User:Yehudapoch/Dasi Rabinovich

Dasi (Hadassah Esther) Rabinovich (19th of Sivan 5737 – 1st of Tishrei 5757) (5th of June 1977 – 14th of September 1996) was a young girl whose battle with cancer gained publicity in the Israeli media due to her struggle for the rights of the patient to obtain proper medical treatment.

Biography

Dasi Rabinovich was born in Haifa, Israel. At the age of 8, she moved with her family to the community of Efrat in the Gush Etzion bloc of communities south of Jerusalem, where she became very active in the community and in the Bnai Akiva youth movement.

At the age of 17, Dasi was diagnosed with leukemia. During her illness she underwent various medical treatments, including difficult chemotherapy treatments and a bone marrow transplant. During her illness, Dasi completed her high school studies, during which she won a prize for her research work on the topic of phosphorous burns under the guidance of Prof. Aryeh Eldad. Dasi served as a group leader at the Bnai Akiva chapter in Efrat in the framework of her National Service.

Dasi died of her illness on the first night of Rosh Hashana 5757, at the age of 19.

Circles of Happiness

Dasi Rabinovich fought her cancer through happiness and reducing the pain and worries of those around her. Her special way of fighting the disease won her public notice through a number of articles and interviews that appeared in the Israeli media during her illness. In these interviews, she presented her unique philosophy regarding how to cope with cancer.

An expression of her special approach is the poem “Circles of Happiness”, which she wrote spontaneously while leaving a message on an answering machine. The recording of this message was found only after she died. Its text and its message have since become well-known among the Israeli public, and have even been included in study curricula on IDF bases, in the Ministry of Education, and in study programs in Jewish communities abroad. The poem was adapted and set to music a number of times, and the poem also served as the inspiration for a song called “Small Pleasures” by Micha Sheetrit, who performed it together with Israeli star Amir Benayoun.

Dasi’s legacy, and her special way of fighting the disease, have been shared through hundreds of lectures given by her mother in various educational settings in Israel and around the world.

Her Public Struggle

Dasi’s struggle with the public health system resulted from a decision by the physician treating her, Prof. Eliezer Rachmilevich, not to give her supportive treatment in his department at Hadassah Hospital, without his approval, due to the fact that she had gone for treatment with another doctor at Rambam hospital in Haifa. The first investigation that brought Dasi’s struggle to public attention was published on June 25, 1996 by Ronel Fisher in the Ma’ariv newspaper. As a result of the publication, the Israeli Health Ministry established a committee to investigate the complaint, and decided to submit a complaint against Rachmilevich for “negligence and behavior unbecoming a physician”. In August 1998, a majority of the members of the complaints committee determined that “Prof. Rachmilevich’s behavior was unbecoming a physician, and there is no doubt that Prof. Rachmilevich’s instructions had the potential to cause physical harm and to endanger life.” The committee decided to suffice with a reprimand, and Health Minister Yehoshua Matza adopted the decision. Dasi came to symbolize the right of patients to proper medical treatment, and to obtain a second opinion as part of the medical process.

Eventually, Rachmilevich responded and issued his version of events in an autobiography entitled, “Blood is the Soul”.

Books Published in Her Memory (In Hebrew)

“Hadassah, She is Esther” – a memorial book that includes articles on the Book of Esther. “Always In Happiness” – Dasi’s battle against cancer, by Adina Amitai “Dasi’s Circles of Happiness” – by David Ben-Yosef “Dasi’s Flowers” an educational book for children.

External Links Words to the song “Small Pleasures” inspired by Dasi. (Hebrew) The Israeli Ministry of Education’s Curriculum dealing with Dasi’s legacy (Hebrew) Film of Dasi Rabinovich on YouTube (Hebrew) Circles of Happiness – Website in memory of Dasi Rabinovich (English)