“Little” Sheba
One of the most remarkable hospitals in the world is located in the Tel Aviv neighborhood of Ramat Gan. A 1,700-bed facility, Sheba Medical Center was originally the first hospital to treat Israel’s war wounded, during the War of Independence in 1948.
The scope of activities at Sheba is staggering. The 150-acre campus is home to 1,400 doctors and 2,600 nurses. The 120 departments and clinics provide highly specialized treatment to patients from all over the world.
I’m almost finished with the raw data, but yes, I’m impressed. Each year, 1.5 million people are treated there, and two million tests are conducted annually.
Whew. Especially for evangelical Christians and supporters of Israel, this is a story that is unique, and points to the amazing technology and resourcefulness of the Israelis.
I’m going over to see it soon, and I can’t wait.
For a writer and researcher, Sheba provides a most remarkable subject.
Later, I’ll give a full report, but one of the features that makes Sheba outstanding is the commitment to providing relief for people all over the world. From Cambodia to Ukraine, Israel is at the front lines of setting up both emergency field hospitals (in times of natural disasters) and permanent facilities. Their work in Haiti is nothing short of astonishing.
From the hospital’s website:
“Sheba’s commitment to compassionate care extends beyond Israel’s borders. We have provided support and supplies in distant areas of need throughout the world, including Kosovo, Armenia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Chernobyl and Rwanda. Patients come to Sheba from across the Middle East, including from Arab countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel and from the Palestinian Authority. Sheba is extending its medical services to many eastern European and Mediterranean countries, and maintains a special agreement with the Republic of Cyprus. These commitments stem from our hospital’s concern for the needy, and from the State of Israel’s long-time tradition of contributing to humanitarian relief efforts abroad.”
Prof. Yitshak Kreiss is the director general of Sheba Medical Center and the retired Brigadier General in the IDF brings the far-reaching Israeli spirit to his work.
From medical research to life-saving care (including people from the Palestinian territories), Sheba is very much part of the miracle of modern Israel. I’ll have much more to report in the coming weeks, but for now, just know that you will be fascinated by the story unfolding from Ramat Gan.