I had the opportunity to travel to Israel this past summer on the Wexner Foundation’s Heritage Program Israel Institute.  While so much of the visit was filled with anxiety, trauma, sadness and yes, resilience, one shining beacon of hope stands out, and that was my visit to ALYN Children’s Hospital and our meeting with the amazing Dr. Maurit Beeri.

I have been reflecting upon this special visit a lot lately, especially as the seasons change and there is less and less light. When the darkness gets coupled with the heaviness of the world, I am comforted by the light I saw at ALYN.

As a child growing up in Metro Detroit, I learned about an Israel that aspired to be a place where, despite so many differences, everyone could find a home.

This is the Israel that I saw at ALYN Children’s Hospital.  There I met a leader who was working day and night to push away darkness and preserve light. She passionately spoke of this aspirational Israel and shared how these ideals are carried out in  this magical place.  She also spoke of the real challenges that she and her team of passionate humans, from all walks of Israeli life, have faced to keep this vision alive for all these years and the way these challenges have increased exponentially since October 7. She assured us that they’d kept the darkness out, and then she showed us how they do it.  

She showed us dedicated experts who not only, create and apply amazing new and innovative games, adaptive items, and  holistic methods, they do it in a positive and peaceful environment, one where the singular goal is to change the trajectory of a child’s life.  To change the trajectory of a child’s life. They do this for every child, every family, everyone they can.  Complexity and all.

As Hanukkah approaches this year, and I look for ways to increase the light in the world, I think about ALYN Children’s Hospital, the ways I can replicate its spirit in my own world and ensure that it continues to bring healing to the people who live in the Land of Israel.