As evening falls, we bang pots and clap our hands for all the essential workers, whether they are working in hospitals, delivering groceries, making masks in their living rooms or creating websites to bring together people.
Below is a small sampling of some of the Jewish essential workers who are stepping up, giving back and helping us during these pandemic times.
Karen Michelle Halaszi: Lifestyle brand manager making masks with nonprofits
“As the owner of Karen Michelle, a lifestyle and fashion brand based in Los Angeles, I’ve added manufacturing masks for those in need during the pandemic to my business…” To read Karen Michelle’s entire profile, click here.
Jacob Kraus: The teen creator of the COVID Connections website
“In an effort to support those in quarantine, 16-year-old Long Beach native Jacob Kraus developed an online network of local resources available with the click of a mouse. On March 19, he launched COVID Connections, which connects people with local volunteers who assist them with essential errands ranging from delivering groceries to picking up prescriptions…” To read Jacob’s entire profile, click here.
Dr. Sam Torbati: The Cedars-Sinai doctor
“Dr. Sam Torbati’s role as a frontline health care worker during the coronavirus crisis has been made much more manageable thanks to the support of his community…” To read Dr. Torbati’s entire profile, click here.
Helene Chabin: The medical claims expert helping keep hospitals funded
“Chabin has been working out of her home in Queens, N.Y. She handles appeals on behalf of hospitals when insurance companies decline to reimburse the hospitals for medical treatment of Medicaid patients…” To read Helene’s entire profile, click here.
Nicole Lavian: The UCLA pharmacist treating organ transplant patients
“The beginning of COVID-19 pandemic marked a 180-degree change in my role as a pharmacist at UCLA Health. Patients who were once coming in, receiving their medications and patient consultations, were encouraged to stay home and skip their doctors appointments, thus resulting in them not receiving their medications…” To read Nicole’s entire profile, click here.
Wendy Light: From crafting tallitot to face masks during COVID-19
“Before the coronavirus outbreak, Los Angeles tallis designer Wendy Light was creating intricate tallitot out of any fabric imaginable. Now she has switched her focus to making free, brightly patterned face-masks for anyone in need…” To read Wendy’s entire profile, click here.
Celia Bernstein: Westside Family Health Center helping low-income community
“On April 1, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Westside Family Health Center (WFHC) opened its doors at its new Culver City office. The center offers a wide range of medical services including family practice, pediatrics, prenatal, reproductive health services, flu shots, immunizations, behavioral health care as well as dental and vision services…” To read the entire profile, click here.
Niaz Khani: The clinical psychologist offering free counseling to essential workers
“After clinical psychologist Niaz Khani saw her patients’ lives uprooted by the coronavirus pandemic, she started to offer free therapy to essential workers…” To read Niaz’s entire profile, click here.
Anna Zvansky: The Hollywood hospitalist rationing supplies
“Dr. Anna Zvansky is a hospitalist in the Hollywood area working under incredibly stressful conditions in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak…” To read Dr. Zvansky’s entire profile, click here.
Debra Stein: The former nurse who created the COVID-19 health experts website
“Debra Stein has been a registered nurse for the past 10 years. She left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in March and started a website called COVID-19 Health Experts in April. The site gives patients access to a team of registered nurses 24 hours a day to answer COVID-19 questions…” To read Debra’s entire profile, click here.
Andrew Sedler: The dental lab COO making and donating N95 masks
“Andrew Sedler is the chief operating officer at Burbank Dental Lab. Although the pandemic has forced the lab to reduce its staff from 200 people to 10, it still is treating emergency cases. When the staff isn’t handling such cases, it’s making N95 masks to donate to medical personnel…” To read Andrew’s entire profile, click here.
Ari Friedman: The Hatzolah volunteer EMT
“As an operations supervisor at Hatzolah Los Angeles, Ari Friedman has seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus in the Jewish community. The Valley Village resident and certified EMT has been responding to medical calls from those suffering from COVID-19…” To read Ari’s entire profile, click here.
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