February 11th, '02
Israeli Clown College

Purim is approaching, the day for costumes and merry-making of the Jewish calendar. As somewhat of a comedienne, I've been brushing up on my funny song repertoire, and have even been asked to headline at a pre-Purim "Cash Bash" (see my gig page for details).

Apropos laughter and merriment, I came across this article about "clown doctor" treatment on the Arutz Sheva news service. The story is heartwarming, but then again, why does a country the size of New Hampshire need to graduate 40 specialists in "clown medicine" this year?

DVIR "CURED" BY CLOWN DOCTOR

Dvir (Dvir Nissan ben Esther) Kinarti, the 8-year-old boy who was shot in the back by Palestinian terrorists while driving home two weeks ago, is no longer suffering from depression - thanks to Hadassah Hospital's "clown doctor." Dvir today entered Alyn Children's Hospital, billed as "Israel's Only Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center," where he will be undergoing physical therapy. He is able to use one leg, but the other is, for unknown reasons, not yet functional, and he is wheelchair-bound. Dvir was in a car with his mother on his way to Ofrah when terrorists sprayed the vehicle with automatic weapons fire.

Though he was originally suffering from a form of depression, Dvir's spirits are now vastly improved following "clown-doctor treatment" in the children's department in Hadassah Ein Karem. Two such doctors visit the ward regularly on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Dr. Patch Adams, the American doctor who originated "clown doctor" therapy and who was the subject of a popular movie on the topic, visited Israel two months ago. He participated in a seminar at the Assaf HaRofeh Hospital in Tel Aviv on "Humor and Laughter in the Service of Medicine," and paid visits to hospitalized children in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Dr. Adams said at the time that the most important aspects of a patient's treatment are "empathy and support." Prof. Mordechai Aljam, director of the Assaf HaRofeh Children's Ward, said that after the clown doctor meets with the children, "most of the work is already done."

Some 40 people are currently nearing the end of a six-month "clown medicine" course - the first of its kind in Israel - at Assaf HaRofeh Hospital.

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