The Jack & Robert Smorgon Families Foundation
Healing & Environmental Garden
at Hadassah Hospital, Mt Scopus
Jerusalem is a city of great contrasts - from sparkling new 6-star hotels and shopping centres like Mamilla, to the ancient stones and monuments of the Old City; from contemporary multi-story duplexes filled with affluent families, to desperately poor Jewish and Arab enclaves; from secular Israelis to the ultra-religious of all major faiths; from happy, healthy kids playing in the sunshine, to kids suffering chronic illnesses, both physiological and psychological - isolated from the real world in lonely hospital wards
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could find a way to provide a sanctuary of calm, of light, of beauty, for those kids who are facing serious, long-term illness, so that they can connect with nature, sit under a blue sky with family and friends, and leave a troubled world behind – even for just a few minutes a day?
The new healing and environmental garden at beautiful Mt Scopus provides an answer. Spread over 6 dunams of prime natural bushland on the slopes of Mt Scopus, adjacent to the main campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the garden offers magnificent views of the Jerusalem hills from almost every vantage point. The healing and environmental garden represents a quantum leap in the way that we approach the treatment of young people with chronic illness. Beautifully landscaped, with features including a boardwalk, maze, vegetable patch, flower arcade and play spaces, the garden is specifically designed to include elements that enhance feelings of peace and tranquillity and encourage activity, whilst promoting positive thoughts and stimulating the healing process. Healing gardens are now being incorporated in leading children's hospitals around the globe, including Melbourne's brand new Royal Children's Hospital, opening in late 2011. In addition to serving the needs of patients in hospital, the Garden will also be available to patients' families and friends, as well as the general public - providing a unique oasis of calm and greenery for all. The extraordinary location and impressive size of the garden, only moments away from the busy centre of downtown Jerusalem, will remain unmatched forever.
The total cost to create the healing and environmental garden is US$1,679,000, including – most importantly – 10 years of daily maintenance and upkeep. (After this time Hadassah Hospital will assume this responsibility directly). A keystone contribution of US$500,000 has already been committed by the Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Foundation, which includes overall naming rights for the garden itself. We now seek further contributions for the remaining balance of the total cost, with naming rights available for individual elements of the garden as per the attached schedule.
Hadassah Australia and the JNF, together with our Israeli counterparts, are proud and honoured to be bringing this wonderful concept to fruition. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for members of the Australian community to provide real and meaningful support, in perpetuity, for a project that benefits the children and families of Jerusalem for generations to come.
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