Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

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Israel's fastest growing major medical center treating over one million people per year.

02/11/2026

Jesselson Integrated Heart Center Records A Further “First in Israel”

The Jesselson Integrated Heart Center at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center has once again performed a “first in Israel” with the introduction of a new approach for treating heart arrhythmias.

The procedure, which relies on the implantation of pacemakers using a particularly advanced technique, aims to improve the electronic coordination between the two atria of the heart by leveraging the natural electronic cardiac pathways.

The technology is based on effectively placing an electrode in an area of the heart known as the “Bachmann’s bundle”, the natural electric pathway bridging between the right and left atria. This placement enables those natural electric pulses to transmit more quickly and effectively and reduce complications by enhancing the overall coordination between the atria necessary for proper cardiac functioning.

When the separate chambers of the heart work in tandem this reduces the incidence of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) as well as pressure buildup, all of which can directly lead to heart failure.

The new technological approach, never before performed in Israel, is designed to be particularly beneficial for patients experiencing atrial arrhythmias or other cardiac electronic disturbances. The Shaare Zedek cardiology team is now able to assess patients to see whether they can benefit from this approach in accordance with individual symptoms and the nature of their overall conditions.

To date four patients have undergone this approach, which was performed under the direction of Prof. Michael Glikson, Director of the Jesselson Integrated Heart Center together with Dr. Ziv Dadon, Director of Cardiology, Dr. Yoav Michowitz, Director of the Electrophysiology Unit, Dr. Moshe Rav Acha, Director of the Pacemaker Unit and Senior Cardiac Physician Dr. Ahali Tuvia-Brody.

The procedure, using the specialized electrode developed and manufactured by Medtronic, was performed with direction from an international expert in the approach who came to Shaare Zedek from Greece specifically to train the team and oversee its initial implementation.

Prof. Glikson explained, “Shaare Zedek’s introduction of this approach for the first time in Israel is a further reflection of our Center’s commitment to excellence and professionalism as a national leader focused on the embrace of advanced technology for the benefit of all types of patient care. Our commitment is to seek out all potential medical solutions, and I take great pride in the ongoing achievements of our team that continue to provide advanced medicine combined with compassionate and individualized care for every patient - without compromise.”

26/10/2026

Taking Shaare Zedek to "New Heights"...

Dr. Stefan Mausbach, Director of the Neurological Intensive Care Unit in the Helmsley Brain Center at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center recently travelled to Seattle where he presented at an international neurological conference.

Never one to miss an opportunity to pursue his passion for mountain climbing, Dr. Mausbach set his sights on scaling nearby Mt. Baker, a glacier-covered volcano whose peak reaches 3,286 meters (10,781 feet) as part of the Cascade Mountain Range.

As he explained after successfully reaching the top, "October comes after the typical climbing season, so we were mostly alone on the mountain. For two days of the climb, the track was completely frozen which demanded we employ technically advanced climbing techniques, particularly because at this time of year the mountain features massive crevasses that forced us to go on lengthy detours. The final ascent to the peak required climbing up a very steep ridge and was far from an easy endeavour.

By the time we reached the top we had gone up 3,286 meters which involved hiking over 47 kilometers (29.2 miles)

It was certainly challenging but we made it, and I'm particularly proud to have brought Shaare Zedek to the top of Mt. Baker with me."

25/10/2026

The entire Shaare Zedek community salutes the hospital’s Director General Prof. Ofer Merin upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the IDF Medical Corps Command.

The award was granted in recognition of Prof. Merin’s lengthy service in the Medical Corps and in particular in his role as the commander of the IDF’s Field Hospital operations.

The award was presented at a recent ceremony by the Commander of the Medical Corps Brigadier General Dr. Zivan Aviad B**r.

In describing why he was chosen for the award the officers of the Corps wrote, “Prof. Merin is one of those individuals whose achievements far supersede any individual role or title. For decades, he has been combining professional medical excellence as both a military commander and civilian healthcare director with an unsurpassed commitment to the ideal of saving lives. He stands out through his unique ability as a highly informed and experienced physician, alongside a constant attention to acting in the most dedicated and responsible manner possible. He always works to see the complete picture in order to make the necessary decisions, often in times of deep uncertainty where the ultimate focus must always be on placing the needs of people at the forefront so the maximum number of lives can be saved.”

Prof. Merin began his IDF medical career as an officer charged with medical organization and rose to the rank of commander of the IDF Field Hospitals which reports to the IDF General Command- a position he has held for the past 20 years.

Even today, alongside directing the daily functioning of Shaare Zedek as one of Israel’s top and fastest-growing hospitals, Prof. Merin continues to volunteer his time to utilize his vast knowledge and experience to benefit the advancement of military medical care.

Under his command, Prof. Merin has led medical relief missions in response to disasters around the world including in Japan, the Philippines, Haiti, Turkey, Nepal and other locations. He oversaw the process leading to the recognition of the IDF as a EMT-3 disaster response agency by the World Health Organization- the highest level of its type in this all-important field of humanitarian care.

In the wake of October 7th, Prof. Merin was appointed by the national government to a high-level commission of medical experts regarding the medical condition of the hostages. He also oversaw the development of humanitarian relief efforts in Syria.

Over the many years he has served as a senior military and civilian physician, Prof. Merin has personally trained and educated countless members of the next generation of medical and military professionals, guided by the highest ideals of medical excellence and ethical practice.

We take enormous pride in witnessing Prof. Merin receive this most deserving recognition. We know it is a reflection of the core principles that define the IDF’s medical command; uncompromising professionalism, bravery and innovation alongside that unwavering commitment to going above and beyond to better and save lives whenever and wherever possible.

21/10/2026

This week the prominent medical periodical Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology published the new international guidelines called STRIDE III which detail treatment targets for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Crohn’s Disease.

The lead author of the guidelines, drafted in coordination with the International Organization for the Study of IBD (IOIBD), is Prof. Dan Turner, Director of the Juliet Keidan Institute of Paediatric Gastroenterology at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

Prof. Turner who also directs the Eisenberg Research and Development Authority as Deputy Director General at Shaare Zedek and is a member of the Faculty of Medicine at Hebrew University, is widely recognized as an international leader in the treatment and research of digestive diseases in children and young adults.

As Prof. Turner has made his professional focus for many years, the new guidelines address not only direct medical and pharmaceutical means for combatting these conditions but also dietary and lifestyle adjustments that can allow young people to enjoy full and active lives alongside these diagnoses.

As Prof. Turner advocates in all his patient care interactions, the treatment goals are not only guided by lab test results, but how individuals can feel better and confident with their daily activities alongside management of their conditions.

Congratulations to Prof. Turner on bringing further global honor to Shaare Zedek and the research and clinical achievements of the Israel medical community, and we thank him for his many years of dedicated care on behalf of children across the country and around the world.

19/10/2026

At a time when many are focusing on medical professionals leaving Israel, here at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center we take great pride in introducing you to two top physicians who have decided to head in just the opposite direction…

Dr. Jeremy Rees and Dr. Daniel Aghion recently made Aliyah with their families, choosing to leave behind successful careers and full lives abroad in order to build new lives and embrace new professional opportunities at Shaare Zedek.

Dr. Rees comes to Shaare Zedek from London, England where he served as a highly respected neuro-oncologist with over thirty years of experience in his field.

Here he will direct the Neuro-Oncology Unit within the Helmsley Cancer Center. This newly opened service combines advanced medicine and compassionate care, working together with our Neurology and Oncology departments, to provide hope and healing to patients with particularly challenging cancer diagnoses.

Dr. Aghion comes from Miami, Florida and will serve as the Director of Spinal Column Surgical Unit within the Department of Neurosurgery. His addition to the neurosurgery team is a further reflection of the department’s growing commitment to leading care and serving patients from the Jerusalem area and all across Israel who come to Shaare Zedek to address complex conditions requiring interventional surgical care.

We salute Drs. Rees and Aghion as just the latest in many hundreds of doctors, nurses and support staff members who have made Aliyah and chosen to make Shaare Zedek their new professional homes.

We see this role as a proud reflection of our commitment to strengthening Israel’s future and wish them all only success and continued growth! 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱

A recent report profiling Drs. Rees and Aghion was broadcast (in HEBREW) on Israel's KAN 11 television and can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVcta2dgWQQ

14/10/2026

This week Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center celebrated ten years since the opening of the Helmsley Brain Center, which has become a nationally and internationally renowned center for neurological clinical care and research advancement.

The anniversary was marked by a conference for neurology professionals welcoming the participation of doctors, researchers, academic leaders, public health officials and others and was dedicated to the advances of neurological medicine and how the field is positioned to embrace new opportunities and challenges presented by AI and other digital technologies.
Opened in the Fall of 2016 through a historic gift from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the founding of the Center was made possible through the vision and leadership of Prof. Jonathan Halevy, then Shaare Zedek’s Director General and today its President.

Over the course of the past decade, the Helmsley Brain Center has become a leading Israeli clinical care and research institution in a growing number of fields related to neurological diseases and brain injuries. The Center is divided into three main branches; a stroke unit, a neurosurgical service and the interventional neuroradiology service. In addition the Center encompasses multiple other diagnostic and research programs in areas search as headache care, neurological imaging, Parkinson’s care, pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, movement disorders and a recently launched program for neuro-oncology.

Dr. Roni Eichel, who joined the Center from its creation and serves as the Director of the Department of Neurology presented at the conference describing how compassionate care remains at the center of neurological medicine even in the face of rapid technological advancements.

Also presenting was Dr. Nevo Margalit, Director of Neurosurgery who described how his department has been transformed over the past decade to one of Israel's leading centers for groundbreaking surgical interventions of the brain.

Prof. Jonathan Halevy commemorated the anniversary saying, “When the Helmsley Brain Center was established, our goal was to recruit many of Israel and the medical world’s leading minds and technology experts. Today, as we recognize the tremendous clinical achievements in this Center, alongside research breakthroughs on an international scale, all of which translates to countless lives being saved and improved, we take enormous pride in how that original vision is bettering medical care for the people of Jerusalem, Israel and beyond.

Shaare Zedek’s Director General Prof. Ofer Merin added, “The Helmsley Brain Center has firmly established itself as national leader in this critical area of modern care. This program combines the best of human medical capabilities with advanced equipment and technology that provides our community with quality, quick and comprehensive care in a field where expert and accurate response can make all the difference.”

Prof. Natan Bornstein, Director of the Helmsley Brain Center hosted the conference saying, “We are living in dramatic times for neurological care. This anniversary is another milestone in our hospital’s commitment to act on the forefront of advancing new models of compassionate and innovative care for our patients by integrating AI methods into our proven dependence on human compassion in all aspects of patient care. Looking back on this past decade provides us with a great sense of personal and professional pride and reinforces our vision for even greater achievements in saving lives and developing new modes of care.”

12/10/2026

Saved from a Terror Attack, Woman Returns to Study Nursing and Save the Lives of Others

One evening over the recent holidays, while she and her family were staying in an area hotel, Ilana Cohen, a student at Shaare Zedek’s School of Nursing observed an elderly woman who had collapsed.

Immediately recognizing the gravity of the woman’s condition, Ilana began performing CPR utilizing lessons she had learned in her studies in a specialized life-saving course she had undergone just days before at Shaare Zedek.

Ilana was quickly joined by her son Yonatan, a Magen David Adom volunteer, and her father Dr. Tuvia Schertzman, a respected senior anesthesiologist - with the three generations working together to save the woman’s life.

But the story had actually begun to be told almost 25 years earlier when in November of 2001 Ilana, then just 15 was injured in a shooting attack in Jerusalem’s French Hill neighborhood. The attack took the life of Ilana’s good friend, Shoshana Ben Yishai z”l and Ilana herself was brought to Shaare Zedek where she was treated and underwent a lengthy recovery process.

Despite the gravity of her injuries which impacted many aspects of her life, Ilana fought to get back to a normal lifestyle. She studied education and worked for over a decade in the education system. But she always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Today, now a mother of five, she has returned to Shaare Zedek as a nursing student in the School of Nursing directed by Dr. Hanni Schroeder (pictured with Ilana below).

For Ilana the chance to give back as a nurse and save lives is closing a circle that began with the attack which brought her to Shaare Zedek. And the recent life-saving experience she had in the hotel was a direct result of her studies and the course in Advanced Life Support she had participated in only days earlier coordinated by Avital Li****tz, Director of Resuscitation Services at Shaare Zedek.

Ilana’s story is a proud reminder of the power of recovery and the ability of one determined person to impact on the lives of others.

06/10/2026

PSA: Always Wear A Helmet!

In a stark but critical reminder of the importance of wearing helmets and practicing safe riding, no fewer than than nine children were treated on just one recent day in the Glaubach Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center following injuries incured on bikes, e-bikes or scooters.

The nine children ranged in age from as young as four to 17. The two youngest children were brothers who crashed into an electricity poll at a high rate of speed while riding on a small scooter. The younger of the two arrived at Shaare Zedek in very serious condition where he was stabilized before being transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) ventilated and sedated. His brother who was riding alongside him was lightly injured and released.

The other injured children were treated for a variety of wounds to the head, eyes, chest, back and extremities. Some were treated and released while others remained hospitalized for continued monitoring.

According to Beterem, the Israeli organization that adovcates for the safety of children, over the course of 2025 and 2026, 1,077 cases were recorded in Israel of children and teens injured while riding on scooter and bikes.

Dr. Giora Weiser, Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Shaare Zedek said, “Such a high number of cases presenting to the hospital in just one day is both rare and very troubling. Parents must make sure children are wearing helmets and are made aware of the very real dangers that come with riding and that they shouldn’t be embarrassed to protect themselves with helmets. These are injuries that could have been easily prevented or at least significantly reduced in their intensity if the proper measures had been taken.”

ארגון בטרם לבטיחות ילדים

27/09/2026

Just over a year ago, Ariella Gross from New York was brought to Shaare Zedek while on a family vacation after complaining of intense headaches.

A CT scan revealed a large tumor in her brain which was surgically removed by Dr. Gustavo Rajz and the team of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Unit in the Helmsley Brain Center.

Shaare Zedek is thrilled to hear that Ariella is doing great and that when given the chance she told her parents that she wanted to spend the Sukkot holiday back in Israel.

Last week, Ariella returned to the Wilf Children’s Hospital to express her thanks to the hospital staff including Tali Weiss (pictured) , Head Nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) where she was treated.

Together with her family, Ariella volunteered with Osim Sameach to bring joy to other children patients.

Shortly before leaving the hospital Ariella and her parents were also lucky enough to catch up with Dr. Rajz and fellow neurosurgeon Dr. Ido Palmor (pictured) who also participated in her surgery.

We welcome Ariella back to Shaare Zedek, this time in good health and spirits, and thank her and her family for her expressing their appreciation and gratitude to our remarkable teams!

24/09/2026

Amb. Yechiel Leiter, Israel Ambassador to the United States, spoke shortly after arriving at Shaare Zedek to be near his son Neria injured in yesterday's ramming attack.

Neria's condition was further stabalized over night but he remains in very serious and life-threatening condition.

Address

12 Shmuel Bait Street
Jerusalem
91031

Telephone

+97226666034

Website

http://www.szmc.org.il/

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