In August and September 2025, I again had the privilege to volunteer as a staff physical therapist in ADI-Negev Rehabilitation Hospital in Ofakim, Israel. As I have written on these pages previously, I am fortunate to have a skill set which is much in demand in Israel to treat our injured defense force soldiers and civilians since the war began in October 2023. This was my third stint working at the hospital, but this time was different. On this trip, I was struck by the successes of some unexpected members of the rehabilitation medicine team, ones who rarely get the recognition they deserve.

To give some perspective, ADI-Negev Hospital is located in the Otef Aza, the
“Gaza Envelope,” just a few miles from the Gaza border. Most of the soldiers and civilians we treated – including the ones who were injured on October 7^th in Sderot, Ofakim, and Beeri – live or work in the surrounding cities, moshavim, and yishuvim. In fact, some staff and many of the patients know each other from prior experiences, which further enhanced the camaraderie and cheer-leading that went on daily in the clinic. The encouragement of one patient to another to push further and harder was a daily mantra. The clinic’s mood and environment were constantly upbeat despite the severity of the injuries and trauma. A major factor in the positivity that one experiences there is the presence of a remarkable, young, energetic, and cohesive medical and rehabilitation staff. But perhaps the greatest influence in spreading encouragement and cheer in the hospital are the medical clowns.

Shabbat, Shmini Atzeret, October 7, 2023, is a day that will not soon be forgotten by Jews worldwide. The story of the brutal attack and the ensuing bloodbath is well known by now. So, too, are the heartening actions taken by Jews around the world, who joined in unity for prayer, rallies, fundraising, and volunteer missions to show support to our Israeli brethren in distress. One of the less obvious outcomes of the Gaza war has been the massive downsizing and closures of businesses, medical centers, and a dearth of manpower on farms and kibbutzim as a result of most of the young work force being called up to military duty. In response, organizations mobilized volunteers from around the world to travel to Israel and help in any way possible, from picking ripe fruit off trees to packing supplies for soldiers. Those with emergency medical skills and healthcare training were invited to sign up to be activated when and if the need arose. One such organization is the Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP), a disaster relief and rescue organization whose primary mission is to recruit and deploy international volunteer teams to Israel in times of crisis. Baltimorean and Pikesville volunteer firefighter Captain Scott Goldstein is EVP’s director of medical and civilian recruitment. It was through EVP’s Baltimore connection that I heard about the dire need for physical rehabilitation personnel in Israel. In fact, many hospitals were short-staffed, some down by 50% due to the army call-up of necessary military personnel.