YAD SARAH – A Pillar of Israeli Service Loses a Visionary Leader

Grassroots organizations and NGOs reflect the true strength of Israel and the global Jewish community, particularly in times of crisis and war. Few volunteer organizations exemplify this more clearly than Yad Sarah, founded in 1976 by Rabbi Uri Lupolianski. His passing on January 8 has left a profound void that will be difficult to fill.

Under Rabbi Lupolianski’s leadership, Yad Sarah grew into Israel’s largest volunteer organization, with more than 7,000 volunteers and a reach that has touched nearly every family in the country. By enabling home-based care through the provision of medical and support equipment, Yad Sarah has saved the Israeli government an estimated $1.5 billion in healthcare costs while significantly improving quality of life for countless individuals.

For five decades, Rabbi Lupolianski worked tirelessly to expand Yad Sarah’s mission. He identified unmet needs and established numerous departments beyond equipment lending, introducing innovative social and healthcare initiatives that earned him recognition as a pioneer of Israel’s healthcare system. His achievements were acknowledged through honors such as the Knesset Speaker’s Award, the Kaplan Prize for Efficiency, and the President’s Volunteer Prize.

On my blog, I aim to highlight individuals and organizations that have made a lasting impact on Israel. A friend suggested I write about Yad Sarah, an organization I had not previously known. As a community pharmacist in the United States with a career in home healthcare and medical equipment, I was immediately drawn to the story of a former IDF combat medic and rabbi who dedicated his life to making such resources accessible to the public.

I felt an immediate connection to Rabbi Lupolianski. When he founded Yad Sarah in 1976, I was completing my professional education, contemplating Aliyah and how I might contribute to Israeli society. Yad Sarah represents the ideal private-sector complement to Israel’s national healthcare system, and I began studying its history and collecting stories that illustrate its extraordinary human impact.

The scope of Yad Sarah’s services cannot be reduced to equipment provision alone. Its influence extends far beyond material support. In tribute to Rabbi Lupolianski—a man whose life embodied service and compassion—I share a few examples of how Yad Sarah has transformed lives.

One such story is Paul, a man from the United Kingdom living with progressive multiple sclerosis. Travel to Israel had become nearly impossible due to the physical demands involved. When his son made Aliyah and joined the IDF, Paul felt compelled to be near him. Yad Sarah provided the necessary equipment to enable his journey, turning an otherwise unattainable goal into reality.

Another account comes from Lifsa Schachter, who has benefited from Yad Sarah’s services for nearly five decades:

“I have benefitted from Yad Sarah for almost five decades even though I was living in the United States during the late 70s when Yad Sarah was still a series of shacks on R’hov HaNeviim in Jerusalem. I made frequent trips to Israel partly because of a large close and extended family. I began using the services of Yad Sarah at that time to help my mother, my mother-in-law my father-in-law and my sister get equipment; wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen, mattresses to prevent bed sores and hospital beds.

Over the years I was witness to Yad Sarah’s amazing growth; its expansion to cities all over the country and its construction of a state of the art facility near the Shaarei Tzedek hospital. Our children made Aliyah to Israel beginning after the Yom Kippur War and they also began to use Yad Sarah for their needs and eventually for the needs of their children and grandchildren. I know that many in my large extended family in Israel has made use of Yad Sarah’s services. This gave us many additional reasons for visiting Yad Sarah.  I remember many a lunch in the Yad Sarah cafeteria.

In 2015 my husband and I made Aliyah and then we became personal beneficiaries of Yad Sarah. We borrowed or bought equipment including walkers, wheel chairs and pain management equipment. I am overwhelmed by how Rabbi Uri Lupolianski, having experienced a health need in his own family, created an institution which is probably the largest volunteer organization in Israel, and I imagine that there is hardly a family in Israel that hasn’t been touched by its work. It is an extremely inspiring story of the ability of one person bring about a significant change for the good .”

Don Futterman describes Yad Sarah’s practical and affordable support, from lending mobility aids to installing emergency call systems for individuals living alone. Jonathan Ferziger recounts the provision of essential equipment that allowed his family to care for a loved one at home during his final days. Lloyd Drellinger, a volunteer driver in Tel Aviv, speaks of transporting individuals to work, medical appointments, and therapy sessions.

Today, Yad Sarah faces new challenges amid ongoing conflict. Power outages pose serious risks to individuals dependent on electrically powered medical equipment. In response, Yad Sarah is distributing portable power stations capable of sustaining vital devices such as oxygen machines and motorized hospital beds for hours or even days.

Philip Bendheim, a board member of Yad Sarah and longtime associate of Rabbi Lupolianski, summarized his legacy: Rabbi Lupolianski dedicated his life to helping others, and his vision will continue to guide Yad Sarah’s work for generations to come.

At this critical time, Yad Sarah needs continued support to sustain its lifesaving mission. Contributions can be made by contacting the organization directly:

Phone: *6444 | 02-644-4444
Email: info@yadsarah.org.il

Yad Sarah remains a pillar of Israeli service—an enduring testament to the vision and leadership of Rabbi Uri Lupolianski.