Dr. Jeffrey Cahn and Dr. Judith Cahn arrived in Israel on 4/22/21 to visit their daughter and grandchildren, and to do a very special mitzvah – volunteer at the free DVI Trudi Birger Dental Clinic. Dr. Cahn is the first dentist to volunteer from outside of Israel since the pandemic first shut Israel’s doors to tourists in March 2020.
It’s great to be back. I feel comfortable volunteering at DVI, with the additional protocols that have been put into place.
Dr. Jeff Cahn
Now that Israel is starting to re-open, DVI is hopeful that Dr. Jeff Cahn’s arrival will be the beginning of a renewed enthusiasm for dental volunteers from abroad at the DVI clinic.
This is Jeff’s 9th time volunteering at DVI! Dr. Cahn had met founder, Trudi Birger at DVI in 1993, and had suggested that his colleague, Dr. Allen Helfer, volunteer at the DVI clinic, as well. Dr. Helfer went on to lead the American Friends of DVI to success for many years.
Dr. Cahn is pictured with one of his young patients, who lives in the Atnachta youth hostel for at-risk youth. By seventh grade, D* had already left home and was soon living in a dormitory setting. Her older brother is serving in the IDF. Dr. Cahn knows and has seen the impact access to dentistry has on youth like D*; by avoiding a situation where these youths are visibly missing teeth at an early age, their potential for a successful life is preserved as well:
By treating at-risk youth, I feel that I’m taking them out of pain and lessening their potential trauma by preserving their teeth. Anyone can write a check, but it means so much more to actually come over here and do the work with my own hands. It was, as always, a rewarding experience.
Dr. Jeff Cahn