The sudden passing of Dr. Eliyahu Schussheim was a shock not only to his family but to the untold numbers of lives he touched in his many capacities.    It’s difficult to fathom how one man could accomplish so much. The only explanation, explains his son-in-law, Chagai Goldschmidt, is that “he was a man of passion, drive, and principle – and he never wasted his time.” Dr. Schussheim served as a physician at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital and later opened his own private clinic; he was an expert mohel and chaired the government supervisory committee for circumcision; he founded the Neve Simcha Retirement Home; he served as treasurer for the Jewish Institute for the Blind; and he served as the medical advisor for many non-profits. However, for the last 40 years, he literally dedicated his life to leading EfratC.R.I.B. (Committee for Rescuing Israeli Babies), the organization devoted to preventing unnecessary abortion.   Dr. Schussheim consistently kept himself and his organization above politics and societal trends. “Rather than telling women what he thought they should do, he sought to empower them so that they could make the best decision for themselves.” “I am pro-choice!” was Dr. Schussheim’s motto. Experience had shown him that the vast majority of women seeking abortion not only felt that they had no other recourse, but they were also pitifully unaware of the ramifications – medical, physical, and emotional.” Accordingly, Dr. Schussheim devoted his life to providing information and medical guidance as well as emotional and financial support, so that women would have the tools to exercise their choice.    Incredibly, Dr. Schussheim saved close to 80,000 babies during his tenure at Efrat, although Goldschmidt says that number is much higher.  ~ ~ Dr. Eliyahu Schussheim was born in Argentina in 1941. His parents had fled prewar Europe and subsequently lost all their extended family in the Holocaust. Already at 9 years old, Eli was enterprising and tried to help his parents through odd jobs, selling newspapers and ice. He loved to sing, and was able to make some money as a choir boy in the local synagogue.   When, several years later, Eli told his parents that he wanted to study medicine, they were vehemently opposed, fearful that it would lead him astray. Eli proved them wrong.  The University of Buenos Aires medical school runs a rigorous course,. When Eli Schussheim was in his second year, it was decided that for technical reasons, all exams that semester would be held on Saturday mornings. All his explanations, that he was Jewish and therefore forbidden from writing on the Sabbath, fell on deaf ears; there was no other time that the exam could be held. Besides, his professor quipped, “Half the students are Jewish, and no one ever made a similar request before!” Still, the professor agreed to think about it. For Eli Schussheim there was no doubt; he would have to discontinue his studies.  That afternoon, the professor decided to make an exception and allow Eli to write the exam in his presence on the preceding Friday. The professor admired Eli Schussheim for his willingness to give up his dream for the sake of his principles, and that was also the reason he trusted him not to reveal the test questions to […]

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