Teenagers from Israel’s maximum security juvenile prison brought joy to Hadassah’s young cancer patients when the paper-mâché lion sculpture they built was delivered to its new home in Hadassah Hospital’s Dyna and Fala Weinstock Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology. When the 14-18-year-old prison inmates were told about this Department, they embraced the art project, understanding that it was an opportunity for them to do something positive.

The teenagers were careful to make sure the lion wasn’t scary, the sculpture had no sharp edges, and the lion’s hair would be soft to touch.