Shaare Zedek Hospital Dedicates Torah Scroll to Fallen Relatives of Staff

Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem held a ceremony this week to dedicate a Torah scroll in memory of 19 individuals who were first-degree relatives of the hospital's staff and fell during the "Swords of Iron" war. Hundreds of hospital employees, management members, and bereaved families attended the event, aimed at commemorating the fallen and supporting the staff's families.

The ceremony began with representatives of the fallen soldiers' families completing the final letters of the Torah scroll, assisted by a scribe. This act symbolized a blend of grief and collective remembrance. Several family members who lost sons, brothers, and spouses shared their experiences during the event. Among them were Betty Testa, mother of Ofir Desta, and Lt. Col. (res.) Alon Dickstein, father of 2nd Lt. Hevri Dickstein and husband of nurse Tzofia.

Prof. Ofer Marin, CEO of Shaare Zedek, acknowledged the heavy toll the war has taken on healthcare workers and their families. He stated that despite their personal losses, the staff heroically continued to provide life-saving treatment daily. Marin expressed pride in the employees, shared their grief, and offered strength to the bereaved families.

Following the ceremony, a procession accompanied by an orchestra and participants moved through the hospital before the Torah scroll was placed in a specially prepared ark. The initiative, led by the hospital's Rabbi Yosef Shprung, aims for the scroll to serve as a lasting symbol of remembrance and continuity for the fallen.