In a natural disaster, accident or attack, the medical community must be prepared. In September, the Federation's Partnership with Israel initiative sent seven Dallas-area physicians and health care administrators to Israel's Western Galilee Hospital to participate in the fifth Emergency Response Group (ERG) course. The group joined with 11 other health care workers from throughout the U.S. for this unique experience at the northwestern most hospital in Israel, just six miles from the Lebanese border.

The ERG is a course that allows American medical professionals to learn from the Western Galilee Hospital staff's extensive experience with disaster preparedness. During the week-long program, participants were paired with an Israeli colleague in his or her specialty area. The 40-hour course included lectures, hands-on workshops, scripted mini disaster drills with actor/patients and on-site instruction with Israel Defense Force border medical units.

In their time away from the hospital, the group was treated to a visit to Jerusalem, Israeli home hospitality and a tour of the Western Galilee region including Old Akko, Rosh Hanikra and Yehiyam Castle.