EMES Initiative Inc.

EMES Initiative, Inc. was incorporated in April, 2019, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the laws of the State of New York by a group of dedicated, concerned, and highly educated nurses. EMES began in response to the measles outbreak in the ultra Orthodox Jewish community of New York City and New York State and the recognized need for increased health literacy in the Orthodox Jewish community.

The nurses of EMES recognize the value of health education, promotion, and prevention.

Why We Do What We Do

The EMES Initiative wants to improve the health status of individuals, families, and communities in the United States. We know that health promotion and prevention strategies enhances the quality of life for all people. Our focus on prevention can help reduce costs of medical treatment. Our work is to positively influence the health behavior of the communities we serve.

Why Nurses

For the past 20 years, nurses have been ranked the most trusted profession in the United States. In 2019, almost 85% of respondents to the Gallup poll rated nurses “very high” for honesty and ethical standards. Patients, caregivers, and families know firsthand how nurses provide patient-centered care. The nurses of the EMES Initiative recognize how important accurate and reliable health information can literally make the difference between life and death. We work hard to provide patients, families, and other healthcare professionals the most current health prevention, promotion, and treatments available.

Who We Are

Blima Marcus
Blima MarcusPresident
Blima Marcus, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, OCN received her undergraduate nursing degree from the New York University School of Nursing in 2010 and her doctorate degree in nursing from the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing in 2018. She is a nurse practitioner at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society and the American Nurses Association. She served as President of the Orthodox Jewish Nurses Association and as Editor of the The OJNA Journal. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Tobi Ash
Tobi AshTreasurer
Tobi Ash, MBA, BSN, RN, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barry University in 1998, her Masters in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2001, and is currently completing her Ph.D. at Walden University. Tobi is the Director of Women’s Health Care at Nano Health Associates. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and served the Nurse position on the Health Care Advisory Committee for the City of Miami Beach for two consecutive terms. She sits on the board of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, LimmudMiami, EMES Initiative, NCSY Southern Region, Miami Beach Garden Club, Helping Hands, and is the former chair of Ohel South Florida Advisory Board. She lives in Miami.
Tamar Frenkel
Tamar FrenkelSecretary
Tamar Y. Frenkel, BSN, RN received her undergraduate nursing degree from Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing in 2010 and her Bachelor’s degree from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2014. She worked in pediatric allergy and immunology and is currently a registered nurse at Maimonides Medical Center. She is a former editor for The OJNA Journal. She is Chair of the social media team for the EMES Initiative. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Nesha Abramson
Nesha AbramsonBoard Member
Nesha Abramson works in several other Chariedi health related organizations where she works on compassionate and empathic health messaging surrounding issues that affect these communities. Nesha’s achievements include initiatives that had doulas reinstated in NYC area hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and establishing free access to CPR classes and AEDs for over 50 Brooklyn area schools. She is passionate about treating every situation with a dose of kindness and grit. When Nesha isn’t talking about vaccines, you can find her playing lego with her 8 year old son.

Testimonials

My sister and I have big families and didn’t want to vaccinate because of all scary things we heard and first hand injuries. We were ready to homeschool. That was until we heard from the doctors and nurses about the safety. We are still nervous but feel that with tefillah, our kids will be ok b’ezras Hashem. Thank you and may Hashem repay you and the people that were involved because it’s avodas hakodesh.

Anonymous

I am a registered nurse currently getting a master’s degree in public health nursing. I am working on a power point presentation on the anti-vaxx movement. I found your publication “A Slice of PIE’ while looking for information on the measles outbreak in New York. I was specifically looking for the public health nurse’s role in an outbreak like this. What an awesome example of nurses coming together and educating the community with sensitivity and wisdom to promote the health of the community! It was a true inspiration to see this. I’m looking forward to hopefully being able to use my degree in the same way some day. 

Brittany Hardiman, RN

The workshop was conducted in a friendly, unbiased fashion, which made everyone comfortable to ask questions. She explained everything very clearly and gave all studies and statistics to prove her findings. Everyone was encouraged to ask and thus many many myths were clarified and disputed.

Goldy H

I think that your handbook is the best succinct and well written document to counter the anti-vax movement. Thank you for producing such a great exposition and gentle argument for vaccination.

Kimberly Nalda, MD

I want to congratulate you on your recent publication. It was very clear and very well organized. The amount of your time and effort invested  is well reflected in this publication. Tizku Lmitzvos.

Moshe G

I came to your workshop and I loved how parents were given back their confidence and calmness to go ahead and do what was proven many times over. I’m sure the PIE magazine will give me and so many others answers and clarity to tell those who are trying to confuse us!

H Fried

Thank you so much for the booklet on MMR, I forwarded it to some close relatives that had only been shown PEACH. 

Much appreciated!

Chaya

Hi I just read your magazine and I would like to thank you for this wonderful amazing thing that you did!!!! It was very informative!!

M Konigsberg

Yasher Ko’ach on your recent PIE publication, a much needed educational resource! It is a great tool for my staff to use, as well as supply our client base; we service 130 families.

Thank you for your hard work and perseverance to make this come to fruition.

Rachel