Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, 12 Shmuel Bait Street, Jerusalem (2026)

26/12/2025

This week, Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center officially commemorated the naming of the Hanna and Maurice Zilkha Shasha Adolescent Daycare Center.

The Center’s naming was made possible through the generosity of the Shasha family of Israel and London in honor of their parents, following the passing of Maurice last year. The family’s connection with Shaare Zedek goes back many decades to the first half of the 20th century when Maurice, then a child living in Baghdad, was sent by bus to Jerusalem for medical care in Shaare Zedek Hospital.

The Center, directed by Dr. Shelly Ben-Harush Negari, provides comprehensive mental health and medical support for teenagers facing a wide-variety of physical and emotional challenges. This field has become increasingly important in recent years, particularly in light of the pressures resulting from the Corona epidemic and the war, with a growing number of teenagers presenting with problems including severe eating and behavioral disorders which demand a professional and experienced response. An underlying goal of the Daycare Center is to provide these teens with the chance for comprehensive care without the need for hospitalization, allowing them to maintain optimal functioning within their families and social networks.

The multidisciplinary approach involves medical, psychiatric, psychological, nutritional, nursing, social work, and educational professionals providing an extensive range of treatments and therapies. The Center’s mental health program is directed by Dr. Jennie Goldstein, Senior Pediatric Psychiatrist at Shaare Zedek.

Shaare Zedek Director General Prof. Ofer Merin thanked the family for choosing this critical area for their support saying, “The countless individuals and families who will benefit from the services of this Center owe you a huge debt of thanks for the impact you will be making to better their lives.”

After sharing the emotional story of a young woman who suffered from severe eating and emotional challenges before being successfully treated in the Center and going on to a successful combat service in the IDF, Dr. Ben-Harush Negari explained the Center’s philosophy saying, “Our approach is always non-judgmental to help these adolescents achieve their dreams and because of your family’s generosity that will now be possible for many more young people.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mrs. Sharon Douer said, “We are so very proud to be able to make this Center’s activities possible and while we pray that there should come a day when there is no need for its services until that time, B’ezrat Hashem, the staff of this Center should be blessed to provide the help for whoever needs it.

23/12/2025

A Terror Survivor Returns to Shaare Zedek - To Bring New Life Into the World

About ten years ago, Maya Netzer was seriously injured in a terror attack in Jerusalem. She was rushed to Shaare Zedek where Prof. Ofer Merin, then the hospital's Director of Trauma Medicine treated her and saved her life.

Last week Maya returned to Shaare Zedek- this time to deliver her second son.

Maya shared, “Ten years ago, in October of 2015, I was seriously injured in a terror attack in Jerusalem. I was stabbed in the shoulder and the knife penetrated into my lung. I was brought to Shaare Zedek where I was met by Prof. Merin, then the head of trauma and today the hospital’s Director General. With professionalism and unwavering dedication, he saved my life.

Since then all these years have passed and while the pain remains, life does go on. In 2022, I had my first son here at Shaare Zedek and last week on the first night of Chanukah I returned for this second delivery.

It’s the same place, with the same safe feeling that I am surrounded by a staff who in many ways have become like family. I am so thankful to Shaare Zedek, to Prof. Merin and to all the staff for the life that you have now given back to me multiple times.

Since that day of the attack until now I have remained in touch with Prof. Merin and every now and then we talk to discuss my rehabilitation and things taking place in my personal life. Prof. Merin treated me in a truly comprehensive way of caring that in my estimation doesn’t come along very often in the world of medicine. At every stage he made sure I was getting the best possible care, that I would always feel comfortable throughout my hospitilization and most of all that I could really feel safe and secure.”

On behalf of all of us at Shaare Zedek, we wish Maya and her family a huge Mazal Tov!

23/12/2025

Within the span of just several weeks, four women between the ages of 60 and 70 underwent succesful surgeries in the Department of Neurosurgery in the Helmlsey Brain Center at Shaare Zedek Medical Center after being diagnosed with spinal meningioma. This is a particularly large and unusual cluster of cases, with the Department typically only treating a handful a year of such cases at most.

Spinal meningioma is a benign tumor that grows within the membranes surrounding the spinal cord. The tumor, which is more common in older women, places pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, leading to various symptoms in the arms and legs, including tingling, limb weakness, walking difficulties, and in the most extreme cases leading to paralysis.

Gila, one of the women who was operated upon said:
“For months, I had been suffering from tingling in my legs and had fallen several times. My quality of life had deteriorated dramatically whereby I could take only one step every three hours. The tingling didn’t go away and even worsened to the point that my left leg had become almost completely paralyzed. I had been to other medical appointments other than at Shaare Zedek but they hadn’t identified the problem.

Only when coming to Shaare Zedek and after Dr. Mordechai Lynn from the Neurology Department ordered an MRI scan, were they able to determine that I had a benign tumor in my spine the size of a tennis ball. The tumor was removed in surgery, and immediately afterward my condition began to improve and I could move my left leg. Thanks to the amazing team of doctors and nurses at Shaare Zedek, I can now do things I couldn’t do before. I have never received such care from a medical team — they are simply angels, I have no other word. I didn’t even want to leave the hospital because the experience was so positive.”

Dr. Gustavo Rajz (pictured below), a Senior Neurosurgeon in the Helmsley Brain Center who performed all four surgeries, explained, “Over the years, I have never encountered such a high number of women diagnosed with spinal meningioma requiring surgery within such a short period. It was incredibly moving to see elderly women whose quality of life had already so severely deteriorated — some suffering from near-complete paralysis of one leg — show improvement after surgery and regain the ability to move their legs.”

Dr. Rajz emphasized that spinal meningioma is a tumor that can be effectively treated, making early detection essential.

“It’s important to know that if any neurological symptoms appear, even if there is doubt, I would recommend consulting a specialist and undergoing appropriate imaging test,” he said.

20/12/2025

A true modern-day hero, Yosef Chaim Ohana, who was released after 738 days in captivity in Gaza, was honored to light the Chanukah candles this week in the Pediatric Dialysis Unit at Shaare Zedek.

He was joined by the hospital’s President, Prof. Jonathan Halevy and Director General, Prof. Ofer Merin.

Yosef also toured the Unit and met with children and staff members.

Yosef shared, “We are at time of the holidays of miracles. I am a living proof that my very survival is a miracle. One of the reasons I feel so connected to people being treated in the hospital is because for many of them, like me, life is truly a gift. In this holiday of lights I want to wish every single person that they should be blessed with victory- each in his or her personal way- whether it’s a victory of body of soul.”

Yosef’s visit to Shaare Zedek was made possible by the organization “Tikva U’Marpeh” that supports children on dialysis in hospitals all throughout Israel.

18/12/2025

Shaare Zedek welcomed Bar Mireknsky and her family back to the hospital to light the Chanukah candles more than two years after she was treated for serious injuries sustained while attending the Nova Festival on October 7th.

She was joined at the candle lighting ceremony by Shaare Zedek’s Director General Prof. Ofer Merin, Shaare Zedek’s President Prof. Jonathan Halevy and members of the medical team who treated Bar during her lengthy hospitalization.

In addition to lighting the Chanukah candles, Bar recited the Birkat HaGomel (The Blessing of Gratitude upon being saved from a life-threatening situation.)

She addressed the ceremony saying, “Thank you to everyone who saved my life, and thank you for giving me the right and the opportunity to live.”

Prof. Merin added, “This is a deeply moving moment. All those injured in those harrowing days became part of our lives, but there are those whose experiences will forever be etched into our hearts— people like Bar. As doctors, it was a true honor to be able to treat you. I also know that much of the courage you showed through your recovery comes from the spirit of your amazing parents, who are true heroes and have also become part of the Shaare Zedek family.”

Also participating in the candle-lighting ceremony were: Director of the Department of Surgery at the time of Bar’s injury, Prof. Petachia Reissman; the Director of the Trauma Unit, Dr. Alon Schwartz; the Director of the Intensive Care Unit, Prof. Phillip Levin; the Director of the Internal Medicine Division, Prof. Ni**od Maimon; the nurses who cared for Bar; and representatives from the social work and psychological services.

16/12/2025

A Winter Medical Miracle at Shaare Zedek Medical Center

In what is being described as a particularly rare medical miracle at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, an 11-year-old boy, who swallowed a set scissor blades was able to emerge from the harrowing experience without any internal injuries and without requiring surgical intervention.

The scissors passed through his body naturally under close supervision and support from the medical team at Shaare Zedek.

One night earlier this month, the boy Y arrived at the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Shaare Zedek after swallowing the the sharp portion of a pair of scissors.
Following an X-ray that measured the blades to be about three centimeters long and located in the stomach in an open position, pediatric surgery and pediatric gastroenterology experts were called in, including Dr. Oren Leder, who specializes in pediatric endoscopy. The decision was made that the implement represented an immediate danger to the boy and he was prepared for surgery.

With Y. already in the operating room in the final stages before the surgery would begin, an additional X-ray was performed to assess the position and condition of the scissors. Remarkably, the image revealed that the scissors had closed without any external intervention, passed through the stomach, and had reached deep into the small intestine.

“We had considerable concern that the open scissors could cause injury to the esophagus or stomach, and we wanted to perform an examination to locate and remove them,” explained Dr. Ester Orlansky-Meyer, a pediatric gastroenterology specialist at Shaare Zedek. “Miraculously and for reasons that are still unclear, we saw that the scissors had closed by themselves, significantly reducing the risk of injury to the digestive tract.”
In light of this development, and after significant consultation, it was decided not to proceed with the operation instead and he was transferred for continued close observation in the pediatric surgery department.

“Swallowing scissors by children—especially at an older age—is an extremely rare event,” says Dr. Uri Blich, a senior pediatric surgeon at Shaare Zedek. “Taking into account Y.’s good physical condition and the fact that the scissors had closed, which significantly reduced the risk for internal injury, we decided not to perform a surgical intervention, as such procedures can carry various complications.”

While under close observation in the pediatric surgery department, the medical team continued to monitor Y.’s condition and after about two days, the scissors were expelled naturally and Y.’s condition upon release from the hospital was listed as “very good” with no internal injuries.

S, Y’s. mother recalls the experience:

“At first, when Y. told me he had swallowed scissors, he was very scared. My husband and I were in shock and didn’t really believe him. He’s a sensible and mature child who understands that playing with scissors can be dangerous.

After some brief consultations, we took him to Shaare Zedek. The emergency department staff acted very quickly and admitted us right away, and after the X-ray he was taken to the operating room. The scissors closed on their own and surgery wouldn’t be needed. It’s really one huge miracle that Y wasn’t hurt at all.
To this day, we still can’t believe this happened to us or how it all occurred. Thanks to the wonderful team at Shaare Zedek, who made us so glad we came there and not to another hospital, our case ended well. I want this case to serve as a message to other parents that no matter the age, you must pay attention that children don’t put things in their mouths, especially sharp objects because this could have ended very differently.

We’re so thankful to Boreh Olam (Creator of the World), the pediatric emergency team who received us immediately, and the gastroenterology and surgery teams who were so efficient and ready to respond at such late hours.”

“Quite often, we treat children of various ages who have swallowed different objects, some of which are truly dangerous to their health,” says Talia Chernosvitov, Deputy Head Nurse in the pediatric emergency department at Shaare Zedek. “To reduce the chance of these incidents, I recommend keeping potentially dangerous items out of children’s reach, such as cleaning materials, magnets, and batteries. Even one brief moment where we’re not focused can make the difference between what seems like a simple childhood game, and an urgent trip to the emergency room that can require medical intervention that at times can be everything that’s needed to save a patient’s life.”

14/12/2025

Transnational Medicine 🇮🇱🇵🇾

Shaare Zedek Medical Center was honored to host a diplomatic visit led by Dr. Raúl Latorre, Speaker of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies as part of his official visit to Israel where the Speaker was invited to light the first Chanukah candle.

As part of his diplomatic visit, Dr. Latorre arrived at Shaare Zedek following meetings at the Knesset, including with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and ahead of a meeting with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog.

Ambassadors Amit Mekel and Alejandro Rubin also took part in the hospital visit.

During the visit, a moving Chanukah candle-lighting ceremony was held at the entrance to the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Dr. Latorre, himself an ENT physician by training , met with Shaare Zedek Director General Prof. Ofer Merin who presented the delegation with an an overview of Israel’s healthcare system.

Also present at the meeting were Prof. Roni Peretz, Head of the Otology Unit and Cochlear Implant Center at Shaare Zedek, and Dr. Gustavo Rajz, an Argentinian-born senior pediatric neurosurgeon at Shaare Zedek.

Prof Merin commented:
“It is a great honor to host the Speaker of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies, Dr. Raúl Latorre on this important day on the Jewish calendar. He is a true friend of the State of Israel who stood by our side from the very first moment of the war. Choosing Shaare Zedek as a representative of Israel’s healthcare system is a remarkable source of pride and positions Shaare Zedek at the forefront of Israeli medicine and excellence.”

07/12/2025

Amidst Fast-Growing Demand, Shaare Zedek Opens
New Silber Family Resilience Center for
Psychological Trauma Care for IDF Veterans, First Responders, and Families

Shaare Zedek Medical Center commemorated the official opening today of the Silber Family Resilience Center, a comprehensive facility for the emotional and psychological treatment of IDF reservists and first responders and their families suffering from mental health challenges resulting from exposure to traumatic events. The Center, made possible through the generosity of Mark and Barbara Silber, was developed in large part in response to the growing needs facing Israeli society in the wake of October 7th and the ensuing war.

Shaare Zedek Director General Prof. Ofer Merin addressed the ceremonial opening saying, “This Center is not just about caring for the enormous number of people suffering from PTSD but is indeed about responding to a need facing nearly every citizen of Israel who in some way has been impacted by the events of the past two years.”

Shaare Zedek President Prof. Jonathan Halevy added that “The challenges that this Center will confront exist in Israel in ways like never before and we are deeply thankful to the Silber Family for having the vision to support its development in ways that we know will very significantly better the lives of countless people who have contributed so much in defense of the state and people of Israel.”

The Silber Family Resilience Center, which is now in full operation, provides comprehensive services for IDF reservists and families, first responders, and family members. Therapeutic interventions offered are designed to respond to the wide variety of emotional and mental health challenges that have emerged, particularly over the past two years.

The therapeutic focus is on coping with the many effects of traumatic experiences, strengthening family and social support networks, and enhancing resilience. Among the services offered at the Silber Center are treatments for psychological trauma using the innovative Deep TMS (Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) method, proven to reduce symptoms of depression and PTSD. As noted, the Center also prioritizes family therapy, including treatments focused on the parent–child relationship, as well as couples therapy.

Mark Silber spoke of the deep emotion that his family felt for the cause, explaining that the family’s gift was a specific tribute to his and his wife’s parents who survived the Holocaust and raised a new generation. “That same spirit of survival is being exhibited by many of the survivors who emerged from October 7th and is therefore our foremost wish as a family that everyone who will avail themselves of this Center will be blessed to find a path forward of resilience and hope.”

The opening event also featured a panel discussion on the impact of Miluim (Reserve Duty) both on the reservists themselves and their families. Elisha Medan, a reservist who was critically injured in combat in the early weeks of the war and was flown to Shaare Zedek within moments of his injury, emotionally described his experiences and how the welfare of his family was at the center of his mind in the minutes after an explosion nearly took his life. Medan said that the role of the reservists will remain critical to Israel’s defense needs for many years and that it is critical that Israeli society support the network that will be needed to care for these individuals and their families.

Also on the panel were Eitan and Mira Kestenbaum, parents of four young children who spoke of the ongoing effects of Eitan’s reserve duty on their family dynamic as well as their relationship as a couple. Mira emotionally related the reserve experience to a truck barreling through a family home, whereby even after the truck is removed, symbolizing the soldier’s return home, the house is still damaged and the effects of his absence remain long after his return.

The panel also featured Miriam Amedi, CEO of the Reservists’ Wives Forum. Her husband Idan Amedi, the well-known singer and actor, was seriously wounded in battle yet remains committed to returning to his reservist role. Miriam said that throughout her experience and still today, the relationship with reservist duty is a complex story of mixed emotions. “ I view it with both intense fear and pride, but it is critical that we support solutions that provide support even long after these reservists return home, and we are blessed that there are more and more places where people and families can get the therapy and care they so need.”

The Center’s Director, Dr. Jennie Goldstein added, “The creation of this Silber Family Resilience Center is not only the establishment of a new clinical service. It represents the next chapter of Jewish history unfolding, the continuation of a story that began with four Holocaust survivors who chose life, and proved that it is possible not only to recover from destruction, but to flourish. Our goal is to encourage reservist and security personnel families to use their own family strengths to heal, and rebuild healthy family dynamics, while also feeling held and surrounded by a wider network of support.”

Services of the Center are funded by insurance companies and government agencies. The Silber family gift supports the current activities of the Center, as well as construction of a new structure which will house additional therapeutic spaces.

03/12/2025

Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem staged a large-scale firefighting drill today to simulate a fast-spreading fire in the hospital’s underground hospitalization areas.

The drill simulated a scenario where a fire was accompanied by heavy smoke with people trapped and in need of rescue using advanced tools and methods.

The drill involved teams from Shaare Zedek’s Security Department alongside firefighters from the Jerusalem District of the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority.

Yoni Shimon, Director of Security at Shaare Zedek:

“This drill further strengthened Shaare Zedek’s level of preparedness for emergency situations and the cooperation with firefighters that would be needed for handling complicated situations under extreme conditions.

We also drilled how to ensure that Shaare Zedek’s overall medical activities could optimally continue or be quickly relocated during such a large-scale event with limited interruption, or risk to patient and staff safety.

The cooperation with the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority and all emergency response organizations is critical to the continued operation of Shaare Zedek, and we are constantly working to reinforce and expand these partnerships.”

27/11/2025

21 Years Apart Shaare Zedek Surgeon Saves Lives of Pregnant Mother and Son

On the first night of Rosh Hashana 2004, a young woman presented to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center in her 25th week of pregnancy and was diagnosed with a life-threatening tear in her aorta.

Dr. Danny Fink, then a young cardio-thoracic surgeon, was called in from home to provide the life-saving intervention needed for this patient.

After her condition was stabilized, the medical teams determined that to ensure the continued safety of the fetus a cesarean procedure would be necessary. The baby was born at just 29 weeks and was transferred to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where he would spend the next three months.

Follow-up examinations determined the mother was suffering from a condition called Marfan syndrome (a hereditary condition that can affect the blood vessels and the heart) and it was determined that her newborn son had also inherited the syndrome. With this diagnosis, mother and son were closely monitored over the years to avoid potential flareups or complications.

Flash forward more than two decades and the son, A, now an officer in a classified IDF Unit, was experiencing complications from his condition and on September 26th of 2025, almost exactly 21 years to the day he was born, returned to Shaare Zedek for an emergency procedure.

It was none other than Dr. Fink, today the Director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, who would once again be there to save A’s life. The procedure went ahead successfully and is now undergoing rehabilitation in preparation to return to his IDF service.

Dr. Fink commented, “21 years ago, as we were sitting down for our Rosh Hashana dinner, I was called into the hospital to care for a pregnant woman with a tear in her aorta. I and the entire team knew that we would do whatever was needed to save her life and the life of the fetus. Yael (not her real name) is a true hero and fighter who fought tirelessly to stay alive and keep her child alive and wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.

This year, just after Rosh Hashana, I again got a call that A, that cute little boy from 21 years ago, needed an emergency procedure. After the surgery, A recovered quickly and is progressing very nicely in advance of return to a full level of activity. This is really a moving story of coming full circle in ways that we really all feel like family. I wish Yael and A much happiness and health.”

A added, “Over the years I of course always knew about the special story of my birth and the condition which I have inherited. I never let it stop me at any point in life. It was always closely monitored but there were never any major changes. 21 years later, a couple days before I was scheduled for a routine exam, I felt intense and unusual pains and came to Shaare Zedek. The quick diagnosis at the hospital identified a tear in the aorta and once again Dr. Fink was called in for an emergency procedure, saving my life just as my mother’s life had been saved 21 years earlier.”

Yael recalls, “21 years ago I came in extremely serious condition to Shaare Zedek and I was facing an immediate threat to my life. The care of Dr. Fink and all the medical staff saved my life and A’s life. We always knew that the day would come that A would need to have cardiac surgery but we never let that stop us. We didn’t let the condition stop us and A would do what his friends did and enlisted into an important IDF Unit and completed Officers Training Course and is a source of great pride. 21 years ago when I first met Dr. Fink I never imagined we would have such a close bond that would last all this time, but I knew that if A would need an operation Dr. Fink would be the surgeon. I want to thank Dr. Fink and all the teams for 21 years of caring and friendship that truly has saved our lives.”

25/11/2025

Shaare Zedek Salutes Our IDF Reservists

Since October 7, 2023 Shaare Zedek staff members have served over 47,000 days in miluim (IDF reserve duty).

Today the hospital held a special tribute highlighting their contributions and sacrifice in a ceremony attended by Shaare Zedek administration and many of the staff members who have been serving tirelessly for more than two years.

Over 250 staff members have been called up with more than fifty having served an excess of 200 days, 30 more than 300 days, and even 15 whose reserve days have exceeded 400.
The ceremony provided an emotional opportunity to express our immense thanks to this community as well as gratitude to the spouses of reservists who have faced remarkable challenges in their homes and workplaces.

Shaare Zedek Director General Prof. Ofer Merin addressed the ceremony saying, “I am incredibly proud of each and every one of you for making personal sacrifices on behalf of the greater good. As a hospital we immediately made a decision, one that was complex but we never questioned, that every staff member who was called up would be given our full support to go out to the front and serve in whatever way he or she was called upon to do. Backed up by our remarkable staff we were always able to provide the best and highest quality care possible here in the hospital, even as the demands for reservists increased. Today, we also remember the 18 Shaare Zedek staff members who have lost close relatives in battle, and we pledge to always be there fore them.”

Danny Strauch, Deputy Director General for Human Resources at Shaare Zedek also spoke and told his personal story serving as a senior officer in the IDF Unit that liaised with the families of the hostages providing immeasurable practical and emotional support.

“There is indescribable pride in the recognition that the number and percentage of Shaare Zedek staff members who responded to the call since October 7th is noticeably higher than comparable workplaces,” he said. “Throughout the war I had the honor to accompany the family of Noa Martziano z”l through the moment where she was returned for burial in Israel. This war has represented a deeply turbulent experience and time for all of us as people and certainly as a Shaare Zedek community, and it was important that we dedicated this day to salute those who were there when our nation and people needed them most.”

12/11/2025

Shaare Zedek Team Joins Humanitarian Relief Mission in Jamaica

Shaare Zedek is once again joining in an international relief mission as several of our team members are currently serving on the ground in Jamaica as part of a mission dispatched from Israel by the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs.

The mission arrived in Jamaica following the devastating hurricane that struck the island nation.

The medical delegation is being headed up by Shaare Zedek Director General Prof. Ofer Merin and Dr. Sefi Mendelovich, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health.

Also joining the mission are Shaare Zedek staff members Efrat Even, Nursing Director in the Wilf Children’s Hospital, and Deputy Director General for Medicine, Dr. Chemi Blumberg.

Prof. Merin remarked, “The State of Israel always stands ready to offer medical and humanitarian assistance to all parts of the world and we take enormous pride in representing Israel and Shaare Zedek on this important mission.

We have been warmly welcomed and embraced by the local community who have expressed their deep love for Israel particularly in light of our remarkable readiness to come and assist them at this time.”

Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

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