Something Out of Nothing

King Herod knew that maintaining control of Judea meant controlling the land's coast and ports. Unlike those around him, Herod looked out toward the sea and built the port town of Caesarea. Herod transformed the dry, sandy land into a prosperous commercial and residential area with a pier, amphitheater, palace, harbor, temple, and hippodrome. Since Caesarea had no water supply, Herod built a 4.5 mile aqueduct that transported water from the mountains. Caesarea became the main port of Judea for hundreds of years.

The delegation toured the historic ruins of Caesarea and drove north to Haifa, a city known for the harmony among its diverse residents. There, we met with the faculty of the Department of Gerontology at Haifa University. We learned that University created the Department just ten years earlier, when elder abuse first hit the public agenda in Israel. Professor Israel Doron, a lawyer who works with elder protection legislation, and Los Angeles's own Judge Aviva Bobb engaged in a lively debate about the efficacy of mandatory reporting laws. Israeli law mandates that all of its residents report suspected elder abuse only if the suspected victim is helpless (unable to care for his basic needs, health, or safety). California, on the other hand, requires that certain professionals and caregivers report suspected abuse of any elder or dependent adult, not just those who are incapacitated.

The delegation was happy to hear that the Department of Gerontology's masters program was very popular and that it just initiated a PhD program. It appeared that awareness and education about elder abuse had significantly improved since the Department's inception.