January 2012

Dear AFI members and Colleagues:

The rapid political changes occurring worldwide and specifically in the Middle East has resulted in a greater uncertainty about the security of Israel. Although peace in the Middle East is something we all would embrace, the circumstances required to achieve a legitimate peace has been an ongoing debate within Israel and abroad. One certainty is Allergists for Israel’s continued commitment to provide academic and moral support for our Allergy/Immunology colleagues in Israel. This past year AFI has continued to provide support for academic research grants and programs in Israel including the recent IAACI meeting in Maalot and the Food Allergy and Intolerance Conference held in January. We are excited about the culmination of our joint efforts in organizing the second International Allergy Asthma and Immunology Conference in Jerusalem to be held November 28–30, 2012. The preliminary curriculum for this meeting is attached to the newsletter. The success of this meeting is dependent on your attendance so I encourage you to block time out of your busy schedules to register and become part of this important event. For those who were unable to attend the 2008 meeting, the 2012 meeting will be a great opportunity to visit Israel, get CME credits while seeing old friends and/or making new ones. More details about the meeting will follow shortly.

At the last AAAAI meeting, we had a very successful Purim thematic gala dinner featuring Eli Meltzer who gave an excellent talk highlighted by a solo musical performance. We also had a very interesting lecture by Rabbi Irvin Ungar, the publisher of the Szyk Haggadah entitled “A 20th Century Masterpiece for the 21st Century”. This year at the ACAAI we had a wonderful Kiddush Friday night and I am pleased that Beth Goldfarb, our administrative director was there to meet and greet everyone.

I want to remind everyone of the invitation for any AFI member to apply for a two week mini-sabbatical under the guidance of Drs. Shimon Pollack and Eduardo Shahar at the Rambam Health Care Campus, in Haifa that is subsidized by AFI. We are still providing opportunities for Israeli Allergists/Immunologists to come to the United States or Canada to participate in clinical/academic/research programs as part of a mini-fellowship or sabbatical. All academic institutions are welcome to participate in these mini-fellowships and AFI provides stipend support for our Israeli colleagues to participate. Please contact Beth or myself at jonathan.bernstein@uc.edu if you are interested in being a host institution. Of course the best way to meet and develop collaborations with our Israeli colleagues is by attending the AAAAI and/or ACAAI meetings where AFI has sponsored events or by attending the annual IAACI meeting.

We would like to continue to acknowledge our corporate sponsor, TEVA pharmaceuticals and the support of our dues paying members as without this unwavering support we would not be able to provide the programs and events at the annual meetings. I encourage you to join AFI or renew your membership by paying your annual dues so AFI can continue to thrive and persevere as an organization into the future. The process of paying dues and donations is now electronic. Simply go to our website,www.allergists4israel.org, and submit your dues for 2012.

Tell your friends about the great camaraderie AFI promotes and encourage them to become members and attend this year’s Kiddush and Sunday’s Gala event at the AAAAI.

On behalf of the AFI board of directors and staff, I sincerely thank you for your continued support and encouragement. I look forward to seeing you all at the AAAAI meeting in Orlando

Shalom and L'hitraot,
Jonathan A. Bernstein, M.D.
Chairman, Allergists for Israel

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