Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, 12 Shmuel Bait Street, Jerusalem (2026)

08/06/2026

Shaare Zedek Medical Center

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.

05/06/2026

A Heartwarming Brit Milah Hosted at Shaare Zedek Offers Tribute to a Modern Israeli Hero

Last week U*i and Amala Mashasha gave birth to their son at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center where the hospital also hosted a truly special brit milah honoring a modern Israeli hero.

“We named our son Aner in memory of a true Israeli hero, Aner Shapira z”l, son of Shira who was my counselor years back. When we found out we were expecting a boy I knew right away we would name him for Aner, who bravely fought and saved many people on October 7th,” recalls U*i, the proud new father.

“When I was studying in Mechina (pre-military academy) in Kfar Chasidim in the 1990’s Shira was my counselor and we have always stayed in touch. When I heard that her son Aner had been killed I knew right away that was what I would name my son.”

U*i says the baby was named Manor Aner. “Manor means life-cycle in Amharic and Aner is for this hero whose life and heroic actions can serve as an inspiration for all. I was so moved by what Shira and her family have experienced and I am so proud to have this incredible opportunity to memorialize Aner and his heroism in a way that I know will be remembered for generations to come. We feel so blessed to be able to raise our dear son in a way that brings honor to Aner's memory.”

Shira Shapira was among the honored guests even though she came not knowing that the new baby would carry her son’s name. Upon hearing the name she said, “I was so deeply moved by U*i and Amala’s decision to name their first son for our son Aner. I have had a deep caring and love for U*i for more than thirty years since we first met, and there is no more moving gesture than this. I wish sweet little Manor Aner a life of happiness, health, meaning and creativity together with his incredible parents. I am sure that our Aner is looking down proudly from above and shares in our blessings.”

Aner Elyakim Shapira z”l served in the Sayeret Nachal Brigade. On the morning of October 7th he sacrificed his life to save countless others. Facing off with dozens of terrorists, with his bare hands he continuously caught and tossed back gr***des that were being thrown by terrorists into the shelter where he and dozens of other people had fled from the Nova Festival. The last gr***de exploded in his hands killing him. Aner’s actions and bravery are well-known and recorded as among the most extraordinary from that horrific day.

The brit milah ceremony and celebration was arranged with the assistance of Shaare Zedek’s Religious Services Department and its coordinator Rabbi Avraham Goldshmidt.

14/05/2026

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

As Israeli’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!!

11/05/2026

The Shaare Zedek community wishes a huge mazal tov to a modern day hero who welcomed his sixth son into the world in the Wilf Mother and Infant Center here at the hospital.

Rabbi Liraz Zeira, is an IDF rabbinical chaplain and combat reservist who was seriously injured in battle in October 2025 from a gr***de attack which resulted in the amputation of both of his legs.

Despite the severity of his injuries and ongoing rehabilitation, his spirit and resolve have become a well-known source of inspiration and resilience.

Yesterday, Rabbi Zeira’s story took on another dimension of hope and celebration with the birth of a 3.6 kilo baby boy, the fifth of his children he has and his wife chose to deliver at Shaare Zedek.

Rabbi Zeira said, “The birthing experience was very good and we are deeply thankful to Hakadosh Baruch Hu on this sweet and healthy new baby. Thanks also to the midwife Etana and all the incredible staff here at Shaare Zedek that accompanied us with dedication and shared joy.”

We wish the Zeira family continued good health and happiness and only joy from their children.

Am Yisrael Chai!

08/05/2026

Shaare Zedek Medical Center Announces Transformative $200 Million Donation from The Koum Family Foundation, Marking the Largest Donation in Israeli Hospital History

This landmark gift will fund the construction of a cutting-edge medical tower and marks the beginning of a new era for the hospital, which will be renamed Koum Shaare Zedek Medical Center

(JERUSALEM-May 8, 2026) Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center announced that the hospital has been the recipient of the largest single gift to an Israeli hospital with a donation of $200 million from The Koum Family Foundation.

The historic gift will allow for the development of a new medical tower and ensure the continued growth and sustainability of Jerusalem’s most active major hospital.

With this gift the hospital will be officially renamed as Koum Shaare Zedek Medical Center המרכז הרפואי קום שערי צדק

Shaare Zedek, a leading center of medicine and research that treats over one million patients annually, has built a strong relationship with The Koum Family Foundation in recent years. This landmark agreement is the culmination of months of strategic visioning and collaborative dialogue between Shaare Zedek’s leadership and the Foundation. The partnership was spearheaded by Prof. Halevy, President, Prof. Ofer Merin, Director General, and Mr. Akiva Holzer, Director of Special Projects, working in close concert with Ms. Yana Kalika, President of The Koum Family Foundation.

The Koum Family Foundation was established by Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging platform. As one of the world’s prominent Jewish philanthropists, Mr. Koum has built a remarkable legacy of support for Jewish communities globally. Mr. Koum’s philanthropy is deeply committed to strengthening the State of Israel by supporting its leading medical and academic institutions alongside a variety of impactful cultural and educational initiatives.

Jan Koum welcomed the agreement with Shaare Zedek saying: “We are proud to partner with Shaare Zedek Medical Center, an institution that defines medical excellence in Jerusalem and beyond. This gift reflects our confidence in a future of medical innovation and research that will benefit patients in Israel and around the world.”

Shaare Zedek President Prof. Jonathan Halevy said, “This is truly a special moment in Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s 124-year-old history. This record donation by The Koum Family Foundation reflects remarkable confidence in our hospital, our staff, the city of Jerusalem, the nation of Israel, and a heartfelt embrace of Zionism. We feel incredibly grateful that one of the Jewish world’s great philanthropic visionaries has chosen to link his name with Shaare Zedek’s unique brand of medical excellence. I am sure that this investment in Israeli healthcare will continue to positively impact the Israeli and Jewish people for generations to come.״

Shaare Zedek Director General Prof. Ofer Merin said, “Mr. Koum’s historic gift to Shaare Zedek is a mark of honor for every employee of our hospital. This partnership will allow us to forge ahead with the construction of our new medical tower which will set a new standard for Israeli healthcare and further establish our hospital’s position as a national and global leader of advanced and compassionate medicine. On behalf of the Shaare Zedek staff, patients and families, and indeed of all the people of Jerusalem, I express my deep gratitude to Mr. Koum and the Foundation.”

A New Medical Tower for Medical Excellence in Jerusalem

Shaare Zedek Medical Center is Jerusalem’s most active major hospital and one of the seven largest medical centers in Israel. In response to dramatic demographic regional growth over the past decade, the hospital has nearly doubled its patient-care capacity to more than 1,000 inpatient beds; that number is expected to soar in the coming years. This rapid and sustained growth has necessitated the development of an all-new medical tower that will further the hospital’s commitment to excellence in caring for patients from all across the region.

Upon completion, the tower will be the largest and most advanced facility of its type anywhere in Israel. The tower will total 24 stories and encompass over 1.5 million square feet including all-new and expanded surgical and emergency care facilities. In response to developing regional threats, it will be designed to the highest standards of structural protection, including significant underground spaces and a helipad positioned on the building’s roof to enable direct helicopter access. The new tower is in the advanced stages of planning. The project is being designed and planned by Mochly-Eldar Architects, with Margolin Bros. Engineering and Consulting as the Project Manager.

The project has been approved by the Government of Israel and the Municipality of Jerusalem.

07/05/2026

Embracing Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s historic legacy of working to advance medical response cooperation within the IDF, the hospital recently held a trauma medicine training session together with combat soldiers from the elite Sayeret Nachal batallion.

The session was the initiative of Dr. Giora Weiser, Director of the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and was designed to enhance medical response in the event of a range of potential traumatic incidents requiring field-based medical care.

Representatives from the brigade who participated in the sessions were invited into the hospital’s operating rooms where they engaged in simulations treating complex injuries under the guidance of senior anesthesiologists and surgeons, led by Dr. David Ben Ari and Dr. Mordechai Sherki.

Over the course of the day, the combat soldiers heard lectures from senior Pediatric Surgeon, Dr. Anar Keinan and Dr. Irai Zamora, Deputy Director of the Department of Emergency Medicine. The session also included a course led by Dr. Tom Kobry together with teams from the Emergency Department using advanced dolls to simulate specific injuries and symptoms.

The elite soldiers who participated in the sessions only recently completed an intense round of service in southern Lebanon, which included facing large-scale attacks where they were forced to treat and evacuate seriously wounded patients while under enemy fire.

The participants in the Shaare Zedek session expressed their gratitude to Shaare Zedek for exposing them to highly-professional training exercises which they say will significantly enhance their response capabilities in future life-saving missions in the field.

29/04/2026

Expert Medical Intervention Saves Child After Ingesting Almond

A two-year old toddler who recently presented at the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center was blessed to be the recipient of expert care that saved her life. The girl had ingested a small piece of almond about five millimeters in size and was showing clear signs of choking.

“As soon as my daughter swallowed the almond piece, she was showing ongoing signs of difficulty breathing,” her mother recalls. “We didn’t know what to do and checked in with neighbors. Initially, because she was able to cry we assumed she was breathing alright and when we saw the symptoms begin to subside, we didn’t think we needed to go to the hospital. She went to sleep and everything seemed in order but only the next morning we saw that she was coughing and we came to Shaare Zedek.”

Upon arrival in the Emergency Department, the toddler underwent a series of tests including a chest x-ray and external examinations that likely due to its small size didn’t reveal any obstruction. Despite those initial results, Dr. Ali Abdiat and Dr. Efrat Blinkenstein (pictured below), resident physicians in the department, continued to suspect that something was still causing the distress and decided to hospitalize the patient so they could continue to monitor her condition. It would turn out that this professional decision would save the girl’s life.

Overnight, she began to experience a considerable worsening in her breathing and was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) directed by Dr. Jack Braun. With her condition still deteriorating the medical team decided to perform a bronchoscopy, an internal diagnostic procedure that provides an image of the respiratory channels and the lungs. The procedure was performed by Dr. Leon Joseph (pictured below), a senior pediatric pulmonologist at Shaare Zedek together with Dr. Ohad Cohen, a senior physician who directs the vocal cord and throat surgery service in the hospital’s ENT department. Dr. Anna Lev, a senior anesthesiologist and senior nurse Sirin Hartib were instrumental in the procedure.

The procedure revealed that a foreign body remained lodged in the girl’s vocal cords that would move between the upper and lower tracheas and was almost entirely blocking it- a condition which could deprive the patient of oxygen and endanger her life. With their expertise and advanced equipment, Drs. Cohen and Joseph were able to dislodge the obstruction and successfully stabilized the young girl’s condition.

“Once we removed the piece, we were able to see that it was an almond shard about five millimeters large, which would be very difficult to identify because of its size. Despite it being small, for a child of that age and size where their vocal cords are only about seven millimeters wide, such an obstruction could definitely be life-threatening,” Dr. Joseph explained. “Sadly, despite the understanding not to feed nuts to small children , this is something we are seeing more and more often. In this case, the story had a positive ending but certainly could have ended tragically. In addition to nuts, parents should avoid feeding small children sausages, cherry tomatoes, grapes without cutting them into small pieces in order to ensure they are able to ingest them safely.”

The girl’s mother added, “I knew that children of my daughter’s age shouldn’t be eating almonds but I didn’t think that such a small piece could lead to such a life-threatening case. I encourage all parents of young kids to avoid feeding them nuts. In addition, if you ever see symptoms of choking, call for first aid help immediately to transfer the child to the hospital.”

27/04/2026

The Helmsley Cancer Center at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center recently recorded a remarkable story of healing and remission using an advanced immunotherapy.

Audrey, a 90 year old woman from Rehovot (pictured below with her daughter Adina), was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Under the care of Dr. Muhamad Awad and Dr. Ofer Purim, Director of the Gastrointestinal Tumors Unit at Shaare Zedek, Audrey was found to be a candidate for an immunotherapy treatment, which is known to be relevant for treatment of only about six to seven percent of the colon cancer patient population.

“I know very well that many people my age are already heavily dependent on others but I’m just different and am fully independent and functioning,” Audrey says. “When I began to feel intense pains and other debilitating symptoms I made the decision to come to Shaare Zedek.”

Audrey was referred to the care of Dr. Shlomo Yellinek, Director of the Colorectal Surgery Unit, based on a suspected tumor. Testing and initial diagnostic and pathology examinations showed the tumor to be large and malignant that without the necessary intervention and care would likely have been life-threatening.

In most cases, tumors of this type would be treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. And while these approaches have life-saving potential, they also bring significant risks and side effects and impacts on quality of life – particularly for patients of Audrey’s advanced age.

Audrey recalls thinking, “At my stage in life, my preference was to preserve a higher quality of life rather than extending life so I resisted going ahead with a surgery, even though I knew it could be life-saving.” Based on that decision, the doctors referred Audrey to Shaare Zedek’s Radiotherapy Institute and the Institute’s director, Prof. Aaron Allen, to design a radiotherapy protocol as well as Dr. Muhamad Awad who would recommend a course of chemotherapy.

After carefully reviewing her case, Dr. Awad decided to perform further testing to see if Audrey was a potential candidate for a specific course of immunotherapy. This innovative therapy is delivered via infusion and serves to guide the patient’s immune system to effectively identify and destroy the cancer cells.

Blessedly, Audrey was found to be a fitting candidate for the relevant therapy.

Dr. Awad explained, “The treatment involves eight separate sessions each lasting about an hour after which Audrey was able to return home. Already after three months we saw a significant shrinking of the tumor and as of today it has completely disappeared and Audrey is in full remission.”

“In the end I received a double gift as I was able to maintain a high quality of life and extend my life expectancy,” says Audrey.

Dr. Purim added, “The research has found that patients in similar cases who received these immunotherapies remained without signs of the disease even three years after the treatment. In general, we recommend that patients remain committed to relevant screening tests, particularly after the age of 50, because early detection is critical to saving lives.”

Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

08/06/2026

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