in October >> 17 you're still doing reserves before the war like are you >> yeah I was part of the army four years before the war >> how old are you >> 35 oh so so in theory you can continue doing reserves >> wow >> but you know in October 7th everything changed so here's the big question I guess specifically as it pertains to Amu and the incredible work that they do >> how did your family react to all this like when when you like it One thing I'm sure your parents, like again, if you were three years old and asking doctors, I'm sure they knew that somewhere deep down you had this dream, this aspiration, but I don't I don't know your parents, but I would imagine they didn't think you're actually going to pursue it. When you decided to go into medical school, forget the army for one second. When you decide to go into medical school and quote unquote leave the base major to learning as a secondary thing in your life, how did they respond? How did they react? >> So, I must drag you a little bit. You know before as a kid in a Gary until age 13 I was the best example to the worst kid. >> Best example for the worst kid. >> Yeah. >> What does that mean? >> Very hard dealing kid. You know probably undiagnosed ADHD. The one that getting smacked each day. The one that getting bitten each day by the staff. >> By the staff. >> Yeah. Absolutely. That was the time that still the staff were >> Oh boy. >> That was the way, you know, to straighten up. >> Not anymore. Um, I believe it's not. >> I hope not. >> Yeah. >> Okay. [laughter] Yeah. So, you were a troublemaker? >> Really? Out of a school of um seven uh 1,700 kids, I was really the best example to the worst kid. >> You were you were the worst hate kid in the whole the whole >> Absolutely. >> Wow. Okay. >> So already from the beginning, you know, >> you were >> so a big troublemaker. But in age 16 when I was already in a good yeshiva one of the best ones and my parents took me to Philly, we were you know spending u pesak together and we went one one day to Philly and there they have the um Franklin Institute of Science. So they have there a big exhibit of the heart and I went inside the heart from the atriums to the ventricles etc. And I told my mother you know I still have the dream to be a doctor. Do you remember what I spoke with you when I was >> was the age of 16? >> In the age of 16 and she started crying and she told me I thought we passed the hard times with you. >> Oh [laughter] my gosh. It's it's very it's a funny thing though because like the stereotype is like every Jewish mother wants their kid to be a doctor. You know in G it's like every Jewish mother does not want their kid to be a doctor. Okay. So that was 16 and then what happened next? Like how how did Okay, so let's let's jump forward, right? So you you're doing medical school. You I mean even today are you you have a good relationship with your family today? Absolutely. They were very supportive. I mean >> it's impossible to pursue that uh desires and vision without you have >> without support >> support of your wife, your family, your parents. >> But was there a point where you felt like this is what I have to do for myself even though I'm not getting support or were they supported from day one? >> They support me from the minute that I got the permission, you know, >> yeah. >> Interesting. And they at no point did they come and say to you, are you sure you want to do this? Like maybe you should just go back to the base marage. Like they were just all right. The rebi said yes. >> Before I got the permission, obviously they tried to convince me that it's stupid and it's impossible to achieve it. You know, even if you decide to go against all your community, >> right? You still have to learn. You know what is it? Uh to be a doctor in in Israel also someone from the secular world, you know, with wealthy parents that got uh private education. It's very hard here to be accepted to med school. I mean, >> 60% of the Israeli doctors were wasn't accepted here in Israel to med schools and they went to learn abroad >> and they came back. >> Yeah. So, >> very hard in Israel. >> Yeah. >> So then how do you explain it? How did you get in? >> Stupid enough to try. >> But but why did you get accepted? Was it like like affirmative action, you know, like you know? >> So I really made my best. I mean I in the fir you know what in the first trimester of the pre-academics program in the technon we had uh we had test done on physics English and math English I got 100 physics I got 95 it made sense you know after sitting uh 14 15 hours a day in yeshiva and learning it was you know it made sense math >> your bra you developed your brain for other things but you already math that it was only you know rules no sense be behind the rules I have 43 out of 100 obviously nothing close >> 43 out of 100 >> right >> okay so >> so I went to the principal I told him look look I have one goal medical school so obviously with such marks I can won't be able to be accepted so tell me now if I have a chance because if not we're going to I'm going to leave now and he told me you approved you approved us that you are not a stupid guy I mean that you have a capabilities I believe if you're going to give everything that you got, you have a chance. I cannot promise you anything, but I believe you have a chance. And I gave everything that I had. I mean, each day I would I would making um homework until 4:00 a.m. >> Jeez Louise. >> I mean, and after two hour two years of those uh studies, I was >> able to be accepted. Hard work. >> Yeah. I mean, hard work. That's an understatement. You know, in addition to clearly you have uh cognitive abilities and a gift, you're obviously very smart. >> I'm not a genius. I mean, in comparison to my class in Yeshiva, >> somewhere in the average, >> how do you how do you measure? How do you quantify? Like, how do you know you're not a genius? >> You don't have to take um I mean, I had friends that knew the entire shots, the entire Talmud that had very brilliant questions to the mag. I mean, I was not on the top. >> Clearly, okay, fine. Maybe you're not officially a genius, but you clearly have exceptional mental abilities. I mean, at the end of the day, you didn't know the ABC and now you're a doctor. So, let's let's give you a little credit where credit is due here. But, but but more important than the, you know, the mental abilities, you clearly are a very resilient human being. Like, you clearly have very thick skin because at any point in that entire process, which How long was the process from the day you decided I'm doing this until the Well, you're still finishing your residency. How long has it been? >> 14 years. >> 14 years. 14 years. You're pursuing a dream that you've had since you're 3 years old and still continue. I going now I was accepted this week to a fellowship in Toronto. >> You're leaving >> what? >> You're leaving Israel. >> Conversation is over. >> Uh you're leaving to learn something and to bring it back. I did I don't know if you know it, but I have a special uh >> so when Yeah. So when I when I when I finished med school, I really wanted to be a pediatric uh intensivist, ICU doctor. And then short time after I started residency, we had our fourth baby. Uh we didn't know anything during the pregnancy, but I had a feeling that she's going to change my career. >> I told it to my wife each day. >> She's going to change to change my career. And then when she was um she when she passed her cesarian section emergency cesarian section the minute that that I saw the baby I saw that something is weird and >> and we got she has downs. >> How did you not know that in the So I don't want to get too personal but it's not something they know in during the pregnancy. Do you not do you guys not do like >> we are the guys that not uh check before. >> Oh you don't do that >> even though I am a doctor. Yeah. >> Wait. So you I just out of curiosity in the G that's a thing in Gus there's no ultrasounds none of that >> just the regular ultrasounds you're not you're not checking the genetics you're not making up >> is that because you're not >> then also that you're not going to terminate the pregnancy over here what is the point >> right okay so you had no idea >> no >> and then she was born what's her name >> DT >> DT yeah we did and we made it for DT >> DT >> D it cool >> and I you know I just felt you know someone is I am driving on uh strrad on 200 km per hour and so on is >> well the hands hand breaks >> yeah what are you doing I mean >> right >> I wanted to complete my residency and then to go to slow down Toronto to make a fellowship in ICU >> right >> this is what was born >> right >> and how did that change your career I mean what what did what [snorts] did her birth her joining your family shift in your mind >> everything. Explain. >> First of all, she took any complication that Downs can take. A lot of the people with Downs have um associate medical problems. She passed um heart surgery and 3 months old. >> Wow. >> Um she had a very rare uh neurological condition with um seizures. >> She took any complications. >> I want to tell you something. I hope this doesn't offend you, but I it's something that I believe. So, I've worked with special needs kids over the years. Most fulfilling, unbelievable time of my life. And again, if this I hope this doesn't I don't think it's offensive. I think it's a beautiful thing. But as we know, there's no nva today, right? We don't have nuva. We don't have prophets. But what does the garamar say about nava? Who has nava? >> Right? [laughter] So, I don't it's you know, that's literally translated as young ones and fools. I don't like the word fools, but I believe and maybe you can tell me what you think. I I really do believe that special needs children, whether it's downs, autism, whatever, have this this sixth sense to them. They have they're they pick up things that you and I maybe don't. Do you ever experience that with them? >> I feel like the nu is with them. >> Is that something you've experienced? >> I have no idea. But I I can tell you one thing just as an example. when I completing my 28 hours shift in hospital some of the shifts without the opportunity to put something in mouth to go to to the bathroom some of them you know you're coming exhausted you had uh CPRs in the night you had uh um violent parents some of the time you know I don't want to see anyone no one >> right not to eat not just to stick up in into bed and you know forget about everything she's the only one that cheese can >> can >> get a smile for me. >> Yeah, >> that's amazing. >> Out of me. >> I' I have I I I really I've had experiences with special needs that are like >> like how did like how did you know that thing like anyway that's a different topic but um >> so she made me a better father, >> better doctor and a better person. >> That's amazing. And then we know once we entered once we are we were dealing with all the challenges my wife told me what is the chances that we got that baby as a statistical uh occasion >> right >> if we are dealing so much with her and challenging so much with her as also that even though even though that you are doctor in the best uh pediatric hospital in Israel think about other people. So maybe we got this baby in order to change the medical >> beautiful >> uh path for special needs children. >> You you she made you said she made you a better father, a better person, and a better doctor. >> That's right. >> Talk to me for one second about how she made you a better doctor. >> It's very simple. When you standing next to a kid and a family that deals with devastating um new um condition with a special needs kid or with uh cancer etc. your point of view and understanding of those parents and kid it's totally different once you are dealing with >> interesting you're saying more more on the bedside manner more on your the way you interact with with with patients and things like that but I understand >> it's not only the spiritual way I mean you can you also have a eye a professional eye to see the sensitivities >> um the condition what is wrong here what is >> might be pathologic >> interesting so my understanding understanding and tell me take take me down this kind of road is that you understood that as a parents as a parent to a down syndrome child that there's no one place that you can go and from a medical perspective take care of all of this this child's needs and you'd have to go to different places >> right >> walk me through that >> I mean our our own little DTI I mean she has cardiac problems neurological problems psychiatry problems, um developmental problems, etc. >> She is she high functioning, low functioning, mid functioning, >> mid functioning. >> Okay. >> My wife was our architect until uh Yeah. Wow. >> until >> Di was born. >> Until Di was born. And then when we saw the entire bunch of thing that we have to deal with, you know, each day appointment to a different doctor in a different place, in a different hospital, >> there's no one. >> She told me continue what you're doing. This is our mission. I'm quitting my job. I'm gonna take your honor. >> The mission what? To build >> to be a doctor and to bring We're going to change the path the medical path for those special parents for special children >> to give them one place. >> To give them one place. >> Wow. Why was that never done before? >> I don't know. >> Strange thing. >> It's a strange thing. But two 2,000 years ago, the prophets were very big people. You know, when God wanted to talk with the nation, he took through Moshe, Jeremy, Jeremia, and etc. Today, when he wants to change things, he's taking Don Moog, a general in the IDF is giving him his special needs autistic kid and then he's um establishing that a day negative, a worldleading center, a village for special needs people. >> That's invisible. He's taking Gary Leid obviously not religious very far from you know from prophecy but he's giving him his special Yale autistic kid and he's changing through the politics >> that he has a special needs kid. >> Yeah >> I didn't know that >> and he changed he changed for better much better the entire um >> such an interesting perspective. So you're saying God used to communicate to the world and make change in the world through prophets and today there's no prophecy. So God uses messengers, sometimes political messengers, other leaders, you know, that aren't necessarily religious leaders to make change in the world. >> People that have the ability to change things. >> Fascinating. >> And this this is your choice, you know, and especially once we we're interviewing to that uh to that organization. You got a challenge. This is a fact, you know. It's not your fault that you got that uh challenge, but you got it. Now it's your decision >> right >> if to take it and to cry about it. It's fine to cry about it. But the next step what what is going to be to be a victimized to be a victim or to take it >> and to make something better to you to your family to your >> community to your nation. I'll tell you something on a on a on a different scale. Okay? It's not I'm not I'm not making the comparison but you know this war for me has changed so much about my perception of the world. Right? So like you know I grew up religious. You grew up religious. We all know the phrase gamulatva, right? Something happens. It might be hard right now, but you say hashem only does good in the world. Gamula. I don't know why it's gamula, but it's gamula, right? And you know, again, growing up, I I said it, but I never really meant it. Like something bad happens, I'm upset that it happened. Gamula, but like, okay, I'm still upset, right? But in this war, many times, I don't know. I don't know. I can't give a number, but definitely 20 times throughout this war, something happened. And I was at the time I was like, oh man. And then and then I said to myself, Gamsulva and and within days I realized this is why it's Gamula. I'll give you one example. I was supposed to go to uh Australia to speak at a magenda verm gala to raise money and it was a pretty significant paying gig, a lot of money. And I was supposed to fly out on Tuesday. Friday morning the Australian government wrote me an email. You're banned from our country because of your tweets. They're Islamophobic. Blah blah blah. I was like, what the? So I I I appealed, right? I also got the foreign ministry involved. I got the US ambassador involved. Everyone was involved at the highest diplomatic levels. They didn't reverse the decision. I was banned for three years. And I was devastated. Not only because of the money, but because what are we 1930 Germany? An American Jew can't come to Australia. I was devastated. But I said to I didn't know why, but I said, "Hashem, well, first of all, Mind Deodom allowed me to speak virtually over Zoom, so I didn't have to travel 50 hours. Insane numbers. That was first of all. So they paid me, but because of all the media that the story got, they got more money raised because more people came to the fundraiser to hear me speak. So they made more money. I made my money. I didn't have to travel. And then the kicker, just a few days later, the Iran war broke out. And if I was in Australia, I'd be stuck there with my wife and my kids would be here in bomb shelters. I was like, "God, that was an interesting way of doing it." But you're raising your case, [laughter] right? And this has happened many times over the war. So you know, it's an interesting perspective of Gamsulova. you you were you you were given certain circumstances. I would imagine that most people in the world I don't know if most people many people in the world would say, "Hashem, why'd you do this? Why'd you give me a down syndrome kid? I'm I'm doing good in the world. I'm a doctor. I've learned Torah. Why you do?" You didn't you didn't view it that way. You said, "Okay, there's a reason that I was given this opportunity. I would imagine you view it as an opportunity to make the world a better place." So that's what you did. So So what happened next? You saw that there was no multi-disiplinary. Is that what it's called? >> Clinic. >> Clinic. That's the word I was looking for. Thank you. brain is uh okay. So it it doesn't exist. It's not a thing. >> It exists in the abroad. I mean I went to see it in CHOP in Philadelphia. I went to see it in Toronto. I went to see it in Denver. Not yet here. >> Because I would imagine it's probably >> soon coming. >> No, but yeah, [laughter] but I would imagine it's like a like socialized med medicine thing. Like >> we are the best medicine. Uh um >> but why is that not here then? How do you explain that? >> I have no idea. >> That's weird. Okay, fine. So you so you so it exists. So now you're planning So what now? So you're moving to go discover what they do there and bring it back. >> Yep. To learn it there with my aunts, >> you know, and >> to to to import it. >> You're going there. You're going there to practice medicine. You're going there like >> in this place in where in Toronto? >> Toronto. >> And how what's the process? How long do you think you're >> I have no idea because it was accepted only this year? Uh this week. So this week >> it's very fresh. >> So when's when are you leaving? >> Probably in the end of uh June. >> June. >> Oh, you got you got a while. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So you're going there. You're going to study how they do this, how they implement this multi-disciplinary clinic specifically for downs or for other things too. >> For other things too, but also they have their downs clinic. >> And and again, that means that a parent of a of a Downs Syndrome child can walk in and get all of their medical needs in one place. That's right. >> Again, it seems like such a no-brainer. Sometimes when I meet with startups, I say, "How did no one else think of this?" It's kind of like, "Hello, strange, but uh but it exists in the world. Just doesn't exist in Israel." >> Okay. And then you're planning on taking that copy paste bringing it back to Israel. >> That's what you're planning on doing. Yeah, but you mentioned the Gamsu leova. I must share with you something that I experienced the last uh holiday less than a month ago. I was in a shift in a niku. >> A what? >> In night shift in a niku. In the niku. >> What's niku? >> Niku is the you know where the babies come, the ill babies. >> Niku. >> Niku. So I was in the shift in the NICU in charge also on the nursery and I got a phone call from the nurse in one of the departments. She told me we we admitted a mother and a newborn baby and she cannot be in this award. This that specific department has no monitoring equipment and staff. So only healthy babies can be there. So I asked her what is the reason that they cannot stay there. So she told me that family had seeds in the past sudden infantile >> like where they die >> death syndrome. Yeah. So according to our pro protocol in the hospital they have to be monitoriized to 24 hours under a card cardio monitor and only afterwards we can >> so the specific ward did not have that equipment. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> And the the parents resist. They don't want the baby to go any uh evaluation any >> they don't want nothing. I don't know why but it was 2 2:00 a.m. So you know so I told her I cannot give her uh okay for that thing. I I have to call my uh manager and ask him what he said. You know, some of the cases we're going until court, you know, even during now night if we think it's lifethreatening, etc. told me, Uda, give up whatever they want. >> Really? Wow. >> And I said, I going to go even though I going to go to to get some chat with the those parents. And I went to that uh to that uh family and they were very negative negative negativistic you know and the reaction was very you came to steal our baby etc. said first of all let's start from the end you got whatever you wanted I think it's a mistake but my manager told me not to yeah to to give up >> so you got whatever you want and now let's talk a little bit what what which evaluations you made during pregnancy what is the situation etc etc etc and obviously she told me we are resistant to any evaluation any test no EKG no nothing >> is it religious >> no >> w that's so strange and to show me some kind of you know that it's a realistic decision she told she told me you know and my husband is even working in that hospital when she said that word I asked her do you live in Xtown she said yes are your husband is profession as X and she said yes and I started crying I told her two years ago when you came with your baby during CPR in the morning. I was in the emergency room shift. I was inside the CPR. >> So >> of your baby >> of last >> that seeds situation. I was in one of the doctors involved in the CPR >> of a previous kid. >> Yeah. >> Wow. What are the chances? >> And you know when I I remember that CPR it was one of the hard >> Did the baby die? >> Yes. she he came dead you know but even when a baby come dead we're trying you know we're making you know 20 40 minutes of a CPR >> and it was very moving moment during the CPR me other people that was part of that CPR went afterward to to get some mental health uh uh >> you couldn't revive the baby >> yeah it was terrible the situation was terrible first time that you're >> No it's not the first time but under time is horrible >> under this circumstances that was I don't want to get you know to the the details but it was >> hard >> very hard to anyone that was part of it >> and two years later to be you know to see they they have a healthy baby >> amazing >> and then she saw it was very emotional she also remembered me and then she told me you know what examination you want to do to the baby >> wow it's amazing >> it's not coming it's getting better I said I want to make the newborn physical exam and I want to make ICG 30 minutes of a ECG you know just to see that there is no arythmias etc and I going to give you the baby back can my husband join you yes and I was called to uh emergency uh section so I came an hour later everyone was sleeping in that room I woke him I woke him up I went with the father upstairs to my uh examining room I made the test and I left the kid there you know on the side next to the father I went to type the examination on on on my computer and then I got in called by the nurse Dr. Sabina, come here immediately. And under our eyes, he made three episodes of apnea, complete apnea, meaning not breathing at all without my and I made obviously a CPR immediately >> without so just imagine you mean you know if you were stay if the all that situation would not happen. You were staying in the parents >> room >> and the morning when we were were waking up we were see >> wow what a story >> and two years before you know when God had the decision that this is the moment to take that baby >> what a story it was sure also to put a very specific doctor at that moment >> I got to write the story up that is a crazy story let me just let me just let me just wrap my head around this one you're telling me there was a family that had this in their family that what's it called again kids Right. And they had they they brought a dead baby to the hospital. You administered CPR. Unfortunately, the baby died. Fast forward two years later and a family comes in with a baby refusing to get the baby tested. And you go meet them to speak to them and say to them, "Listen, we're not going to do anything you don't want, but like let me hear what your rationale is. Why don't you want?" And [snorts] as they started to talk, you realize, "Wait a second. There's similarities here." And you say to her, "Is your husband this person?" She says, "Yeah." Wait, is this your town? Yes. Is this your husband? I I administered CPR on your on your last baby. Um, and I was in the room trying to revive that baby. She remembered you. You remembered her. Because of that, she trusted you enough. >> A lot of crying at that room, you know, very emotional. >> And then she trusted you enough to say, "Okay, so what tests do you want to do?" You brought the baby to get tested. >> And during those tests, the baby >> test were fine. You know, everything was fine when the baby stop breathing. >> And and had that not happened, the baby wouldn't have been there. Baby would have died. >> Dead. >> Wow. Wow. That is a wild story. Holy smokes. I have chills. My Okay. All right. Listen, like I said in the beginning, we could talk about this for four. You have an incredible story. Maybe we should have a cup of coffee sometime, but Okay. So, I I just I want to focus because we're coming to an end. I I think the most important thing really again I said it before but I I I need to hear your uh how you how you explain this or I guess evaluate yourself when it comes to this resilience because again a normal person without very thick skin without a supernatural level of resilience could not do any of the things that you did could not go to school for how many years 14 >> 14 years >> the process is at least 14 >> 14 years still counting >> without any colleagues and friends who have done it before you. You couldn't get some this is this hasn't unprecedented and you go through this thing for 14 years. You go to the army even though maybe that's a little bit less uncommon than the doctor, but it's also pretty uncommon. I'm sure you don't have many friends in the G world who went to the army. Correct. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> I have a brother. >> Really? [laughter] You guys are a bunch of troublemakers. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, and now your parents are you're good. Like they support you. Everything's fine. >> Not only good, supportive. >> Okay. [laughter] Unbelievable. So, how do we Here's the big question. This is the the elephant in the room. How do we clone people like you? How do we bring someone like you who understands that you have a lot to give the world besides and I don't mean to belittle Tom Torah. I I love Torah and but how do how do you bring you at scale to the world of who understand some people are supposed to learn Torah, but other people could be rockstar doctors, other people could do other. How do we how do you comm I don't want to get into politics, but like how do how do we change the reality right now where there's this divide and I'm not blaming either side. I understand why the Kared don't want to serve in the army. I understand why it annoys you know the non-car but like just give me like a two second thought on how do you is it possible to bridge that ever because it's right now the hottest topic. What do you think about that or are we just doomed? when there was a academic poll study to see what is the positions of the karedi people from stage to stage I mean entire the extremist for a year and the modern extremist how much percent wants the kids of them to go to study English during school give me a number in percent how much was positive about >> five >> 67% of them didn't want their kids to learn secular studies. >> Yeah. >> So what >> and when they asked the other question, how much people of you think that your friends and community wants those uh their kids children as well to go to studying English? What was the number >> two? >> 20%. So this is called um pluralistic ignorance that you think that you are the only modern the only open-minded that do you want you know but you afraid you're very afraid from the prices that you're going to have to pay >> um socially >> again socially against your I mean >> it was not easy when I was in second year uh of med school were thrown out of uh shoe I got lifethreatening uh threats >> it wasn't always so supportive Okay, >> but you think you know that people do not going to agree with you that you're going to have to pay impossible prices and no one wants to pay impossible prices. You know, you can you are you want to pay you agree to pay a reasonable prices. So I think that once we're going to work towards individuals and not towards of communities of groups, we have more chances um of getting more people involved in >> well the the protest that was last week doesn't help. We have half a million whatever the number was that the Karedi world as if the whole Kari world >> but how much people of those people that came to that uh [laughter] to got to that process uh protest >> really think you know that >> what are they doing there everyone is coming >> just like a herd mentality >> interesting okay so where did you get your this >> but this was a great place of doning together I mean it was you know it's >> not nothing to put it inside >> right okay so all right so so just in in a minute or two because we're we're over time. But where did you get this level of resilience? Where did you get this drive to not say in this process, you know what, I don't want to get kicked out of shul. I don't want to be excommunicated from my community. I just want to everyone's learning Torah. Peer pressure. It's what I was meant to do. It's what I'm told to do. It's what my father and grandfa I was I'm going to leave this medical school thing. It's a dream, but you know what? People have dreams. I have a dream to be a to be old Lamborghini, but I'm not an old Lamborghini. like what kept you going beside okay of course you had a dream but like you also need resilience you need thick skin to say like you know I don't care what you have to say I I'm going to be a doctor and I'm going to excel at being a doctor how did you not give up >> so as I mentioned you know for a second in the beginning that I had a very terrible childhood okay really I was it was terrible >> from your but not from your parents because of you meaning >> because of because the school etc Everyone thought that I >> nothing bad like abuse or anything like that. >> Physical abusive account from each day I got smacks >> from your teachers. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I mean like like somebody >> people thought that I'm don't have any capabilities to learn anything you know >> right >> as long that he's not going to go to jail. We are fine with him not doing anything in class you know even the the the plus and minus that they learned in school. I was outside of of those classes. I mean in my entire life I I was searching for some meaning you know what is the meaning of me being a part of that world. So I tried you know so I was dreaming about being a doctor one day I were I going to be able to make meaningful things to help people to to be worth it anything. >> This was your path. This was your path I got it. >> That was my dream you know when I was crying as a kid in school why no one is understanding me you know. That was so I had the dream I going to grow up one day. I'm going to be I'm going to go out of that community. You know in the beginning I thought you know also to be extra religious. I when as a child I wanted to get some revenge but when I grew up I said okay what's the point of all of this? I believe in God. >> Um maybe some people made mistakes but now it's my decision to be a victim >> right >> or to be successful and meaningful for me and for the entire world. So that that's I think a good a good place to end and say that you know everyone has their challenges in life. Some people have bigger challenges, some people have smaller challenges and and you know some challenges are are very very difficult to overcome. There's no question about that. But there is an element I think this is what I'm understanding from you. There is an element there is a component here of how you deal with your reality. You know you're you're dealt a certain card. And yes again I want to be very clear disclaimer. I don't want to sound like everything's easy to get over. There are some things that are very hard to get over. But pretty much anything that's thrown at you, no matter how hard it is, can be viewed from a victim mentality or from a resilient mentality. And you can do the best you can with what you're given. And that's what you did. And that's what you continue to do. And it's incredible. And I'll just end with a sentence that I heard recently that unbelievable sentence. Ready for this? Sit down. Hold on to your chair. I don't remember who said it to me, but it's a beautiful sentence. It's probably a famous quote, but he said, "The purpose of life is to live a life with purpose." >> It's good, right? Strong. >> All right. >> Absolutely. >> It's a great It's a great line because you know what? Everyone has their purpose and some people haven't discovered their purpose yet, but you were fortunate enough to know your purpose from age three. So my question of how did you stay resilient actually isn't even a valid question because that was your clear. You knew again as a >> kept me alive, >> right? >> Again, like it's a BL that in and of itself is most people, you know, you ask them what do you want to be when you grow up, they could be 60 years old and they don't know. You knew from from birth that you were going to be a doctor. So for you, it wasn't a question of maybe it was that was your path. So it is a big blessing. Yes, you had to come overcome hurdles, but I think the key to what kept you resilient and kept you, you know, mentally strong. Um, was that purpose was that this is what I was put here to do. And, uh, that I think is something that anybody could learn from. And [clears throat] again, some people are, you know, have harder challenges than just doing a profession that no one none of their friends are doing. Some people, you know, in this war lost limbs and lost family and we, you know, we know all the terrible things that have happened. It's not it's not like okay I just have to stop thinking of myself as a victim and everything's going to be okay. That's not that's an oversimplification but we can do the best with what we can and I'll I know I said I'll end with that but I'm going to end with one more thing. Um I heard from uh one of my many many many years ago. It's a beautiful thing. Remember this because this is changed my life. We say in Alenu right the sky above and the ground beneath. What's the obvious question? It's redundant. He could have just said bashimal what's basham we know the sky is above and the ground is beneath why does it have to say it so he said something beautiful he said things that are bashim things that are important spirituality your connection to hashem import Important things always look be ma try to be better strive higher things that are not not unimportant wealth health [snorts] always look tas and say it could be so much worse you stub your toe and and it hurts like crazy say to yourself it hurts it's not cancer could be so much worse To me, that's how I lead my life. And I think that's an amazing kind of way to build resilience is shift perspective. So, I'm leaving this this this interview inspired. You're absolutely going to have a follow-up conversation without the cameras because you're a fascinating dude. And I I actually want to like we'll talk about because I want to write about you. I It's an incredible story. Maybe I'll interview you. Do you inter like do you do interviews for like Israeli press? Would you? >> Many. >> We'll talk about that. Okay. Uh but thank you. Thank you. I guess on behalf of me for showing us what resilience is and really on behalf of Claus because again you we need more people like you. So keep doing what you're doing. Go to Toronto but come back because we need people here like you and uh >> just stay strong my friend. It's amazing. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Beautiful. [music] >> [music]