On Thursday, we focused on the aftermath of October 7th in a few different ways. One was recovery—how were the institutions and people of Israel moving forward in helpful ways. Another was the law and law schools which I will cover in the next blog. And then, finally, how to equip students to come home… First, recovery:
We were so happy to have the opportunity to visit Schneider Children’s Medical Center (not a relative but very proud of my name here!) Schneider Children’s Medical Center was the hospital that welcomed almost all of the children hostages that were released in November. Our visit with the CEO, Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, was a master class in empathy, perspective-taking, and teamwork to welcome the children and their families in a way that would be most healing to them.
As student David Fleschner explained:
On Thursday morning, we arrived at Schneider Children’s Medical Center to speak with Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, the CEO of the hospital. Dr. Bron-Harlev articulated two aspects of the hospital that makes it a breeding ground for peace.
First, the hospital is filled with families from different religious, cultural, and socio- economic backgrounds to seek medical assistance for their sick children. Once in the hospital, these families are able to have discussions absent the external pressures of religion and politics. These families come together for their children, and we should recognize that this type of peaceful dialogue is possible for all of us as well. We should not wait for tragedy and trauma to try and achieve it.
Second, after the tragedies of October 7th, it became known that there were many children taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. As a result, the hospital knew that if and when the children would be released from captivity, they would come straight to the hospital for treatment. Because this was an unprecedented situation, the hospital had to come up with a novel and flexible plan for their patients. Dr. Bron-Harlev explained that their plan emphasized patient privacy from the public eye and patient autonomy while recovering from the trauma of captivity. Thus, when the children hostages were released, the hospital put its protocols to the test. Dr. Bron-Harlev shared various stories about the recovery of the former hostages and their resilience as well as the success of the hospital’s staff and its protocols. When we left the meeting, we were able to appreciate the hospital’s thoughtful care and the children’s ability to heal. Dr. Bron-Harlev helped us realize that we will overcome the trauma caused by the tragedies of October 7th and that we will ultimately come together as a stronger nation and people.
Student Yaffa Solemanzadeh further elaborated: On Thursday, we visited Schneider Children’s Medical Center where we heard from the CEO, Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, on how the hospital managed and treated the children released from captivity in November 2023. These were children who had been exposed to tremendous horrors, beginning with being brutally taken from their homes and neighborhoods on October 7 th . Some may have seen a parent, friend, or sibling murdered in front of them, in addition to the surrounding chaos and cruelty of that day. They were then subject to unknown terrors while in captivity for approximately 50 days, depending on the exact date they had been released.
(All of us loved this particular reunion picture)
Knowing this, the hospital did its absolute best to prepare for them, with a comprehensive team at the ready to address their physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as their privacy. Seeing photos and videos of these children being reunited with their families and loved ones struck a deep chord. The reunions invoked both deep sadness and profound happiness. Sadness because the lives of these children have been turned inside out; some did not have parents to return to, and none were going back to their homes. But they were alive and free. For me, their return raised intense feelings of hope; despite the great destruction and traumas these children have witnessed and experienced, they are now safe. And those who have tried to destroy them have not succeeded; they will still have a future.
(The Cunio family minus their father who is still being held in Gaza)
