Established in 1955, the Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya is a thriving hub of medical excellence in Northern Israel. The facility serves a culturally diverse population residing in the Galilee, Jordan Valley, and Golan Heights region. Despite a lack of funding for medical facilities outside of the center of the country, the Poriya Medical Center flourishes due to the strength of its mission: to bring first-class healthcare to all patients, regardless of socio-economic background, religion, or cultures. The medical center’s personnel comes from diverse ethnicities: a true representation of the community, treating every patient with respect and compassion, while providing excellent care.

The population of the Galilee and the Golan Heights, approximately 1.3 million residents, suffer from a severe shortage of medical facilities and rehabilitation centers. Moreover, there are no pediatric (children and adolescents) rehabilitation services or experts in the Northern region of Israel.

For Northern residents being injured in a road accident, falling, or becoming ill with a serious disease means an abrupt halt of their daily routine followed by the need to make grueling and continuous journeys to rehabilitation centers located hundreds of miles from their home.

Unfortunately, many of them give up, and suffer from loss of function, disability and upheaval that impinges on the family fabric. Patients, whose rehabilitation process has been made impossible due to distance, availability and cost constraints, may perpetuate their disability and thus remain unable to resume normal life. Younger patients' chances of maximizing their rehabilitation potential are substantially lower compared to children in other regions of the country.

Establishing the Rehabilitation Center of the North, at the Baruch Padeh-Poriya Medical Center, is a life-changing step for the region’s residents and a milestone in the health map of the State of Israel and the Northern region in particular.

This year, and in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre, we are spearheading an effort to raise $600,000 for the establishment of a Wellness and Resilience Center within the Helmsley Rehabilitation Center. The center aims to enhance the physical treatment and specialized therapies provided by integrating emotional resilience and mental health services. By combining psychotherapy, integrative medicine, music therapy, bibliotherapy, mindfulness practices, and other evidence-based therapies, the center will provide a holistic approach to recovery. This initiative will serve wounded soldiers, civilians, and the surrounding communities, addressing trauma, stress, and emotional challenges. The Wellness and Resilience Center will integrate seamlessly with the Helmsley Rehabilitation Center’s existing infrastructure, create an all-encompassing environment for physical and emotional recovery.

As part of Jewish National Fund-USA’s focus on improving the quality of life for people in Northern Israel, we are supporting efforts to enhance the facilities at Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya through a new state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Center.

- Dr. Uri Geiger

The establishment of the Rehabilitation Center of the North is a strategic decision taken by the Israeli Government in the framework of the national plan to strengthen the Northern region, allocating a budget of NIS 110M.

For donations of $10,000 USD or above, email: Sharona Whisler at swhisler@jnf.org