Hadassah Honors International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at Dedication of New ICU

Hadassah HospitalInternational ConnectionsTerrorist Attacks

From left: Naela Hayek, head of ICUs in the Division of Nursing; Devora Kirshenbom, Chief  Nurse, ICU; Bonnie Lipton, Past Hadassah National President and Tower Building Chair; Prof. Vernon Van-Heerden, head of ICUs; Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, President, IFCJ; Prof. Zeev Rotstein, Director General, HMO; Nancy Falchuk and Marcie Natan, former Hadassah National Presidents

“I thank you for giving us the opportunity to contribute to your sacred work of lifesaving,” said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) at the Hadassah Medical Organization’s May 1st dedication of the 13-bed general Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower. Two patients from the terror attack on a Jerusalem bus last month were among those Rabbi Eckstein visited with Prof. Vernon Van-Heerden, head of Hadassah’s ICUs, and Division of Nursing head of ICUs, Naela Hayek.

Eckstein visiting terror victim
From Left: Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, President, IFCJ; mother of terror victim; Prof. Avi Rivkind, head of the Division of Emergency Medicine; sister of terror victim; and Prof. Van Herden, head of ICUs

Former Hadassah National President and Tower Building Chair Bonnie Lipton opened the dedication with a reminder of Jerusalem’s indestructability. She thanked Rabbi Eckstein for the organization’s respect for humanity and for showing unstinting solidarity with the State of Israel. HMO Director General Prof. Zeev Rotstein said he knew that IFCJ gave its financial support, not for recognition, but because of a heart filled with love for Israel and the Jewish people.

Rabbi Eckstein spoke of his pleasure in being associated with Hadassah. “You are a brand and no other brand is so respected. Your brand goes back to the beginning of your organization and what you stand for. You have the premier institution in Israel today. We look forward to taking our cooperation to the next level.”

Past Hadassah National President Nancy Falchuk read a message from Dalia Itzik, former speaker of the Knesset and currently the President of the Hadassah International Israel Board of Trustees:

“Rabbi Eckstein is an extraordinary example of a person who took an idea and transformed into a lifetime endeavor. With diligence and resilience he has pursued his sacred work, developing the International Fellowship which provides help to so many different groups in Israel. The donation to Hadassah is the fruition of the dedication to healing. As it says in the Talmud, ‘Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world.’ “