Dr. Ezra Korine
The story of Dr. Korine’s life is intertwined with the cultural turmoil of the twentieth century.
Dr. Ezra Korine was born in Baghdad, educated in Alliance schools and attended medical school at the French University in Beirut. He completed his residency as an Ear, Nose and Throat physician in Paris. From there, he returned to Baghdad, where he worked in the Jewish hospital and was active in the community.
In 1947, Dr. Korine decided to leave Iraq with his family and settles in Paris. In Paris’s central hospital, he saw the problems faced by children who were either deaf or hard of hearing and decided to take part in pioneering research in this field. He brought this knowledge with him when he immigrated to Israel in 1951.
Dr. Korine joined the staff of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at Sheba Hospital at Tel Hashomer and was appointed Head of the Audiology Institute. In addition, he was one of the founders of the School of Communication Disorders at Tel Aviv University where he taught for many years.
In 1953, Dr Korine founded MICHA – the Society for Deaf Children. For further details, take a look at: “The History of MICHA”.
Through his voluntary work at MICHA, Dr. Korine achieved his vision – to fully integrate children with hearing disabilities with hearing children together as equal partners.
In recognition of his significant work, he was awarded the Pliskin Prize in 1965. In 1976, Dr. Korine was awarded The Israel Prize for his life’s work and unique contribution to the country of Israel and to society at large. Dr. Ezra Korine passed away one month before the ceremony in 1976.
The following sites are named in honor of Dr. Korine: an avenue in Tel Aviv, a public garden in Ramat Gan and an integrated kindergarten in Bat Yam.
