My time in Israel these past few weeks has left a profound impact on me. It’s not my first visit during a time of crisis, but this time feels different—the urgency, the stakes, and the need are greater than ever before.
This is not just observation. It became very personal last Saturday evening. My wife and I were on our way from Haifa to visit friends in the Jezreel Valley. Suddenly our GPS system went down. We received an urgent call advising that major hostilities had begun with Hezbollah and we had to immediately return to Tel Aviv. 25 rockets from Lebanon were intercepted directly over the area we had just passed through. This is the current reality of life for so many in Israel’s north. It follows the ongoing challenges in the south.
The situation underscores the constant danger that so many Israelis face. Despite these threats, the communities here continue to rebuild. It has been uplifting to witness the response of the people to the situation.
A standout example was our visit to Kibbutz Hatzerim. The Kibbutz is one of Israel’s great success stories–home of the drip irrigation company–Netafim. They are also the world’s largest producer of Jojoba oil. The kibbutz is located close to the kibbutzim near the Gaza border. After the horrific events of October 07, the younger members of Hatzerim, reached out to the survivors of Kibbutz Be’eri and, together, they initiated a plan to provide temporary accommodation and support. With the help of the government and their own funds they have built a new section on Hatzerim; the “Be’eri” neighbourhood, with 300 prefabricated dwellings plus all the support infrastructure for their “guests”. It is a huge undertaking but 90 Be’eri families have settled in, just in time for their children to start the new school year. It is a temporary solution as the Be’eri members are committed to re-building their, heretofore, thriving kibbutz.
The same spirit of incredible response to the events of 07 October is very evident in so many ways at Hadassah. First and foremost at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center (GRC), the only acute rehabilitation facility to meet the needs of the 1.35million people in the Jerusalem region.
But the reality is that resilience, while inspiring, is not enough. It takes infrastructure, resources, and support to help these communities heal.
The challenges people face here are unimaginable and yet what stands out is the incredible work being done to heal and rebuild, all over the country and especially at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Mount Scopus, the only acute rehabilitation facility serving the 1.35 million people in the Jerusalem region.
Since its partial opening earlier this year, it has been operating at full capacity, treating civilians and soldiers severely wounded in the ongoing conflict.
I’ve seen the dedication of the staff and the state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment in action. But more beds are needed—another 70 inpatient beds to be exact— and the remaining floors of the centre are still under construction. There is an urgent need to meet the increasing rehabilitation needs of the growing number of wounded.
That’s why we have launched a critical campaign to support the Gandel Rehabilitation Center and provide the essential care that Israel’s wounded desperately need. This is our chance to make a real difference in the lives of civilians and soldiers who have endured unimaginable suffering.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and healthy New Year.
Shana Tova U’metukah,
Ron Finkel AM
President
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