Gantz says revealing his wife’s Alzheimer’s has helped raise awareness

Blue and White chairman MK Benny Gantz spoke publicly on Friday about his wife Revital’s Alzheimer’s disease at the launch of his new book at the Israeli Alzheimer’s Center. He said, “I would give anything to swap places with Revital, so that she could sit here and I would deal with what she is dealing with.”

Gantz said the decision to disclose the family’s private struggle was driven by a need to increase awareness of the disease. “It was not easy for me to come out with Revital’s story,” he said, “but after we shared it, I was astonished to discover how widespread the phenomenon is.” He added that even helping one person cope would make the effort worthwhile.

The event also touched on the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas and the challenge of rebuilding the Gaza border communities. Gantz said his family’s story was “the story of all of us,” reflecting Israeli resilience in the face of both personal and collective hardships.

During the launch, the center’s CEO, Nitai Eliash, announced that all proceeds from the book would be donated to the Israeli Alzheimer’s Center. Eliash thanked Gantz for helping raise awareness and said the center is working to open a new branch in southern Israel for local residents.