Gabi Naftali • Chief Pharmacist, updates: Cancer is going on a trip with me • 'Don't call, I'll update'

Gabi Naftali defines herself as "just a person" - but everyone who meets her immediately understands that her look into the mirror of herself is a look full of humility and modesty. Gabi is a woman who is the inspiration for mental strength and emotional strength for every person, man or woman, wherever they are.

"I live here too"

Here is the section that brings you fascinating Haifa characters in their homes where the introduction is through the stories, the charges and the unique point of view of the people who make up the human mosaic of our city Haifa. That is, these are the people who live and live here, just like the name of the section - "I also live here".

As part of this section we will get to know Haifa characters and their place of residence. The introduction is not through the square footage of the apartment, or a real estate evaluation or a design description only - but the essence of this introduction is to get to know the hosts' house, the stories, the emotional charge and the unique personal point of view.

This time the introduction is with the image of a woman who refuses to fall in spirit, and even fights tirelessly and continuously against cancer and... wins.

Before a trip abroad - mammography and ultrasound

When she retired, Gabi Naftali laid down the baton of 'Director of Pharmacy Services at Bnei Zion Medical Center' and the baton of 'Chairman of the Hospital Pharmacy Managers Forum'. As part of 'Life in Retirement', the couple, Gabi and her husband Dr. Israel Naftali, decided to go out for a trip to New Zealand.

Although the journey was slightly postponed, as the time of the corona epidemic came on the verge of her retirement and the plans were postponed, but when the corona subsided, Gabi began to implement the plan. Shortly before the trip, Gabi underwent a routine mammogram and ultrasound examination. The results of the findings were, to put it mildly, really not in her favor, since this is the second visit of the "included cancer" to her body. Cancer which 9 years earlier had already been discussed. 

Despite the serious findings (the finding was malignant) - Gabi, who is not "just a person" - decided not to give up on the experience and announced to every bar in the Rav: "We are going to New Zealand and the cancer is going on a trip with me".

A travelogue that isn't photogenic and isn't New Zealand scenery

During the trip, she wrote on her Facebook page a travel diary full of impressions, photos and explanations. However, after returning to her country, she was forced to write another travel diary, and this time a diary that is less photogenic than the landscapes of New Zealand and is completely different.

With pain, frustration and great humor, she wrote the travel diary in which she tells how she succeeded, not the Sea of ​​Galilee, but the oncology department. A diary that sometimes has a dramatic tone, sometimes comical and sometimes even full of tension what will be born day or night.

Lines for the character of Gabi Naftali, who is not "just a person"

The aspiration to continue life, the tendency not to give up and to continue experiencing and living - inspires everyone who encounters difficulties, since at any hour and at any time all kinds of challenging personal events happen to us - but actually, despite everything, the world itself continues to revolve around the sun.

So who is Gabi Naftali who is not "just a person"? Gabi was born in Romania (1953), the only child of her parents. Today Gabi from Haifa is married to dentist Dr. Israel Naftali and they have 3 children, including 5 grandchildren. Although she is a 'retired pharmacist', she is also so many other things.

She likes to create beautiful things, likes art, music, dance, theater, movies. As well as likes to travel and even occasionally visit restaurants with friends or family. She turns her trips abroad into photojournals on her Facebook page and the variety of cultural performances and dishes in Masaba restaurants into photographs and presentations.

Gabriela Erdreich from the city of Galatz

In 1953, in the city of Galac, a port city in the southern part of Moldova, in eastern Romania, near the meeting of the borders with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, Gabriela was born, the only daughter of Marcel and Sonny (Sara in Hebrew) Erdreich. (By the way, Erdreich is a very German/Austrian surname and is not typical for a Romanian Jewish family).

In a city that is one of the most important cities in Romania, where the largest port is located among the ports along the Danube River - the Erdreich family lived in great economic well-being and a prosperous quality of life, as her father was an accountant for a company dealing in stationery and toys. Likewise, the grandmother, who was a clothes merchant, employed her mother in the trading store she owned. 

A Zionist family comes to Sderot

Gabi, who in Romania was surrounded by clothes, toys, a ballet class and the rest of life's delights - aged 11 came to Israel as a new immigrant. At that time there was a severe recession (1964), and the following immigrants did not have a support envelope as the new immigrants have now. It so happened that in fact Gabi grew up almost alone, because her parents were busy with their various jobs and daily existence.

On the day they immigrated to Israel, those arriving from the port of Haifa traveled south in a convoy with the old family members who already lived in Ashkelon. When the entourage arrived at the apartment in the city of Sderot, which was intended for the Erdreich family - the group's eyes darkened. In this apartment, every wall was painted in a prominent, bold, and other color: green, yellow, red, orange, and black. Ima stood in the center of the room and began to cry. And then, the "old Ashkelonites" took out the new immigrants and went to a place that is a little more familiar.

Ashkelon - Haifa

Despite the many difficulties, Gabi managed to complete her parents' unwritten plan: to learn. Studies. to confess At home in the elementary school in Ashkelon, without any choice, she managed to learn the Hebrew language from the handful of Sabrian children who were in her class, since most of the students in the class were new immigrants just like her.

Later, the grandmother, her mother's mother, wanted to leave Ashkelon and move to live near her family in Haifa, and the father's cousin, the psychiatrist Dr. Erdreich, also lived in Haifa. When Gabi was 15, the family moved and settled in the Hadar neighborhood, near the house of the mother's cousin. Gabi Studied at the New High School (today the Beit Shinoch High School building is used as the home of the Haifa Museum) majoring in biology Because the world of plants and animals excited her imagination.

Fascinating and fun military service

As a 'good girl', her life path was very effectively traced by an Eastern European Jewish education, which included: a full matriculation certificate, military service, studies for a specific profession, marriage and starting a family, as well as work in an organized place with a guaranteed salary.

On November 22, 71, she was called to a special recruitment by the Ministry of Defense. After completing her internship at Camp 80, she was assigned to be a military secretary in the CEO's office at the 'Rafael 3 Institute'. At the time, the place was called 'Rafael - Weapons Development Authority'. It is an Israeli government company, engaged in the development and production of advanced weapons, including missiles and active defense systems. The company's headquarters is at the David Institute located in Kiryat Yam, where Gabi served.

She says that during her military service she enjoyed every moment and was privileged to learn new and interesting things. She praises Deborah, who was a civil servant at the time, the one who taught her the ins and outs of the CEO's office. She enjoyed it so much that she did not agree to go to the officers' course and give up her place in the CEO's office. At the end of her military service - she had the ability to direct her paths to her academic studies in various fields: architecture, or medicine, psychology or biology. The deliberation was difficult, but her final decision stemmed from a very unique motive... which will be discussed later.

Girlfriend Dina and her brother Israel

When Gabi was 15 years old, when her family came to live in Haifa in the Hadar neighborhood, she tortured one of the neighbors who lived two floors above her family's apartment. It was a young, handsome boy who avoided looking at her, and even on the way up the stairs avoided saying 'Hello' to her.

Well, as it was already understood - no girl like Gabi will give up this cute man for his 'devious behavior', which according to her is 'off the straight path'. Therefore and as it is said: "Thoughts make counsel with counsel and make war with stratagems" (Proverbs 20, verse 18), that is, she was able to understand that in order to win one must use stratagems.

She thought, prepared and even acted: she befriended his sister Dina. But Da Aka, every time she came to visit their house, the boy got up and went to another room. In the course of 3 whole years, the 'bullying' was carried over to Israel, and now there is a living 'there is a reward for the toll': next year we will have a good time, the two will celebrate 50 years of marriage, in addition to the previous 5 'years of friendship'.

Architecture studies versus pharmacy studies

The next-door neighbor Israel Naftali, who was already Gabi's partner, was admitted to medical studies at the Technion, but decided to apply his academic studies in Jerusalem, at the Faculty of Dentistry. The movie 'Sliding Doors' discusses the question 'what would have happened if'. This is a British film, in the genre of romantic drama, which presents two different and parallel plots in the life of the main character and deals with the question: 'what would happen if' when choosing one path over the other.

When Gabi was asked "If Israel decided to study at the Technion - which field of study would you choose?" And her answer was unequivocal: "Architecture, without any arguments."

So, as far as we know, the world lost a fine architect on the one hand, but on the other hand it appears that thanks to her faithful work, many patients received life-saving medicines at the right time. . . Because Gabi joined the pharmacy studies at the University of Jerusalem.

The essence of happiness: 3 children and 5 grandchildren

Gabi and Israel were married in 1975, she completed her undergraduate studies in 77 and her master's degree in 79. During this time, their eldest son Tomer was born (born in '77), Haifai, who studied at the Harieli school, graduated in electrical engineering from the Technion, and is the father of a daughter (15 years old) and a son (12 years old).

Their second son, Oded (born in 80) - currently lives in Moshav Ofer (near Zichron Yaacov), is a graduate of the Hogim school and works as a computer engineer at the Bio-Rad company, which deals in medical instruments and equipment. Oded has two daughters (ages 6 and 3). .

The 'daughter of the elders' of Meshef Naftali and the youngest in the group is Maya (born in 87), currently living in Ramat Gan. Maya graduated from 'Reot' middle school and 'Wicho' high school majoring in dance. Maya studied political science and local government administration and completed her studies at the Weizmann Institute on the subject of clinical research, a field in which she is currently engaged. Maya has a two-year-old daughter.

chief pharmacist

Gabi studied pharmacy in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University (Bachelor's and Master's degrees). Upon her return to Haifa, she found a job at the Bnei Zion Medical Center where she worked for 41 years, until she retired. Out of this set of years, 18 of them she served as chief pharmacist and managed the entire array of pharmacy services at the 'Bnei Zion' hospital.

She also served as the chairman of the 'Forum of Pharmacy Managers in Hospitals in the State of Israel', and this out of a trend and desire to promote the profession of pharmacy. During one of her trips to a professional conference, she caught the eye of a display of a robot used to dispense drugs. She fearlessly led a move to purchase and adapt a robot Such for the 'Bnei Zion Medical Center.' Bureaucracy, administration and even budgeting problems delayed the important project.

The project was delayed - until the 'Minister of Destiny' or 'Minister of History' intervened.

In 2016, a fire broke out which consumed almost the entire drug warehouse in the pharmacy at Bnei Zion Hospital. Without a choice, there was an existential need to restore the fire damage. It so happened that the director of the hospital, Dr. Rufa, was the one who obtained the budget for the renovation of the pharmacy. The major budget that was approved also included the project of establishing a drug dispensing robot. It should be noted that Mr. Erez Shimko, the administrative director, was also an active partner in the implementation of the project . 

However, 'Elijah and Kotz Ba' - this essential and important plan came to fruition and was implemented only after Gabi's retirement, when she, like Moses, initiated the project 'Halakah in the desert for a long time' and did not enter the Promised Land. Today, the pharmaceutical robot is installed and working properly in the hospital, but Gabi is no longer there. She "bequeathed" the implementation of the project to her successor, who is the current director of pharmacy services at the hospital.

The medicine robot

Through the technology of the 'Medicine Robot' it is possible to allow pharmacists to concentrate on the work of pharmacy, and to focus even more closely on knowledge about dosage, method of taking and the effects of drugs on patients, as well as interactions between different drugs as well as the mutual effects between them and food and nutritional supplements.

This dedicated machine is responsible for the medication storage process, a process that includes the issues of registering the incoming stock, distributing it freely on a conveyor belt, sorting and arranging medications automatically on the shelves of the storage units - in a way that each medication package is identified and registered and its location is known and managed.

Thanks to the computerization process, the system operates with practically zero malfunctions when it comes to dispensing the drugs. The dispensing process includes placing an order from the system's inventory, the automatic collection and dispensing to one of four possible exit points: a service desk, a centralized order to develop a service in the system, an order packed in boxes and an "ATM". All of this gives the ability to provide a service of dispensing medicines to the various units in the hospital under remote control, even after the official operating hours.

The art of stained glass and the creation of ceramic vessels

Beside her work as a pharmacist, Gabi continued to engage in various hobbies, all in the field of art. She learned the art of stained glass and over the years created quite a few beautiful stained glass windows. After retirement, she joined a ceramics studio called: 'Decidedly'. In this studio there are pottery courses suitable for those who want to know and develop skills with clay/material, both on the stone wheel and in techniques of table work, glazing and paint.

Once a week Gabi goes to her "playground" and creates beautiful dishes. It goes without saying that working in the studio gave her air for her soul during the chemotherapy treatments and during the radiation treatments. Even today this occupation brings balm to her body, peace of mind to her soul and allows her to give free rein to the joy of creation.

The story of the chief pharmacist who needs medicine

Gabi never thought that her artistic plans would also include writing a book. Ladida, at most, will write and share her various experiences on her Facebook pages. Likewise, the trip to New Zealand, before which she declared "the cancer goes on a trip with me" - was documented on her Facebook feed, accompanied by wonderful photographs and fascinating route descriptions. Her writing is so intriguing, interesting and engrossing - so much so that in proof of this her friends wrote to her that they "feel as if we are traveling together with you".

When she returned to Israel from her trip to New Zealand, Gabi entered a whirlwind of tests/surgery/chemotherapy treatments/radiation and a feeling that she would drown in a sea of ​​tears if she had to explain to all her family members and friends what she was going through.

This feeling led her to cut off all contact with her surroundings. Gabi was angry at her body "a body that betrayed her." She didn't answer the phone rings, didn't comment and didn't speak, but she did write. She passed messages and current information in a dedicated and unique WhatsApp group which was called: 'Journey diary - not what you thought' - when only she had permission to write, in terms of 'don't call, I will update'.

'Don't call, I'll update'

With the beginning of the treatments and as expected, the pharmacist moved to the other side of the barricade. She is no longer the one who issues the drug, but she is the one who is issued the drugs. All this, knowing full well what the clear meaning of each and every medication that is injected into her body is.

She was sorry, Gabi started to keep a 'travel diary'. A diary that by no means looks photogenic. A 'journey diary' which is information not intended for the Facebook page, but daily information sent to her family members and close friends. Actually 'a friend of hers', this group of friends were a kind of her research group, in which she was able to see and observe their gaze and their reactions to her sad situation. During this time, Gabi became very bored due to her curiosity and interest in her and what was going on with her. She was even surprised that when she missed information deadlines, she was approached with a request and a demand to accept the continuation of the 'plot'. 

She persevered and wrote in frustration, fear and suffering, but at the same time thoughts, reflections and bits of humor were integrated into her pages. At this point, she already informed the man of her eternal heart, Dr. Asher B'Mouna - "This travel diary will be created and become a book, and it doesn't matter how much it will cost." Today she already knows that her story 'Don't call, I will update' inspires sympathy and hope. Today it is clear that everyone who read the book and knows her - send her real feedback.

Although the subject is heavy, the book is light and can be read quickly and sequentially, while both the treated readers and those around them can derive insights and hope from reading it. 

The house - 'Wow, there are so many treasures here...'

Arriving at the residence of Sheph Naftali, which is in the Carmelia neighborhood, he approaches the entrance door, which is completely different from all the other doors in the area. Although it is a massive door with three bolts, in the center is a beautiful window made of fine stained glass work, made by the owner of the house: Gabi.

Immediately after the step at the threshold of the house, one step forward leads to another world, something similar to what is described in the story 'Aladdin and the Magic Lamp'.

In the mentioned story, although the sorcerer orders Aladdin to take out of the cave only the magic lamp and no other things, Aladdin prefers to take with him some of the many treasures in the cave, instead of being content with just the lamp. When Aladdin tries to leave the cave, the sorcerer asks him to give him the lamp before leaving it, but Aladdin is unable to give it to him because his pockets are overflowing and full of treasures.

Just like in the sorcerer's cave, also in the Naftali hospital, the feeling is 'wow, there are so many treasures here'... who understands that these greedy creatures craved/loved my soul more?

The house is furnished and decorated in the vintage style - a style that originates in the field of winemaking and refers to the time of year when the wine grapes are harvested. The use of the term vintage furniture (and clothing) fashion is based on the image of obsolescence, which adds a kind of quality to this style.

The view from the balcony to Wadi Sheikh

The sights of the splendor of nature are found on one of the streets of Haifa city. The balcony in Gabi's house serves as a prominent and unique element. This space is an important component of the Naftali family's lifestyle, as a significant and essential part of the leisure time takes place on this balcony.

Gabi and Israel love to cultivate unique flora: cacti and succulents. This vegetation is very characteristic of their balcony. In addition to this, the greenhouse is also equipped with growing corners for the plants, with bunks and shelves suitable for this - as well as balcony furniture that suits the needs of the family and friends. The view from this balcony is to Wadi Sheikh, which is a natural gem in the heart of the city of Haifa. At a quick glance you can observe the tangled forest vegetation, different types of trees, blossoms and fruit trees, birds and animals... This is a magical landscape that extends to the sea and the sky.

Cacti and succulents

Cacti are the most common family of desert plants in America. According to studies in the field of botany, it appears that there are over 2,000 species of cacti. Most of them bear spikes, which are actually leaves that have undergone evolutionary adaptation to water shortage conditions.

Below is a little order in the definition of the plant: every cactus is a succulent but not every succulent is a cactus. What makes the succulent a cactus are its spines, which are actually leaves that have adapted themselves evolutionarily to extreme dry conditions.

Succulents are a group of plants that usually have thick, fleshy leaves and stems that contain water-storing cells, so they don't need a lot of watering. The word "succulent" means "juicy" in Latin, hence their Hebrew name "sour". The succulents last in almost any condition. They have the ability to store a large amount of water and survive almost without irrigation. They need sunlight, but can acclimatize indoors as well. Succulents' durability makes them ideal indoor and outdoor plants.

are collecting

The term 'collections' is defined as 'a collection of things and objects that a person collects over time for a hobby.' In the living room of Gabi's house, there are many decorative objects which, over the course of many years, have been sold in various markets around the world. These are precious objects that are displayed in the cabinets and showcases dedicated to this.

Around the house you can see all the good things of beauty and grace of its various kinds, such as: dolls, a wooden rocking horse, an antique baby chair, copper details, an old radio and dial telephones, antique clocks, a collection of duck dolls and a store of clothespins - alongside porcelain figurines From the Hart Nebo period.

TV corner

The home kitchen is a special area from which comforting home cooking emerges alongside gourmet foods on the one hand and fine cakes and pastries on the other. From the time when Gabi took on the role of chief pharmacist at Bnei Zion - Israel (ie: Dr. Naftali, a dentist) is the one responsible for buying all the food products and is the one who implements their preparation - while Gabi "only pharmacists" Mafi the house

Opposite the kitchen - Gabi says that her favorite corner of her house is the TV corner. Here she feels surrounded by colorful objects that transmit to her soul the joy of light and color. In this wing, next to the collection of ducks, is the wall of framed postcards by the architect Hundertwasser, which were bought in the city of Vienna, during one of her many trips.

The television set is not located in the living room but in the wing that separates from the living room of the house. This is the corner where family members often gather to talk, tell and share their thoughts, stories and reflections.

Hundertwasser and the postcard wall

Friedensreich Stawasser (who changed his name to Hundertwasser) was an Austrian-Jewish artist, painter, sculptor and architect. He was born in Vienna in 1928 to a Jewish mother and a Christian father. During the World War he pretended to be a Christian and was thus able to be saved, while most of his family on his mother's side did not survive. He spent most of his life in New Zealand and died there in 2000.

Undoubtedly, the famous architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser is a household name in the world of modern architecture. He was the man who went against the conventions because he hated the straight line.

The buildings he designed in Vienna, and his works of art attract crowds of curious travelers from all over the world. The famous residential building he designed is in Vienna's third district. Opposite is the visitor center called Hundertwasser Village. There is also a museum that he designed and where there is a complete and one-of-a-kind display of his variety of works.

Avi Schwartz - color paintings, optimism and beauty

The walls of the living space are decorated with the paintings of the painter Avi Schwartz and the pictures of the painter Ruth Schloss. Avi Schwartz is an Israeli painter born in 1938 in Bucharest, Romania. He immigrated to Israel at the age of 10, and studied art at the Avni Institute. Schwartz was a student of Marcel Yanko, Avigdor Stymatsky and Ezekiel Streichman, whose influence on his works is very evident. He even studied and drew inspiration from the painter Zvi Shor.

Avi Schwartz's paintings depict scenes from everyday life, mainly in the alleys of Jaffa, the harbor cafes and the sea. The paintings are characterized by strong colors and rich colors.

Ruth Schloss - the person and society at the center of her works.

Next to Schwartz's works hang pictures of the painter Ruth Schloss. She was born in the city of Nuremberg in Germany in 1922 to a family of wealthy merchants. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, Schloss immigrated to Israel with her family in 1937 and they settled in the village of Shmariahu. Between 1938-1941, Schloss studied graphic design at the Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem.

Schloss has a realistic painting style that often depicts the depressed and weakened side of society. The descriptions that appear in her work show the bad side of society, the dark side of humanity. At the center of her works are always the person and the society. Schloss often paints children, the elderly, women, refugees and animals with an expressive look. The viewer of her works is able to see and understand what the cartoon character thinks, feels and feels.

'Pillars of the Earth' - Ken Follett

When Gabi was asked to pull out one unique and special book from the pages of her library - it was reasonable to assume that she would display her own story... however, without any hesitation and with great confidence she presented the book 'Pillars of the Earth' which is a historical novel written by the British writer Ken Follett.

The plot of the novel lasts decades, with the construction of a cathedral in Kingsbridge in the background, which is a fictional city, which was driven by the writer's fevered mind. The novel takes place from the course of the 12th century during the Civil War to the period between the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Becket.

Follett in the introduction to his book confesses his great attraction to cathedrals and their construction. He says he spent a lot of time visiting ancient cathedrals across Europe. The plot of the book revolves around the construction of a cathedral in the city of Kingsbridge, and is described through the eyes of building craftsmen and architects. Follett is amazing in his descriptions of the dramatic transformation that took place in Europe, with the transition from building cathedrals in the Romanesque style to building in the Gothic style, and this without mentioning these terms.

Although the book was highly praised for its descriptions of life in the Middle Ages, it also contains a large number of historical inaccuracies. Some of these inaccuracies may be in the author's tendency to make his characters and the plot in his book more suitable for contemporary readers.

"best derived from worse"

Within the lines of Gabi Naftali's story is a fighting heroine who does not give up. In the color of her life and in the essence of her writing, her ability to pour out all her feelings, weaknesses, pains and concerns is evident - but at the exact same time also to maintain the routine of life, to continue to cope despite the painful situations. Therefore, her character is worthy of appreciation and even admiration, especially when all this is presented to her listeners and readers in a humorous and honest way. The subject is heavy, the oncology department is not a wonderful tourist site - but the book is approached with a wink and a smile, so to speak "courage is sweet", from pain and suffering a writer emerged.

Gabi hopes that her story will reach everyone who can be helped by the history of her continuous efforts for cognitive and behavioral change. It talks about man's ability to create his spiritual environment and his ability to deal with challenging events, not to sink, and not to fall in your spirit. She uses Prof. Daniel Kahneman's words about happiness:

"Whatever you're thinking right now
is less important,
than you think-
While you're thinking about him."

reason and purpose for our continued life

Viktor Frankl in his book 'Man's Search for Meaning' tries to explain how one can continue to live and want to live despite all the difficulties and the most challenging events. In his opinion, and also in the opinion of many psychologists, if a person finds a reason and meaning for the continuation of his life, then he will be able to survive in any situation.

And...almost the same concept in the words of Friedrich Nietzsche:

"He who has a 'why' to live for, will be able to bear almost any 'how'."
Or alternatively "What doesn't kill me - forges me."

May we all become wiser and be able to apply these insights.