In July I travelled to Israel for the first time since October 7th, to visit and volunteer. Having felt the need to ‘do something’ beyond making donations, I signed up for a week of Sar El volunteering at an army base and set aside a day for meetings at Hadassah in Jerusalem as an extension of the voluntary work I do from Australia. I went with excitement and some trepidation, unclear what to expect. What I found was nothing short of inspiring.
In the midst of tremendous suffering and mounting frustration from the longest war in modern-day Israel’s history, locals and visitors from diverse cultures and walks of life were coming together to take positive action with purpose, doing extraordinary work to respond to the emergency whilst maintaining a focus on broader community needs.
At Hadassah, this spirit of positivity and hope was palpable. The recently opened Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Mount Scopus left a lasting impression on me. I witnessed unprecedented innovation and a relentless focus on rehabilitation and community renewal through health, that will be required far into the future. Collaboration and partnering beyond Israel’s borders, with diaspora communities, will be an essential ingredient for healing.
The state-of-the-art Gandel Rehabilitation Center, opened early due to the current crisis, is now a cornerstone of hope and healing for Jerusalem's 1.3 million residents. Walking through its cutting-edge underground emergency wing, hydrotherapy pools and outpatient therapy levels, therapists described their fulfilment from the transformative healing now possible for severely wounded soldiers and civilians. We halted on the threshold to the upper levels for inpatient therapies, however, as these floors are under construction - a stark example of how Hadassah has innovated to bring the lower levels into service whilst finalising completion of this vitally important facility.
After a brief walk through a fascinating museum of artefacts from Henrietta Szold’s office, bearing witness to her pioneering work in charting the course of Israel’s first medical system and infrastructure, I met with modern-day health leader, Dr Tamar Elram, Director of Hadassah Mount Scopus. She discussed development priorities alongside rehabilitation that are critical for supporting a healthy and vibrant Israeli society, including safe fertility therapies, maternity and neo-natal care and paediatric mental health. Health priorities are endless and ever-changing, and I was in awe of her clarity and focus in balancing immediate and longer-term needs, within the turmoil of the current crisis.
At Mount Scopus, I also shared a working lunch with Michal Nurick, Program Manager for the Hadassah-Achotenu Ethiopian-Israeli scholarships in health. We celebrated the remarkable achievements of Ethiopian-Israeli nursing and occupational therapy students, whose journeys have been supported by Hadassah Australia. Their stories of perseverance and success are a beacon of hope for their communities and beyond.
My visit to Hadassah's campus in Ein Kerem was equally profound. There, I met with Professor Shai Rosenberg, self-confessed computer geek and oncologist, whose pioneering work in AI for cancer management is revolutionising the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases, bringing new hope to countless patients and their medical practitioners. His innovative approach and dedication to his craft and team underpin incredible advancements being made in medical science at Hadassah.
As we continue to pray for peace and the safe return of all hostages and soldiers, it is clear that innovation, resilience, and collaboration will be essential in Israel's path to healing.
Those of us in diaspora communities can take positive action in partnership with Israel, united in chesed (good deeds) and tzedaka (charity). Together, we embody the enduring spirit of hope and renewal.
Am Yisroel Chai – The People of Israel Live.
Lynda Brest
Vice-President Hadassah Australia
Back to Newsletter