title: [DR. Hanka Weinberg-Heruti: the pediatrician from Merchavia--the first woman-doctor 'Kibbutznik' in the Kibbutz Ha'artzi].
abstract: Dr. Hanka Weinberg-Heruti, a pediatrician at the Ha'Emek Hospital and a member of Kibbutz Merchavia is regarded in the history of medicine in Eretz Israel as the first female physician in the Kibbutz Ha'Artzi movement-Hashomer Hatsa'ir, and one of the founders of children's medicine in the country. Dr. Weinberg-Heruti was able to break the accepted norms of the period and prove "you could be both a hospital doctor and a loyal kibbutz member". This was far from simple for there was an iron rule in that kibbutz movement: "Every member must perform physical labour to build the kibbutz and to work in its framework. This principle is inviolable nor can one deviate from the norm". Dr. Weinberg-Heruti dared to break that rule and prove that a successful combination of both her purposes in life was possible. Thus, the aim of the article is twofold: to survey her unique position as hospital doctor and faithful 'kibbutznik', who dared to break the "holy" principle at the ideological roots of kibbutz life--that it was unthinkable for a member to refrain from physical labour. Secondly, to illuminate her medical career as pediatrician in Ha'Emek Hospital, and describe the innovations she introduced to the children's ward, survey her groundbreaking research, that examined the influence of the Beit Shean Valley climate on infant development. Her conclusions dramatically affected the treatment and upbringing of children in that climate, and were adopted not only in local kibbutzim but throughout the country.
authors.forename: Zipora
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shehory-Rubin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000266:history*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000266:history*