American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem

American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center (ACSZ) raises funds to support the work of Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

In the Wake of October 7: World-Renowned Retina Specialist Prof. Norman Saffra Arrives in Israel to Volunteer at Shaare ...
08/10/2026

In the Wake of October 7: World-Renowned Retina Specialist Prof. Norman Saffra Arrives in Israel to Volunteer at Shaare Zedek for the Second Consecutive Year

We would like to introduce you to Prof. Norman Saffra, a world-renowned expert in the fields of retina and neuro-ophthalmology, and Chairman of the Ophthalmology Departments at Maimonides Midwood Medical Center and St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in New York.

Over the past two weeks, Prof. Saffra came to volunteer in the Ophthalmology Department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, treating patients and teaching residents from his rich experience. This is the second consecutive year that Prof. Saffra has chosen to come and volunteer at the medical center.

Prof. Saffra's decision to volunteer in the Israeli healthcare system came in the wake of the events of October 7. To this end, Prof. Saffra obtained an Israeli medical license and even completed the bureaucratic procedures to receive Israeli citizenship. Moving forward, Prof. Saffra hopes to make full Aliyah and live in Israel.

When asked why he chose to volunteer specifically at Shaare Zedek, Prof. Saffra explained: "I chose Shaare Zedek because it is the most humane and professional place in the field of ophthalmology that I have found among all hospitals in Israel, and even in the world."

Alongside his professional and academic contributions, Prof. Saffra is raising funds to support the purchase of an OCT machine for the Ophthalmolgy Dept. Its state-of-the-art technology is like an ultrasound that non-invasively uses light to take 3D pictures to spot early signs of eye disease like glaucoma or macular degeneration.

The entire executive management of Shaare Zedek and the Director of the Ophthalmology Department, Prof. David Zadok, extend their deep gratitude and appreciation to Prof. Norman Saffra for his dedicated volunteering, his Zionism, and his professional partnership.

www.acsz.org/oct

This week, Shaare Zedek Medical Center marked the opening of the newly upgraded and renovated Stefan Adelipour Pediatric...
06/24/2026

This week, Shaare Zedek Medical Center marked the opening of the newly upgraded and renovated Stefan Adelipour Pediatric Shock, Trauma and Burn Treatment Center in the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine .

The Center’s upgrade was motivated by Shaare Zedek’s ongoing commitment to enhance our care for children requiring urgent care and in particular in the wake of traumatic accidents and incidents. The upgraded Center has introduced new equipment that relies on advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, alongside our historic commitment to individualized and compassionate care for children and families in particularly challenging sittuations. The Center is designed and equipped to allow for quick, accurate and advanced care in those cases where every second matters.

The upgrade project was overseen by the Department’s Deputy Head Nurse Talya Charnosvitov who was responsible for managing all aspects of the development process and ensuring it upheld the highest medical, design and patient-care standards.

Shaare Zedek’s Pediatric Emergency service is a leading center of urgent care in the Jerusalem region treating over 40,000 children annually - the most active in the city and the third largest in all of Israel.

Shaare Zedek Medical Center Director General Prof. Ofer Merin said, “The Pediatric Emergency Department at Shaare Zedek is a symbol of medical excellence defined by professionalism and the highest levels of pediatric care. Since opening the Glaubach Department nearly two decades ago, we have transformed into a regional and national leader in large part due to the remakable dedication of our staff. This project will further establish this reputation and position our pediatric trauma service to respond to every type of relevant need. We express our deep thanks to the staff of the Department and our logistical and development departments that spearheaded this critical effort.”

Dr. Giora Weiss, Director of the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine added, “The Trauma Center is the beating heart of our Department and this project will enable us to provide advanced care in better conditions that are specifically geared to the unique emotional needs of children and families in extremely challenging times in their lives.”

Dr. Gal Pachis, Director of the Emergency Medicine Service at Shaare Zedek said, “We are always working to enhance our commitment to the best clinical quality and patient-care experiences. This project is a welcome example of our investment in upgraded infrastructure and technical capabilities all designed to ensure our pediatric patients are receiving the comprehensive care they need.”

Efrat Even, Head Nurse in Division of Pediatrics said, “The opening of this new trauma center is an important development for our patients and families and is a further reflection of our commitment to excellence, innovation and professionalism combined with speed and compassion in those most difficult moments. On behalf of all who will benefit from this project, I express our deep thanks to everyone who made this possible and we take deep pride in our staff who work tirelessly every day and night on behalf of the children and people of Jerusalem and the region.”

Following the quick and professional intervention of medical teams at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, the life o...
06/18/2026

Following the quick and professional intervention of medical teams at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, the life of a one-year-old child, who had not received the recommended course of infant vaccinations, was saved after arriving in the hospital in a life-threatening condition.

The case began when the infant was brought by ambulance to the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Shaare Zedek in serious condition. While first responders initially suspected the boy had attempted to swallow a foreign object which had become lodged in his throat, initial clinical examinations by the emergency room physicians determined that not to be the case.

Upon discussion with the boy’s father, the hospital teams understood the baby was unvaccinated which led them to surmise he has been infected with the infection, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) which had caused the tightening of his throat. Further clinical and lab testing confirmed that initial diagnosis.

With the patient exhibiting extreme breathing complications, the pediatric anesthesiology team at Shaare Zedek, led by Dr. Mordechai Sherki and Dr. Shmuel Basmut, with the assistance of nurses Naava Vanda and Benny Greenwald, immediately began a complex intubation procedure to stabalize the patient.

Dr. Efrat Blankenstein, a resident physician in the Department of Pediatric explained, “This child was literally minutes away from dying. This is a rare case that we haven’t seen at Shaare Zedek in several decades and until now had been the type of theoretical case that we only train for. If the baby had undergone the proper round of vaccinations, this could have been completely avoided. Thankfully our trauma teams were prepared with the proper equipment and staffing support, otherwise this story would have had a completely different ending.”

“Incidence of cases like this, where infections constrict the throat, have gone down considerably due to a common vaccine used to address Hib,” explained Dr. Shani Messner-Fieiereisen, a resident in the Pediatric Department. “This condition can lead to an infection around the cartilage tissue that is designed to prevent food from entering into the treacha and when inflamed it can block the respiratory tract. Symptoms can appear suddenly and intensify very quickly.”

Dr. Moria Paizer-Rosenberg from the ENT Department at Shaare Zedek added, “The initial report came that the baby was chocking as a result of something he had eaten. But we quickly determined that it was something else altogether based on the fiber-optic imaging scan we performed to view the child’s upper respiratory tract and to see if there was indeed a blockage. We are all deeply grateful that we were able to save the child’s life due to the close cooperation between all our teams that enabled us to provide the immediate life-saving intervention he needed at that time.”

PICTURED: Dr. Dr. Moria Paizer-Rosenberg, and Dr. Shani Messner-Fieiereisen (left) and Dr. Efrat Blankenstein (right) See less

Talk about coincidences…With over 20,000 babies born annually, the maternity department at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medi...
06/11/2026

Talk about coincidences…

With over 20,000 babies born annually, the maternity department at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem has plenty of incredible stories to tell.

But this one truly boggles the imagination.
Two brothers, identical twins, Moshe and Yosef Mizrachi were blessed to both see the birth of baby daughters on the very same day in 2024.
Flash forward two years and the incredible repeated itself when the two twins returned with their wives to Shaare Zedek to give birth once again on the very same day…
The only difference this time, both babies were boys!

Moshe and Yosef said, "Thanks so much to the amazing teams of the delivery rooms and the Maternity Ward C for their professionalism and dedication in sharing our most special moments."

Shaare Zedek wishes the families a huge Mazel Tov, health, happiness and many moments of togetherness and joy 💙

06/08/2026

Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

In accordance with the directives of the IDF Homefront Command, Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center has begun the gradual transfer of patients to the sheltered spaces in the underground hospital.

At this time, the maternity facilities, delivery rooms and nurseries will continue to operate normally in the above ground areas all within or in close proximity to protected spaces.

The Emergency Departments are fully operational in protected areas, and the public should continue to come to the hospital for all relevant urgent needs.

All outpatient and medical activities throughout the hospital are operating in accordance with the relevant Homefront Command guidelines with immediate access available to protected spaces.

The hospital has opened a childcare program in cooperation with the Jerusalem Municipality for the benefit of hospital staff members.

Shaare Zedek is in constant contact with the relevant authorities and will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Named for a Hero: An Unforgettable Moment at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem"We named our son Aner, after a hero o...
06/05/2026

Named for a Hero: An Unforgettable Moment at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

"We named our son Aner, after a hero of Israel—the late Aner Shapira. His mother, Shira, was my counselor when I was young."
The deeply personal connection behind the name began decades ago. Shira, the mother of the fallen October 7th hero Aner Shapira, was U*i Meshasha's youth counselor at a pre-military academy (mechina) in the 1990s. The two had stayed in touch ever since. "The moment we found out we were having a boy, I knew instantly what his name would be," says U*i, the proud new father. "When I heard Aner had fallen after fighting so bravely to save so many lives, it was clear to me that this was how I would honor his memory."

A Surprise Arrival in Jerusalem

The tribute came full circle last week when U*i and his wife, Amla, were visiting family in Jerusalem. Amla suddenly went into labor, and the couple rushed to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where they welcomed their firstborn son.
A few days later, the hospital hosted the baby's bris (circumcision ceremony), beautifully coordinated by Rabbi Avraham Goldschmidt, Shaare Zedek’s head of religious services.
Among the guests was Shira Shapira herself. She had come simply to celebrate the birth, completely unaware of the surprise U*i and Amla had waiting for her. When the baby's name was officially announced, it became an unforgettable, tearful moment for everyone in the room.
"We named him Manor Aner," U*i explains. "In Amharic, 'Manor' means the circle of life, and 'Aner' is for a hero who serves as an inspiration to us all. I feel immensely privileged to keep Aner’s memory and bravery alive for future generations, and to raise my own son in his light."

The Story of Aner Shapira

Sergeant Aner Elyakim Shapira was a team leader in the elite Nahal Reconnaissance Unit. On October 7th, he sacrificed his life in an act of unfathomable bravery. Armed with nothing but his bare hands, he stood at the entrance of a crowded roadside bomb shelter near Re'im, shielding dozens of young festival-goers who had fled the Nova massacre. As terrorists hurled gr***de after gr***de into the bunker, Aner caught them and threw ten of them back out, saving dozens of lives before he was fatally wounded.

A Mother's Blessing

Reflecting on the emotional ceremony, Shira Shapira shared:
"I was so deeply moved by U*i and Amla's decision to name their firstborn son after our Aner. I have loved U*i like family since we met over thirty years ago, and there is truly no gesture more beautiful than this. I wish sweet little Manor Aner a life filled with joy, health, purpose, and creativity alongside his wonderful parents. I am certain that our Aner is looking down from heaven, deeply moved, and joining us in all the blessings.

What a fabulous time we had at this past Sunday’s Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue! 🇮🇱🎉The American Committee for Shaar...
06/01/2026

What a fabulous time we had at this past Sunday’s Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue! 🇮🇱🎉

The American Committee for Shaare Zedek was proud to march in celebration of Israel and show our unwavering support for the incredible work of Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem.

We were honored to be led by our Board President Louise Wolinetz and Board Chair Menno Ratzker.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us — special shoutout to Beit Rabban Day School! - we couldn’t have done it without your energy, enthusiasm, and spirit. 💙

Here’s to community, resilience, and standing together. See you next year!

✨ A Groundbreaking First in Israeli medicine at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem ✨The Jesselson Integrated Heart Ce...
05/28/2026

✨ A Groundbreaking First in Israeli medicine at Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem ✨

The Jesselson Integrated Heart Center at Shaare Zedek Medical Center has long been recognized as a leader in advancing new technologies and introducing new methods for the betterment of our patient community. We were recently blessed to experience another “first” for Israeli medicine when the Center became the first in the country to use cardiac catheterization for the repair of the tricuspid valve using 3D echocardiography guidance.

The procedure was introduced in the care of Shoshana, an 88 year-old resident of central Israel who has been plagued by many years of cardiac issues that resulted in lengthy hospital stays while heavily impacting her quality of life.

The 3D imaging used in the catheterization procedure provided our physicians and technicians with a more precise and “real-time” image of the inner workings of the heart which translates to enhanced procedural accuracy and limits potential risks to the patient.

Located on the right side of the heart, the tricuspid valve can begin to leak with age which can lead to severe heart failure, as well as fluid accumilation in other parts of the body. Often a patient is treated with a “clip” device designed to limit fluid leakage. But this is not always an option for older and more fragile patients where doctors often are required to rely mainly on phamecutical approaches, as the more invasive options carry too heavy risks.
After referral to Shaare Zedek, Shoshana’s case was extensively reviewed by senior cardiologists led by Prof. Michael Glickson, Director of the Jesselson Integrated Heart Center.

Prof. Moni Shuvi, the head of the Cardiac Valve Treatment Unit explained, “In the past, valve repair for these types of patients would require open-heart surgery. But today we can perfrom these procedures via catheterization guided by ultrasound imaging that is inserted via the esophugus. However that approach doesn’t always offer the ideal imaging. Now, the first time in Israel, we utilized an approach where we relied on three-dimensional echocardiography inserted in the vein of one leg while the catheterization procedure was inserted via a vein in the other leg. The result is a far more clear and accurate image that significantly aids the ability to optimally impant the clip.”

Also participating in the procedure were Dr. Mohammed Karami, Dr. Philip Taieb, and Dr. Amjad Abu Salman from the Jesselson Integrated Heart Center at Shaare Zedek.

Jerusalem is more than the city we serve — it is part of who we are.Since 1902, long before the State of Israel was born...
05/15/2026

Jerusalem is more than the city we serve — it is part of who we are.

Since 1902, long before the State of Israel was born, Shaare Zedek Medical Center has stood with Jerusalem through every chapter of its story. From the earliest days of the city’s modern growth, to the bustling, vibrant capital it is today, we have been honored to care for generations of Jerusalem families.

Yesterday, we were a small hospital built on a dream of compassionate care in the heart of Jerusalem.

Today, we are the largest hospital in Jerusalem, treating more than one million patients every year — welcoming new life, healing the sick, advancing medicine, and standing beside our city in moments of joy and challenge alike.

And tomorrow, with our new tower rising above the Jerusalem skyline and our vision for the future continuing to grow, we remain committed to caring for this extraordinary city and everyone who calls it home.

To be part of Jerusalem’s fabric is one of our greatest privileges. Its people, its resilience, its spirit — they inspire us every single day.

From all of us at Shaare Zedek Medical Center:
Happy Yom Yerushalayim 💙

On the occasion of Yom Yeushalayim (Jerusalem Day), here Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem we’re dressing the city’s...
05/14/2026

On the occasion of Yom Yeushalayim (Jerusalem Day), here Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem we’re dressing the city’s newest residents with onesies proudly reading “Jerusalemite from birth”.

As Israel’s most active maternity hospital with over 20,000 births annually, today and every day we take great pride in the central role we have in helping develop our city and nation’s future!

Yom Yerusahalayim Sameach!!

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