Meeting up with former classmates from the Moriah College Class of 1980 is always fun—but catching up in the chilly winds of Jerusalem, surrounded by the bustle of commuters, isn’t exactly most people’s idea of a summer holiday. Still, with visitors from Sydney and Melbourne in town to connect with veteran olim, we decided to check in on the state of the country—and to visit the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah’s Mount Scopus campus.
During our short bus ride through the contrasting landscapes of old and new Jerusalem, our knowledgeable guide from Hadassah International Jeanne gave us the background on the urgent need for a modern rehabilitation centre to meet the demands of Jerusalem’s growing population. She also shared the incredible race to complete the facility once the Iron Swords War began following the October 7 attacks.
This story is personal to me. My sabra son was wounded in the fighting in December 2023 and faced a long hospitalisation.
When my son was admitted to the Gandel Rehabilitation Center in January last year, the brand-new facility felt more like an army outpost in the middle of a construction site. Wards were just beginning to open, while painters, carpenters, and delivery men moved through the improvised entrance. But in his words—my hero—“I came here in a wheelchair and with a dour face, and after a month I came home on my own two feet.” Returning to visit on the center’s 365th day of operation was a real eye-opener; it’s incredible how much it has grown.
The state-of-the-art facilities speak for themselves. We were shown the adjustable platform in the therapy pool, a fully equipped underground hospital ward built in just three days, a wheelchair-accessible gym, and anti-gravity training tools—the very same ones that challenged my son during his recovery. Now, those same tools support other wounded soldiers and civilians recovering from accidents, illness, or war injuries.
“They work really hard,” said a visiting anaesthesiologist from Melbourne who had volunteered for the month. The smiles from therapists and nurses who recognised my son were proof enough of their dedication. I proudly showed them the photos he’d sent us from his recent trip to New Zealand—touring, exploring, and enjoying his newfound freedom.
Thank you to the entire staff for an inspiring visit—and for all that you’ve given us.
Menachem Schonberg
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