The largest hospital in Israel, Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, has played a significant role in treating and supporting freed hostages in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks. Since then, hostage exchanges have brought 57 returnees into Sheba’s care—the most of any hospital in Israel.
The Fellowship has been helping Sheba Medical Center expand its capacity to provide specialized care and additional treatments. Last year, The Fellowship awarded a grant to fully renovate one of the hospital’s buildings into the Back to Life Center, formerly known during the planning stages as the Returning to Life Center before the project expanded.
On Monday, Fellowship staff attended the opening ceremony of the Back to Life Center. The first facility of its kind in Israel, the center is dedicated to the rehabilitation, treatment, and long-term support of freed hostages, their families, and the families of those murdered in captivity. Although all hostages were freed last year and the attacks occurred nearly three years ago, many Israelis continue to carry the trauma of that horrific day as though it were yesterday.
HaKeren L’Yedidut (The Fellowship’s operational arm in Israel) Director General Ayelet Shiloh Tamir said, “On behalf of our donors – Israel-loving Christians who stand alongside Israel-loving Jews – it was clear to us from the first moment that we would be wherever we needed to be, and that we would be mobilized for any task that was required. We are grateful that we were given the opportunity to be partners in this exciting and important place and project. They express our commitment to stand by those who were harmed on October 7, and especially by the families who paid the most expensive price. Almost three years of war have left a deep scar in the hearts of all of us, and we will always carry this pain with us, alongside the commitment to continue to help, rehabilitate, and strengthen.”
Other guests at the ceremony included Back to Life Center Director Dr. Noya Shilo, Sheba Medical Center Director Prof. Yitshak Kriess, and National Insurance Institute Deputy CEO Zvi Cohen, whose organization also helped fund the center. Avi Shamriz, the father of Alon Shamriz, also spoke, emphasizing the importance of continuing to support October 7 survivors and victims while sharing his personal experience.
Prof. Kreiss affirms the center’s purpose and significance: “We are doing something different here. We are symbolizing to the country how we think we should continue, what returning to life means to us. Both in our personal story and in the story of the country. No matter how difficult it is in Israeli society, we are together here, we will continue to do these things. Simple, important, touching on life. To explain to ourselves and the country and to everyone who wants to see, that we know how to look forward, know how to remember the past, be strong today and dream ahead.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).