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Living in one of the most expensive areas in the United States has its price. For some, it's health care.
"Right now, a large population can't afford health care," said Dr. David Karpf of Los Gatos. "While this is a problem in many places in the country, it's even more problematic in the Silicon Valley."
Karpf knows a thing or two about the need for health care. He is the chief medical officer of Metabolex Inc., a privately held pharmaceutical company that treats diabetes and related disorders. In his career he has also worked in 17 free health care clinics in Mexico, Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
"I think that health care is a right, not a privilege," Karpf said, who is also a member of Congregation Shir Hadash of Los Gatos.
That's why when Rabbi Melanie Aron of Shir Hadash suggested that the congregation hold a large scale health fair for its tzedakah, or charity. Karpf and his wife, Elizabeth, also a medical professional, were the first to volunteer to help organize the event.
Under the organization of the Karpfs, Shir Hadash has teamed with Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church of San Jose to provide a health fair they hope will attract up to 3,000 people. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on May 7 at the San Jose church, 2040 Nassau Drive.
Normally, Karpf said, Shir Hadash does a number of small-scale community service events by itself and with other congregations in the area.
"As with other major religions, we have a strong precept to improve the world," Karpf said.
In Judaism, Aron said, there are three things that bring people closer to God: prayer, study and the act of serving God through public works.
But this time around, they wanted to do something that would epitomize the congregation's gemilut chasadim, or acts of loving kindness.
"Rather than do a number of small events, we wanted to do a single event that had a profound impact in bettering people's lives," Karpf said.
That's one reason why they chose to have the health fair at Most Holy Trinity, rather than in the affluent community of Los Gatos.
"In meeting with Holy Trinity representatives, [we learned] a very substantial proportion of their congregation is exactly who we want to target. A large percentage are people with less than optimum access to health care," Karpf said.
At the health fair, there will be such services as free blood pressure tests, first-aid kits and screening for diabetes. Most importantly, Aron added, is that the fair will provide resources to help individuals who are diagnosed with a disease.
The congregation hopes to raise $50,000 to support the event. So far, Aron said, it has raised $13,000, receiving $5,000 donations from both Metabolex and Stellar Solutions Inc.
Aron said the fair is something that everyone can benefit from.
"I really like this event because we are working in the area of health care, which is a very basic aspect of human need," Aron said.
For more information, contact Congregation Shir Hadash at 408.358.1751.
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