From: Judy Knopf, Beer Sheva, Israel  ([log in to unmask])

Hi all-
Boundless thanks to the wonderful energetic Kathleens (Bruce and
Auerbach) for establishing LACTNET, especially to Kathleen Bruce
for subscribing me so promptly and for her warm welcome and
introduction. I have one important correction. My name is Judy
Knopf and not Judy Levy. Actually, I prefer Judy Holtzer Knopf.
I was born and bred in Cincinnati Ohio, got a BSc in psychology
from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1969 and then decamped
to Beer Sheva, Israel. Married a former Bostonian in 1970 and we
have 3 children: Danielle (22, a 1st year bachelor's degree
nursing student, wants to be a midwife), Micha (19, serving in
Israel Defence Forces), and Joel-who-only-answers-to-Joey (16,
serving in 10th grade). I qualified as lactation counsellor in
1984 through the Israel Childbirth Education Center, a branch of
the National Childbirth Trust of England, and have served as
volunteer community LC since then with a hotline to my home. In
1993, my concise, how-to breastfeeding manual in Hebrew-aimed at
the average Israeli woman-was published. In late 1993, I was
allowed a room in a community health clinic one morning a week
in which to receive women with questions or problems relating to
breastfeeding. Still a volunteer, since nobody here really
understands what an LC is ("you're a what???"). The rest of the
week I spend earning a living as English medical secretary,
translater, editor, fundraiser, whatever in the cardiology
division of the regional medical center. Special interests in
lactation: lactation-friendly birthing (for this, read "Down with
routine interventions!") and "does obstetric ultrasound have a
negative effect on learning how to suckle?". Sometimes I have
trouble with the issue of medicalization of lactation, but I have
the feeling that perimenopause may be at work here......
So much for intro. Too much, too. I'm trying to organize
something locally for World Breastfeeding Week and am very, very
open to suggestions. Please make them general, since although I
may still be American in many ways in spite of living here for
25 years, the culture here is not (wannabe maybe, but that's
still far off). I need all the help I can get. Thanks.
One last note. I hope to have Internet installed at work soon,
so my address will change. Bye.
Judy Knopf
Beer Sheva, Israel
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