Pressure. We all experience it. Some people cave in. Some hold tight. And some grow into angels.
The Ezer Mizion staff and volunteers, like everyone else, have had a difficult year with Reserve Duty added onto their packed schedules. Downtime is desperately needed for sanity. But downtime is a luxury these angels cannot afford.
Once a week, Elad fills the role of “Puzzleman.” He, distributes puzzles to the sick children and sits with them to put the puzzles together, in order to raise their spirits and give them a successful experience. Since the outbreak of the war, his uniform as the children’s superhero was replaced by an IDF uniform. But he can’t give up his activity with the kids. He manages to fit it in by making short but significant stops in the hospital when he leaves the base for a few hours of relaxation. “To come and see all the smiles does something good for my soul,” he says.
Amramis manager of a group of Ezer Mizion volunteers who are busy around the clock delivering equipment and other needs for the ill.. His war responsibilities makes it difficult for him to be fully there “It’s quite complicated,” he shares honestly, “because there are many times when I’m not accessible. But I always find the moments in between, and when I can’t – my family rallies to complete the job.”
Sarai, mother of three, volunteers distributing meals. Her husband is serving since October 8th, and in order to continue her volunteering even when her husband is on Reserve Duty, Sarai found a solution: She takes her children with her. It becomes a family project, a positive experience all around.
Yumi directs the support division for children with cancer.
He is there for the families around the clock, in every area. Since October 7th, he’s been on Reserve duty at the Military Rabbinate, in the unit for identifying bodies. . There are days when he starts out supporting a family in the Oncology Ward, and then is rushed to the base due to an incident with many casualties. “It isn’t easy. At the beginning of the War, there were families of missing people who I knew from Ezer Mizion. They knew that I was there, with the bodies, and asked me to look for their relatives. I identified the fallen brother of a child with cancer whom I had helped. Informing the family with whom I had become so close was very difficult. But there’s nothing to do. People need us.”
Meir is the social services supporter at the Hemato-oncology ward. He escorts the families throughout the treatment process, takes care of every need and request. When he is there, everyone’s mood becomes more positive. Meir did his best to keep up and also managed to accompany a jeep trip as well as a retreat for sick teenagers.
Yes, it was a difficult year with pressure assaulting our staff and volunteers from all sides. Yet they prevailed and rose to unimaginable heights. May Hashem bless each one.
