Jewish Actress Helps Expand Trauma Unit For Jerusalem Hospital (Natalie Portman)

Arutz 7 ^ | Mar 28, '05 | staff

[Nachum]

Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital received a $50 million donation last week from one of the people born there – famed Jewish actress Natalie Portman.

Portman’s donation is earmarked for an improved and expanded emergency trauma center being funded by the Hadassah Women's Zionist movement. The expansion will enable three times as many victims to be treated at once.

At a ceremony Thursday evening at the Jerusalem Theater, Dr. Kobi Assaf, Hadassah Hospitals’ director of surgery and shock trauma said the expansion of the trauma center will save many lives. "One of the most crucial things we can do for trauma patients is treat them quickly," he said. "The new unit is arranged specifically to do that - everything we need to treat them is right here."

The old center could handle 23,000 admissions a year, but demand rose to 73,000 due to Arab terrorism as well as an increase in car accidents.

23-year-old Portman, whose family name is Hershlag, was born in Israel, and her father worked as a doctor in Jerusalem. She spent last summer studying Jewish History at the Hebrew University.

While studying at Harvard University, Portman wrote an open letter defending Israeli security policies after a pro-PLO student attacked Israel in the campus newpaper. She also frequently paid visits to Israeli victims of terrorism in hospitals during the course of the Oslo War.

[Nachum]

A woman of valor

[TheBigB]

$50 MILLION? Dayum. How much did she get from STAR WARS, anyway?

And she's still a lefty. *sigh*

[pitinkie]

She campaigned for Kerry didnt she?

[tomahawk]

Indeed.

[Sthitch]

She wore a Kedwards shirt on the Today show and made an absolute ass out of herself. They made her hold something in front of the shirt.

[cmsgop]

Yup,she did. $50 million Dollars I find hard to believe though at least in Dollars.

[MJM59]

A very classy thing to do.

[StoneColdGOP]

Good for her and Hadassah.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Natalie Portman ping.

[MineralMan]

"She campaigned for Kerry didnt she?"

She did. And now she has donated a huge pile of money to an Israeli hospital. So? Good for her.

[Crimson Elephant]

I find it very very very unlikely she could have even earned any thing like 50 mill before taxes for all her movies alone, much less donate it...unless she is a secret stock market whiz.

[Borges]

If she gets residuals from the SW films she could have.

[BibChr]

Pleasant surprise from an otherwise disappointing young woman.

Dan

[Godebert]

Natalie Portman Bashes Bush

She's a Hollywood leftist puke.

[poobear]

Yes she did. This is a wonderful cause though. Too bad she can't get off the democratic kool-aid long enough to get her head on straight. They have raised her in Hollywood to be a good and generous socialist.

[Borges]

So they should give back the money?

[StoneColdGOP]

Some of you need to take a deep breath, sit down and realize you can be a liberal Democrat AND still be a good person.

[Godebert]

I said she's Hollywood leftist puke. Did I even mention the money?

[gopwinsin04]

I want her agent, how did she get a percentage of the Star Wars reciepts?

[Borges]

The subject of this thread is her giving a sizable charitable donation to a hospital. That's the context your statement is taken in.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Lefty or not, while her politics may not be, her heart is in the right place good for her!

[gopwinsin04]

FR Rules and regulations must be followed!

[Steve_Seattle]

"$50 MILLION? Dayum. How much did she get from STAR WARS, anyway?"

I'm not a movie buff, so bear with me: if she is 23, how could she have been in "Star Wars" - wasn't that released about 20 years ago? Was there a re-make recently? Even then, $50+ million for one pic? What else has she been in?

[CaptainK]

Seems there was an error in the story in regards to Ms. Portman. She presented an award to the Doctor who is head of a new $50 million dollar wing at the hospital.


http://www.jewishorangecounty.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=148620

[StoneColdGOP]

Ha, the look on the face of that dude checking her out is priceless.

Can't say I blame him!

[A CA Guy]

5 like that on every block in California.

[Borges]

Sounds about right. Bill Gates doesn't make donations that big! But she still does a lot for the victims of terrorism in Israel.

[dvldog03]

Let's give credit, where credit is due. She is a young kid trying to make a difference for a cause that she believes in.

In this day and age, that is commendable.

[afnamvet]

Good for you Natalie and good for Israel!

[Bella_Bru]

So, Hadassah should turn away her donation? Big shock time: Not everyone has tunnel vision.

[joebuck]

Another confirmation that success and talent have very little to do with each other in Hollywood. Interesting that Ms. Portman seems to be conservative on the things that directly effect her and her homeland but liberal on the things that impact everyone else. However, credit and kudos should always be given when due and I extend the same to Natalie.

[gopwinsin04]

Natalie has done 3 Star Wars movies total, but I don't think she is in any position to get 'points.'

Lucas has that covered from every angle.

[TheBigB]

There will be six SW movies in all--the first three (or, eps 4, 5, and 6 for buffs) were indeed released about 20 years ago. however, the most recent two (SW: THE PHANTOM MENACE and SW: ATTACK OF THE CLONES) and the upcoming SW: REVENGE OF THE SITH) all feature Natalie in a leading role as Princess Amidala (future mother to Luke and Leia). I am sure, if she received even a small percentage of the gross, she could easily have received in excess of $50 million.

[rmmcdaniell]

I'm not a movie buff, so bear with me: if she is 23, how could she have been in "Star Wars" - wasn't that released about 20 years ago? Was there a re-make recently? Even then, $50+ million for one pic? What else has she been in?

What rock have you been living under? Just kidding.

[Mike Bates]

She's a Hollywood leftist puke.

Please. Watch those redundancies.

[gopwinsin04]

Evidently not so in NYC!

[pitinkie]

All I did was ask a question gosh! Said nothing about Money..which she didnt donate at all!

[sanchez810]

[Skooz]

5 like that on every block in California.

And Texas, and Louisiana, believe it or not.

[kingsurfer]

Out of interest does Israel have a socialised National Health Service like the UK or is it more like the US?

[TheBigB]

Ha, the look on the face of that dude checking her out is priceless

I must concur. I would do the same. :o)

[Bella_Bru]

No, she can't be! That's not possible! Everyone knows, Conservatives like this guy are the only good people. They are far superior!

[gopwinsin04]

I wouldn't want to be him when he has to face his wife at home! (notice the wedding band)

It's the old 'look, but don't touch' discussion...

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

[Borges]

Isn't that a still from the movie 'Closer'?

[spodefly]

Its all fun and games until someone puts an eye out ...

[Steve_Seattle]

"What rock have you been living under? Just kidding."

As I said, I'm not a movie buff; I see about one new movie a year, and I've never seen any of the Star Wars movies. The poster I was replying to said "Star Wars," not one of the sequels. But I suppose I should have remembered there were those recent sequels. At any rate, it now seems the $50 million figure was an error.

[gopwinsin04]

You may be right, but the scene could have been cut from the film, I don't remember it.

[Borges]

If it is then that guy looking gets the Oscar for 'Easiest Acting' of the year

[Tolik]

While studying at Harvard University, Portman wrote an open letter defending Israeli security policies after a pro-PLO student attacked Israel in the campus newspaper. She also frequently paid visits to Israeli victims of terrorism in hospitals during the course of the Oslo War.

Here is that open letter: http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=205143

Its nice letter, but not earth-shattering at all. I guess so much was made out of it at that time just because a celebrity dared to speak up against Israel bashers.