Brushstrokes of history and context of the Policlinico Public Israelita de Santiago

Abstract

Although only few documents and testimonies could be found, an intent was made to reconstruct the history of the beginnings of the Public Jewish Polyclinic some hundred years ago, and to put it in the context of the needs of the time, which gave rise to similar initiatives. What underlies the article, is a tremendous admiration for all those who collaborated in these initiatives and, in the case of the Polyclinic, for these young people who came to Chile in their childhood or youth, having gone through many hardships in their countries of origin, and became initiators, leaders and benefactors of different institutions -Jewish and Chilean- and, some of them, also recognized professionals and intellectuals. The aim was to help recuperate the stories before they vanish into oblivion. The hope is that they inspire the present and future generations to commit themselves for the common good.