My Son the Doctor: A Year of Healing and Hope
“My son, the doctor.”
Those are words I never dreamed of saying—or even imagining—a year ago. But November 19, 2024, changed all of our lives forever when our son was severely wounded in Lebanon. Our world shattered, but in the aftermath, we witnessed a profound and unexpected rebirth.
In the hospital, we saw immense strength, resilience, and emunah (faith) in our son and his comrades. We were also embraced by the extraordinary love and care of the healthcare professionals at Beilinson Hospital-Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikva and its rehabilitation unit. They didn’t just provide world-class medical care; they treated each soldier as their own child. The entire staff—doctors, nurses, technicians, and so many others—inspired him deeply. I will never forget Valencia, who came into our son’s room every morning with a special pudding she had prepared, reassuring him it would strengthen his bones and ensuring he finished every bite. That small act of devotion showed us the depth of their commitment.
Becoming a physician was never a lifelong dream of his, but his experience as a patient gave him a new purpose. As Dr. Avi Rockoff describes in his book When the Doctor Becomes the Patient, there is a profound transformation that comes from experiencing medicine from the other side. Our son, too, is now on that journey—from patient to future physician—bringing with him a depth of compassion and understanding that can only come from lived experience. He knows exactly what it feels like to be in that hospital bed.
Outside the hospital, we felt embraced by our country, a place that truly cherishes life and stands united. While our son was still an inpatient, we saw this unity firsthand: the released hostages actually took time to visit the wounded soldiers and celebrate with them. This was a heartfelt testament to the resilience of our people—a profound moment of joy and solidarity right in the middle of pain.
Last week, we began a new cycle of Torah readings. As we read about creation and renewal, we feel that theme strongly in our own lives—creation, rebirth, and hope. We pray that this will be a year of new beginnings for our soldiers, our families, and our country. May this year bring healing, strength, and renewed hope to all who are in need, and may we continue to be inspired by the courage, resilience, and care that surrounds us every day.
