By Michele Sands, Wilmington Chapter of Hadassah
When there is a critical medical need in Israel, and often in other parts of the world, you can count on the trailblazing staff of Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) to answer the call. Its two state-of-the-art hospitals are in Jerusalem—one at Ein Kerem and the other on Mt. Scopus, which now includes the Gandel Rehabilitation Center.
When terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the rehabilitation center had been under construction for five years but was not yet ready to open to meet the dramatic need for rehabilitative care for hundreds of wounded civilians and soldiers. However, with an immediate need for more facilities to receive patients from the war, the Israeli government asked Hadassah to convert a floor of Gandel’s underground parking garage into an emergency hospital. This request resulted in the opening of a 120-bed emergency hospital in just 14 days.
At the same time, fundraising efforts increased, and plans were implemented to advance the opening date of the Gandel Rehabilitation Center. And in January 2024, four months earlier than expected, HMO began an accelerated phased opening of the center to 12 patients, with the goal of accommodating 72 soldiers and patients wounded in the war. When completed, the 323,000-square-foot, eight-story Gandel center will offer comprehensive, holistic care for 10,000 patients annually in four in-patient units with a total of 140 beds and an out-patient clinic able to serve 250 patients a day. This is in comparison to the rehab department it is replacing, which had only 38 beds and small, inadequate facilities.
The four rehabilitation departments—mental health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy—are treating the whole patient, healing the body and mind. With the events on and since October 7 continuing to take a heavy toll on the physical and emotional health of Israelis, untold numbers will require specialized inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation—for weeks, months, or even years to come—for severe physical injuries as well as psychological and mental health treatment.
With this in mind, fundraising efforts for the Gandel Rehabilitation Center continue to be a priority for Hadassah. The Wilmington Chapter of Hadassah has joined this effort with a special request to its members to contribute. It held an ice cream sundae event in December dedicated to raising funds for the center. Suzy Grumbacher, a member of the chapter’s presidium, spoke about the rehabilitation center and focused on three patients who have been treated there.
Suzy shared that one of the first Gandel patients was Lt. Col. Yonatan Bahat, a 48-year-old reserve brigadier commander. He had been leading his paratrooper brigade in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood when a terrorist emerged from a tunnel and shot him at close range. He had a shattered shoulder as well as heavily bleeding wounds in his chest, arms, and legs. He was first treated at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, where it was five weeks before he was out of danger. While there, he was fitted with a titanium shoulder joint created on a 3D printer. After two and a half months, Lt. Col. Bahat was transferred to the Gandel Rehabilitation Center, where he spent several months—first as an inpatient and then as an outpatient. He was quoted in Hadassah Magazine as saying, “I’ve worked hard, but without the patient-specific help I’ve received, I’d still be lying flat on a bed and unable to lift my arm to brush my own teeth.”
Wilmington Chapter Hadassah members, both those who attended the ice cream sundae event and others who sent in donations, answered the call to support the Gandel Rehabilitation Center, with more than $4,300 contributed to date.
In addition to its focus on the rehab center, the December event featured a give-and-take exchange between Rabbi Peter Grumbacher and Rabbi Ellen Bernhardt, who interviewed one another about their childhoods, what made them choose the rabbinate, and memorable experiences in their training and careers. It was a humorous and informative presentation enjoyed by more than 30 attendees. The day concluded with a make-your-own-sundae bar.
Hadassah, the largest Jewish women’s organization in this country, founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, owes much of its success to “the power of women who do.” These are the volunteer leaders who commit themselves to advancing Hadassah’s mission of bringing healing—in every sense of the word—where it’s needed most, in the US, Israel, and around the world.
The Wilmington Chapter of Hadassah, which began in 1929, includes more than 900 members who are women, most of whom are Life Members. With the addition of Child Life members, Associates (males), and Child Associates, the chapter has a total of close to 1,300 members. In addition to raising funds for HMO and other Hadassah projects, the chapter hosts brunches and webinars, featuring speakers on educational and important topics, trips to local attractions, and other activities. The chapter now includes the Evolve program for younger women.
Additional
donations to help fully equip the Gandel Rehabilitation Center are welcomed
from Hadassah members and the community. Checks should be mailed to Arlene
Eckell, 2000 Pennsylvania Ave., Apt. 602, Wilmington, DE 19806.
Please contact Judi
Rosenberg at judimax1@aol.com
for information about Hadassah membership and Rachel Werkheiser at rachellwerkheiser@gmail.com
for more information about the Evolve program.
