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Saving Raphael ElishaSaving Raphael Elisha
Sign this petition and help save a 6-year-old Jewish boy.
by Alice Adams
Rabbi Yaakov Cohen, his wife Devorah and their six children (now ages 2-19) came to Houston nearly three years ago to join the faculty of Torah Outreach Resource Center of Houston. Executive director Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe and the entire TORCH staff welcomed the Cohens and the family settled comfortably in the Houston Jewish community.

Devorah, a homemaker, also joined the TORCH ASCENT (women’s program) faculty. Life was good for the new Houstonians.

Then, the unthinkable happened. A series of symptoms in the couple’s young son, Raphael Elisha, led to the diagnosis of medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer of the brain and spine. Initially, the now-6-year-old underwent surgery to remove as much of the brain tumor as possible, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.

For months after the surgery, because of a condition that developed as a result of the surgery, Rafael Elisha couldn’t speak, walk or eat. However, the tremendous faith and love of his family and the support of the family’s new friends and neighbors helped him fight through rehab. By the summer, he had been restored to his life as a fairly normal 6-year-old, and it looked as though the tumor was gone.

Then, in September 2012, on a routine MRI, his physicians saw evidence of the tumor’s return.
The Cohen family: Talia, Michal, Rabbi Yaakov and Shayna, Yoni, Raphael Elisha, Devorah and Tamar.The Cohen family: Talia, Michal, Rabbi Yaakov and Shayna, Yoni, Raphael Elisha, Devorah and Tamar.
Randy Barnes, a member of Young Israel and whose family attends shul with the Cohens, has been working with TORCH, Congregation Young Israel, Congregation Beth Rambam and others to raise funds for the Cohen family. “My heart goes out to this family, and I wanted to help any way I could,” Barnes explained. “I’m as tough as the next guy, but this family’s struggle has brought many of us to our knees ... in prayer and with feelings of helplessness. This is your worst nightmare times 1 million,” he added, his voice choked with emotion.

Today, the little Raphael Elisha is stable, but very weak. “His condition is extremely tenuous, but he is fighting. He is still here,” Barnes reported. “The doctors in Houston have said there is nothing more they can do for him.”
The congregational members of the two synagogues the Cohen family attends have provided support financially as well as assisting with keeping the Cohen household operating for the five other children.

“The community has rallied around the Cohens with meals cooked each day, helping their other kids get to school and with homework and day-to-day activities,” Barnes explained. “Two women in particular – Jennifer Rosenzweig and Malka Finman – have devoted much time and commitment to the family, coordinating care so the family may continue as normally as possible while their parents make numerous trips to the hospital and maintain a bedside vigil.”

Local fundraising efforts – for young Raphael Elisha’s medical care, since insurance no longer covers this, the costs and administration of the experimental treatments, and daily living expenses for the Cohens – have gathered more than $30,000. Fundraising through challah bake sales and other activities continue.

“People are moved by the sweetness of this child’s spirit, the parent’s devotion and their refusal to give up, to give up on G-d ... and as we struggle to find meaning or something positive from such an awful situation, perhaps, maybe just maybe, this coming together of Houston’s entire Jewish community to support the Cohen family is a positive we can take away,” he said. “Obviously, the biggest positive is for Rafael Elisha to live. There are still miracles. We still believe in them and pray for them desperately.”
The greater Houston community can help with prayers and resources. “We’re trying to raise money to cover the expenses insurance now no longer covers,” said Barnes. “He had to have an MRI last week, and then there are the ongoing the expenses for a family of eight.
Any donation amount, large or small, can be made atyoucaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-raphael-elisha-meir-ben-devorah-cohen/104108. Alternatively, checks can be sent to: TORCH, Elisha Recovery Fund, 10101 Fondren Rd., Ste 515, Houston TX 77096; call 713-721-6400, or email Rabbi Wolbe at [email=awolbe@torchweb.org/]awolbe@torchweb.org .[/email]
“I think Jews have an easy time arguing, often across our Jewish denominational culture,” Barnes pointed out. “Yet, the support Rafael Elisha has received, financially as well as moral support for the family, has crossed all denominational lines, from people who affiliate with Orthodox, Conservative and Reform, as well as those people who are not affiliated with any Jewish institution.

“I think this is a story that speaks to the beauty and unity of the Jewish community here in Houston,” he added.
Barnes can be reached at 832-712-1248 or at randybarnes@gmail.com.

Sign the Petition
After receiving the devastating news from their doctors that "there is nothing more we can do for him", the Cohens are turning to a last resort – Antineoplaston Therapy at the Burzyinski clinic. However, the FDA pulled their approval for this treatment in 2012 pending further clinical trials. They are told that the FDA is nearing approval to resume this treatment, but Refael Elisha does not have time to wait.
The FDA has the power to approve a "compassionate use exemption" so Refael Elisha can undergo this therapy to try and save his life.
They are asking the FDA to grant this exemption so they can continue to fight for his life.
Click here to receive Aish.com's free weekly email.
100,000 signatures are needed in order for the White House to consider this.Sign the petition here: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/authorize-fda-grant-compassionate-use-exemption-refael-elisha-cohen-antineoplaston-therapy/BVSP1ZkW
Please pass on the message to your email contacts and via social media.
This article originally appeared in the Jewish Herald-Voice

Admin Sat 02 Mar 2013, 1:38 am

CHRISTIAN CONCERNS
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we have an exciting opportunity to speak up for the dignity of the human person and to propose a legislative ban on European funding for activities that lead to the destruction of human embryos.

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You can add your voice now by visiting this page
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It's a simple step but it could help to save millions of lives.
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To add your name today:
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