a letter to _ _ _ _ [Name withheld for privacy]:

I have now been here in Israel three years and recently moved to Jerusalem. From the above article, word of mouth, and referrals from Ray Ennis (whom I met when he was here for treatment about six months ago), I get an average of two or three emails a day from tinnitus sufferers or their families. I try to answer everybody. Here is my reply to someone who wants to come for treatment but is also wondering why the protocol can't easily be shared.

November 11, 1999

Dear [Name withheld for privacy]:

It's Mike from Israel.

I understand your frustration and sadness that the information can't be shared at this time; it's a poor analogy, but you may simply have to turn on the light switch without wiring the house....

When you have reached the limit of endurance but aren't quite ready to give up, you will talk to your medical insurance person, gather the difference between what they may compensate you for and the $5000 or so the month-long treatment costs here (including followup consultation - e.g., weekly calls to discuss progress and adjust protocol)- and then call Dr. Shemesh to confirm a time; then  call a travel agent, and if you need clean and reasonable accomodations, I can help - as well as provide information on the in's and out's of Jerusalem - since I live and teach here. I have become friends with a few of Dr. Shemesh's patients and the thing that impresses me most about the relationship he has with his patients is that Dr. Shemesh is stubborn: he will not abandon hope; he does not give up on a patient.  Not all are cured, but all I have met feel a sense of relief that they have been to the right medical doctor and have come away with at least some improvement - without having to resort to mechanical aids.

To me, Dr. Shemesh posesses a spiritual quality that cannot be exported without being bastarized; in a sense, the protocol is within him; maybe doctors should and will come here to Hadassah for specialized training and to share information.*

With God's help, Israel will have its place not only in your HEART but in helping you with the everyday quality of life you once had but must have lost.  In a way, tinnitus is a test of the old question: why do relatively good people suffer.  My response was to come here for the answer.  Besides receiving very satisfactory relief, I understood from personal experience that I could also help fellow tinnitus patients who are close to reaching the end of their rope.

As the adage goes, "We are all responsible for each other."

I know I have not assuaged your uneasiness, but I can only repeat that you should call Dr. Shemesh and discuss your tinnitus situation and whether he thinks he can help.  When the call is on your money, be selfish; you will be talking to a medical doctor, not a politician or military man; you want medical advise and a sense of whether you think it is worth the effort, time, and money to come here - for YOUR benefit - and the benefit of your loved ones.

In another sense, you must decide if there is anything to lose by coming. My hope is that you will consider in the positive and we shall have the opportunity to meet very soon.

Kindly and with Shalom from the Holy Land to you and yours, I am,

Mike Cohen
nu@netvision.net.il

* One such person is Dr. Stephen Nagler, M.D., a tinnitus specialist from Atlanta, who is heavily involved with his own successful TRT practice and chairman-elect of the Board of Directors of the American Tinnitus Association. Dr. Nagler will be here early in February, 2000, to meet with Dr. Shemesh.  Personally, I would like to include ALL OF YOU, via an interactive online conference, involving Drs. Nagler and Shemesh addressing your concerns; this is being considered as part of Dr. Nagler's visit with Dr. Shemesh.