(Apr. 25, Washington D.C.) Six United States senators and six congressmen hosted a luncheon today on Capitol Hill to honor Dr. Eli Schussheim, President of Israel's Committee for the Rescue of Israel's Babies-Efrat, in celebration of the organization's 30th anniversary and the lives of over 25,000 Jewish children saved since its inception. Gathered in the standing-room only reception room in the Senate's main building, dignitaries and Efrat's supporters celebrated Efrat's winning formula to save Israeli babies from abortion in circumstances where the mother's first choice is to continue with her pregnancy, but does not feel financially or emotionally able to do so. By offering to supply all of a baby's and mother's needs for the first year and possibly beyond, coupled with emotional support from a trained volunteer, Efrat has helped establish a new generation of families.

Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ) commended Efrat's work, saying "I believe your voices are so cogent, because the same thing you can say of the Nazi mentality, that someone can't live because they are inferior, we forget that all of G-d's children have intrinsic and inestimable value, and that is the only thing that holds us together as a human family." He added that he believes that the human family will fail if we diminish our protection of unborn fetuses that cannot protect themselves. In honoring Dr. Schussheim, Rep. Franks stressed that "people like this make a difference in the world that only eternity can discover." He further analogized supporters of Efrat as holding on to the hand of G-d with one hand and holding on to the hand of a baby with the other, thereby bringing blessing to the world.

Other honorary guests of the event included Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL),

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), and Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) In addition, leaders from various Jewish organizations were in attendance.

Touted as "the most important Jewish activist on Capitol Hill" by master of ceremony Tzvi Binn, Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America, addressed the crowd saying that he is proud as a rational and pragmatic centrist, to be able to say "I am pro-choice, pro-a real and explained choice for these Jewish and Israeli women who have real alternatives to abortion." Klein elaborated on the financial help Efrat provides during this frightening time for them. Klein remarked that saving Israeli babies will help fight the demographic crisis Israel faces as it maintains a democracy in the face of rapid Arab population growth.

Klein also spoke about the terrorist attacks that have claimed many Israeli lives and stated that Efrat is helping offset this loss of Jewish life.

Dr. Schussheim, a leading surgeon in Israel, who has dedicated his life's work to Efrat completely on a voluntary basis, avoided honor and recognition, re-focusing attention to the continued financial support his organization needs and seeks in order to save more lives. "Honored members of Congress, I did not come here to seek honor," said Dr. Schussheim addressing the crowd. "I have come to show the leaders of the free world how it is possible to reduce the loss of life through the plague of abortion. A life should not be lost due to a lack of education or a lack of money." That is Efrat's dual purpose, to educate women about the growth of the fetus early in pregnancy and provide financial support to those who need it.

In an exclusive interview on the steps of Capitol Hill after the invitation-only luncheon and private guided tour of the U.S. Capital, Dr. Schussheim explained that as his organization is becoming better known among Israeli women via an increasing advertising budget thanks to generous donors in Israel, North and South America, the abortion rates in Israel are steadily declining. He also proudly stated that in all of his years running Efrat, not a single woman has ever regretted having her child, each of whom was saved for a mere $1,000 worth of supplies and equipment. For his part, Dr. Schussheim is delighted to see mothers returning to their small Jerusalem-based office, one after another, to thank him and his organization, each mother holding her own bundle of joy with a smile on her face.

In 2006 alone, Efrat saved 2,623 babies.