If October 7th 2024 was a difficult day for us all, then the event planned by Hadassah for the following day, October 8th, was a positive response to the tragedy. 
Because of the ongoing war, the march planned from Ammunition Hill to Hadassah Mount Scopus was canceled, so us four members from Modi’in, Rivkah Cooper, President of Hadassah Israel, Ellen Shemesh , Senior Vice President of Hadassah Israel, Ellen Davies and myself, Marion Stone, made our way directly to the new Gandel Rehabilitation Building at the Mount Scopus hospital campus.
On registration, we were given special T shirts and a very attractive array of refreshments was set out for us.
I remember being told in the early days of the war about the car park of the new building being speedily converted into a 100 bed department within 2 weeks of the start of the war. I soon realized that here I was standing in that very department, furnished with special beds and computers. This is where the reception was being held.
Opening the official proceedings, Suzanne Patt Benvenisti, Executive Director of Hadassah Offices in Israel, speaking Hebrew, and Jorge Diener, Executive Director of Hadassah International, speaking English, paid tribute to all personnel working to rehabilitate the wounded, and sent condolences to the families who lost close relatives.
Carol Ann Schwartz, National President of Hadassah (HWZOA), visiting from the USA, told us that a year ago, they had watched in horror and disbelief as the horrific attacks unfolded, and the next day a representative was already in Israel visiting the wounded, and looking to see what was needed to assist. She herself had brought a solidarity mission to Israel and they were overwhelmed with pride for the accomplishments in saving and mending lives. She continued by saying that at this center we learn so much about the doctors, therapists and counselors who have achieved successes through their hard work.
“Not long ago this place was rubble, and now we are in an underground hospital that opened in January 2024”.
She thanked Professor Yoram Weiss and Dalia Itzik for their contribution to medical efforts, and thanks went to the men and women of the IDF, and Hadassah staff members who work day in and day out; “Together we will heal”.
Lt Colonel Yonatan Barr was introduced. He had arrived at the new rehab building on his back, unable to move, and he now walked to the podium. He told of how he was wounded in Gaza on October 8th, how field paramedics saved his life, and how he spent time in Barzilay hospital Ashkelon, then Hadassah Ein Kerem. He was then sent to the new Gandel Rehabilitation building, where he felt part of a team, a dedicated family, working for him, and now, months later he can walk.
He says that now, as the casualties are recovering, we are winning the war, and he described the Rehab Department as working magic.
Dalia Itzik, Chair of the board of Hadassah International in Israel, spoke emotionally in support and admiration of the dedication to healing taking place, made possible by the supporters and staff of the hospital. She spoke of the tragedies in biblical times. Through the ages of battles, our soldiers have given their lives “Barbarians created unprecedented situations”. She always asks what can be done to improve. In the past there was only one rehab department in Israel, at Tel Hashomer and she has worked to bring to fruition this new building.
Before our tour of the new building, 101 participants grabbed a yellow balloon, each one for a hostage, and went outside to release the balloons that soared up to the sky.
This long awaited and desperately needed rehabilitation building took several years to become a reality. The building is three storeys above ground and 3 floors below ground. We were taken on a tour, guided by Leah, and saw only a little of what happens in that building.
There are 130 beds in the building and some 5 dialysis stations. Plus hundreds of therapists with various specialities, who are dedicated to helping their patients reach maximum mobility.
We first went down to see the therapeutic swimming pool, which has a capacity for 100. Various depths, grasp bars and lifting equipment are in place. We were told about the necessity of the hydrotherapy treatments in use. On the floor above the pool are gyms designed for treating different types of injury, with state of the art equipment. We saw the Thera Trainer Balo machine for which Hadassah-Israel Chapters are raising money, and it was so interesting and meaningful to be able to see it in operation and understand how useful it is for recovering patients.
In one of the rooms we met a detective from Sderot who had been shot in his upper arm, and it paralyzed his whole arm and hand. He showed us how he can use his wrist and hand again, after 6 months of treatment at the Rehab Center.
Among other places, we saw simulations of a supermarket and a kitchen and bathroom, and a ‘Brain Gym’ – a room filled with computers to help brain function.
Our knowledgeable guide gave us an overview of the history of the Mount Scopus site, established by Henrietta Szold in 1934, the original building designed by renowned Bauhaus architect Erich Mendelsohn, the convoy that was attacked in April 1948, and the fact that during the years between 1948 and 1967, when the site was in arab hands, they could have managed the hospital for the public’s need, but didn’t, and it was left neglected for 19 years.
As we ended the tour, we discussed the finest principles of the Hadassah Hospitals, of equality for all and no discrimination of patients or staff.

Article by: Marion Stone