American Friends of Herzog Hospital

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American Friends of Herzog Hospital

American Friends of Herzog Hospital raise awareness and funding to support Herzog Hospital, Israel's leading center for geriatric, respiratory and mental health care, treatment and research. We are build a NEW Medical Pavilion that will consist of 6 floors of clinical departments and 2 basement floors,including a sheltered underground emergency hospital. The new Pavilion will incorporate the latest in hospital design, and be a totally ‘green’ environmentally friendly facility. The Sheltered Underground Hospital will be built to withstand the impact of missiles and provide protection from chemical and biological attack. The Pavilion will house a number of departments, including:
- a Department of Psychogeriatrics (to treat those with dementias such as Alzheimer's Disease)
- a greatly expanded Children’s Chronic Respiratory Care Department
- significant additions to the Adult Respiratory Departments
- Internal Medicine
- Acute Geriatric Care
- Complex Nursing Care
- Dialysis

11/06/2025

Making Dreams Come True at the Western Wall
An Emotional Bar Mitzvah celebration we will never forget.

This week, we had the privilege of helping Yosef Yitzhak (Yoske) - a brave 13-year-old boy hospitalized in Herzog Medical Center’s Children’s Chronic Respiratory Unit - fulfill his dream of celebrating his Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall.

With the extraordinary support of Magen David Adom’s Wish Ambulance team and the unwavering dedication of our pediatric staff, Yosef was transported safely from his hospital bed to Jerusalem’s most sacred site, where his family awaited him with tears, prayers, and open arms.

And then something beautiful happened:

Worshippers and passersby noticed the moment and gathered around, offering blessings, songs, and smiles. In those few sacred minutes, a boy who spends his days connected to life-support equipment was lifted by the embrace of an entire community.

Paramedic Batya Shushan shared:

“Seeing the joy in Yoske’s eyes and the love surrounding him was unforgettable.”

Herzog staff shared:
“This was a dream months in the making. For us, providing world-class medical care also means creating moments of joy, dignity, and connection to family and tradition.”

Mazal Tov, dear Yoske!
May you continue to bring light to everyone around you. You are loved.

📸 Photo credit: Magen David Adom

10/29/2025

The "Mental Health Tsunami" in Israel is real, and the response must be strategic.

The aftermath of the war and ongoing conflict has created an unprecedented demand for psychotrauma care in Israel.

Herzog Medical Center, one of Israel's leading facilities for trauma-related mental health, has scaled up its services to meet this national crisis.
Thanks to essential funding from our generous donors and Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and CJP, Herzog is able to:

Expand the Metiv Psychotrauma Center's vital services and trainings nationwide.

Reduce critical wait times for young adults at risk.

Successfully ready our state-of-the-art Sheltered Underground Emergency Hospital for patient protection when under threat.

Read the full story below on how this resilience partnership is securing Israel's future health infrastructure.

10/21/2025

Herzog Medical Center was honored to host the dedication ceremony for Magen David Adom’s new rescue helicopter yesterday at our hospital helipad.

We warmly congratulate מגן דוד אדום - Magen David Adom -MDA expanding its life-saving capabilities and thank them for the opportunity to take part in this meaningful milestone for Israel’s healthcare system.

At Herzog, we share the same mission - to protect and promote the quality of public health. This collaboration was a shining example of our shared commitment to saving lives.

10/16/2025

We are proud to share the grand completion of the brand new, beautiful reception area and entrance to the New Protected Medical Imaging Center at Herzog Medical Center in Jerusalem! Sparkling like a gem, the space feels cozy and modern, providing a world-class environment for life-saving care.
This is far more than a beautiful renovation; it is a vital shield for Israel’s health infrastructure.

A Facility Built for Resilience

Conceived as a central component of the National Strategic Medical Facility (NSMF), this center is located deep within Herzog’s Sheltered Underground Emergency Hospital. It provides protected, continuous diagnostic capacity—ensuring patients receive essential care, even under missile threat. The facility houses state-of-the-art MRI, CT, and ultrasound systems.

Since becoming fully operational in late 2024, the demand has been critical. The facility is already transforming regional healthcare, serving thousands of patients, from children and adults to the elderly from across Israel.

Impact in Numbers:
Lifesaving Scans (Jan–Oct 2025)
*CT Scans: 22,128 *MRI Scans 4,076

= Dramatic Reduction in Wait Times
Patients who previously waited months for an MRI under anesthesia are now receiving scans within weeks.

Thank you to the incredible generosity of Herzog’s donors who made this level of protected, world-class care possible.

09/30/2025

🌿 The Road to Resilience
A special virtual event with Dr. Yehezkel Caine, President of Herzog Medical Center, Jerusalem

As we mark the anniversary of the October 7th massacre, join us for an insightful conversation on trauma, resilience, and healing. All friends and supporters of Herzog Hospital worldwide are warmly invited to attend.
Dr. Caine will share a firsthand perspective on Israel’s journey through this challenging year, including:

Initial Response – How Herzog’s psychotrauma units mobilized immediately to treat survivors, families, veterans, and first responders.

Long-Term Impact – What clinicians are witnessing today in trauma and psychiatric wards: the ongoing effects of mass grief and PTSD.

The Power of Unity – Stories of resilience and solidarity across Israel’s diverse society.

Tangible Support – Practical ways communities worldwide can strengthen Israel’s trauma recovery efforts.

📌 Event Details
Speaker: Dr. Yehezkel Caine, President, Herzog Medical Center
Topic: October 7 Commemoration & Trauma Resilience
Date: Sunday, October 5
Time: 10:00 AM EDT (convert to your local timezone)
Format: Online (Virtual Event)
Hosted by: The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton
➡️ Register here: https://www.jfgb.org/

09/29/2025

We are proud to celebrate a truly special person at Herzog Hospital.

Our longtime Chairman of the Board, Shamai Keinan, has been awarded the Israel Presidential Award for Volunteerism – one of the country’s highest honors – in recognition of his 26 years of dedicated, fully voluntary service to Herzog Hospital and to the Israeli public healthcare system at large.

At a special ceremony held at the President’s Residence earlier this month, hosted by President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, Shamai was honored for his longstanding leadership and significant contributions to public health in Israel. Under his guidance, Herzog Hospital has experienced remarkable growth and expansion, while continuing to serve as a center of excellence in geriatric, psychiatric, and respiratory care.

We are incredibly proud of Shamai for his commitment, vision, and leadership. But above all, we're grateful for his incredibly kind, warm and righteous heart.

Read more in the Jerusalem Post article about the 2024 Presidential Awards for Volunteerism. Scroll to the bottom under Individual Honorees to find Shamai’s mention:
🔗 Read more herehttps: //https://lnkd.in/dYJ_Xfkk

Mazal Tov Shamai – this is a well-deserved honor and a moment of great pride for us all.

09/21/2025

No One Left Behind: Herzog Opens New MRI & Imaging Center

A man with developmental disabilities needed an urgent MRI under anesthesia for a suspected spinal tumor. His referral was denied (“anesthesia is for children only”), appointments were delayed for months, and when a date was finally set, the staff wasn’t trained for his needs. By the time the scan was done, surgery was no longer possible. What could have been life-saving care became only palliative.

This is exactly the kind of tragedy Herzog Medical Center is working to end.

Early this month, we inaugurated Herzog’s new MRI & Imaging Center, designed to make advanced diagnostics accessible for everyone—especially people with disabilities and complex needs.

The center provides:
✅ Adapted anesthesia, including for adults
✅ Dedicated appointment blocks to cut wait times
✅ Specialized staff trained in dignity-centered care

As leaders from Israel’s Ministries of Health and Welfare emphasized at the opening, this center is more than technology, it’s a values statement: health care is a right for all.

Together with the MAR Institute and partners, Herzog is proud to advance a more compassionate, inclusive health system, one where no one is left behind.
🍎✨ From all of us at Herzog, Shana Tova U’Metuka- a sweet new year of health, dignity, and healing for all.

08/11/2025

"We are just so delighted to be a part of this in some small way. It may not appear to be a happy place. But for families in this situation — G-d forbid — this is their happy place, knowing their child is receiving the most wonderful care possible. We are so impressed and proud."

Last week, in Herzog’s Pediatric Chronic Respiratory Department, we dedicated two new plaques in a heartfelt ceremony.

The David and Miriam Hakimi Foundation generously dedicated the multi-purpose communal space in loving memory of David and Miriam Yousefzadeh Hakimi, and the terrace in loving memory of Abdolhamid and Zomorod Yousefzadeh Hakimi.

This thoughtfully designed space offers families dignity, comfort, and a warm ray of sunlight during challenging times.

Plaques were unveiled by trustees Malka Rahmanan and Yoel Rafinia, alongside Dr. Jacob Haviv, CEO of Herzog, and Steve Schwartz, International Director of Development.

"We are honored to carry this memory forward with gratitude".

08/05/2025

“Even the one millimeter of a smile I got from singing with the children gave me so much joy… I felt I had to come here to see for myself if Herzog was even half as amazing as Dr. Haviv described it. It wasn’t. It was 4x as amazing.”
– Gail Flaum

Yesterday, we were blessed to welcome Gail, a spirit-filled visitor from Northwest London who brought music, light, and love to the children in Herzog’s Chronic Respiratory Department.

Gail first heard about Herzog in her shul, when she met our CEO, Dr. Jacob Haviv. Something he shared moved her - enough to leave behind her life and work and fly to Israel to volunteer.

The children she sang to may not have been able to speak, but they responded - with their eyes and tiny smiles, and the feeling of connection.

At Herzog, where many children live with chronic and complex conditions, every act of care counts. Whether it’s a song, a smile, or a gentle touch - it helps transform their experience of the world.

💗 Thank you Gail and thank you to ALL of our volunteers, for following your heart - and lifting theirs.

07/31/2025

“The most searing and unforgettable moment of our mission… occurred during our visit to Herzog Hospital.”
– Dr. Deborah Boyar, AJMA delegate & trauma psychologist from California

Last month, just days after the outbreak of war with Iran, a small but courageous group from the American Jewish Medical Association visited Herzog Medical Center- despite cancelled flights and active missile threats.

They toured our underground hospital, which protects some of Israel’s most vulnerable patients- including babies and ventilated children- from missile and chemical attacks. Just days before their visit, over 200 fragile patients were relocated underground.

"Even in this basement bunker, music therapy brings light to these children—regardless of their identity. The scene wasn’t staged, rehearsed, or designed to impress us; it simply reflects a core Jewish value: that life matters."

🎵 Watch this moment here: https://lnkd.in/ddGz7U3V

📖 Read the full article in Times of Israel here: https://lnkd.in/gyyyeEEH

We sincerely appreciate the support of the AJMA visitors who made the journey in these uncertain times, and to all those standing with Israel’s healthcare heroes.

07/17/2025

Strengthening Emergency Preparedness: A New Bomb Shelter for Psychiatric Patients at Herzog

One of the critical lessons we learned during the recent war with Iran was that protecting psychiatric inpatients during missile attacks poses unique and urgent challenges.

While most of our patients can be relocated to our underground hospital, individuals in psychiatric care often cannot easily be moved without disruption.

That’s why today marks a major step forward: Herzog Medical Center has installed a dedicated, permanent bomb shelter directly adjacent to our psychiatric ward.

During the conflict, we relied on temporary solutions. But now, thanks to this new shelter, our psychiatric patients can remain in their specialized, therapeutic space- safe, secure, and supported — even under fire.

This installation is part of our continued commitment to national emergency preparedness and ensuring no patient is left unprotected in a time of crisis.

We hope we won't have to use it but are prepared for any scenario.

07/08/2025

Herzog Opens ‘Home Away from Home’ for Families of Hospitalized Patients

This week, we celebrated a powerful moment at Herzog Medical Center in Jerusalem: the opening of a new residential caravan for families of patients.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Rachel and Menachem Yosef Chaim Wirzbourg and the initiative of Lev Chabad, this warm, welcoming space gives families—especially those traveling long distances or observing Shabbat—a place to rest, recharge, and remain close to their loved ones.

One father of a long-term pediatric patient reminded us: being nearby isn’t just a comfort—it’s a lifeline.

As Dr. Caine, Herzog’s President, put it: “Family presence, compassion, and community are part of the healing process.”

This project reflects what Herzog stands for: care that goes beyond medicine.

Address

57 W 57th Street 4th Floor
New York, NY
10019

Telephone

+12126833702

Website

http://www.afherzoghospital.org/

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