On October 8, 2024, hundreds of participants gathered in Jerusalem for Hadassah’s “March to Recovery” at
the new Gandel Rehabilitation Center, located at Hadassah Mount Scopus. This event coincided with
Hadassah International gatherings in cities across the globe, including Paris, London, Melbourne, Sydney,
Beijing, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Bogotá, and Mexico City.
The event featured prominent figures from the hospital administration, including Hadassah Medical
Organization Director General Prof. Yoram Weiss and Chairperson Dalia Itzik, along with dedicated staff and
recovering war-wounded patients. Notably, a large delegation from the Young Judaea Year Course and the
women basketball players from Hapoel Lev Jerusalem participated in the event, representing Hadassah-Israel.
A poignant moment was marked by the release of 101 yellow balloons, symbolizing solidarity with the 101 individuals who remain abducted and in captivity in Gaza.
The Gandel Rehabilitation Center is equipped with the latest and most advanced rehabilitation devices and equipment available globally. Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords war, the Hadassah Medical Center has treated approximately 1,000 wounded individuals, with around 200 casualties receiving care at the rehabilitation center at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus. The international events and this important ceremony at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center we show Hadassah’s unity, resilience, and support to Hadassah’s heroes. Through #MarchToRecovery, Hadassah supporters all around the World send recovering patients a message of hope and encouragement for their journey towards healing and recovery and thank the dedicated teams who make that journey a success.
Among the inspiring speakers was Lt. Col. Yonatan (Yonti) Bahat, who shared his personal journey of recovery after being hit by six bullets in a fierce battle in Gaza. After undergoing surgery at Hadassah Ein Kerem, Bahat began his rehabilitation at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center, starting from a point where he could not sit up. Today, he proudly walks, swims, and lifts his one-year-old son.
Suzanne Patt Benvenisti, Executive Director of Hadassah Offices in Israel, remarked, “It’s almost unimaginable, but when the war broke out, this entire building was still a construction site. Hadassah leadership took a brave and unusual step to expedite the construction. The workers worked non-stop, transforming this bare structure into one of the world’s leading rehabilitation centers. Three floors of this facility were opened months ahead of schedule, completely ready to receive the wounded.”
Hadassah International Executive Director Jorge Diener added, “People around the world came together with us today to highlight our solidarity and resilience. Holding this event on October 8, following the painful remembrance of October 7, allowed us to act beyond the pain and stress the importance of recovering our beloved nation. Hadassah has always been dedicated to healing the people of Israel, and we will continue to go from strength to strength, rehabilitating our nation one patient at a time.”
National President Carol Ann Schwartz expressed her commitment, stating, “Standing here today in the Gandel Rehabilitation Center, I reiterate our pledge to complete this building and to strengthen the physical and emotional resilience of Israel. I want to express our appreciation and thanks for the patients and staff of this rehabilitation center and for the pioneering medicine at both the Mount Scopus and Ein Kerem hospitals. We also thank the Hadassah men and women serving in the IDF, whether as medical professionals or in other capacities, and the staff members who continue to balance work and family during these trying times when one partner has been called up for long stretches of reserve duty.”
The #MarchToRecovery exemplifies Hadassah’s commitment to healing and supporting those affected by the ongoing challenges, highlighting the strength and resilience of the community.
Jerusalem, Israel
Paris, France
Santiago de Chile
Mexico City, Mexico
Bogotá, Colombia
Florida, USA
Sydney, Australia
Hong Kong
Melbourne, Australia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Great Wall of China, Beijing
London, UK
