Beit Oranit, Ezer Mizion's support and assistance center for cancer patients, is currently operating differently from its usual activity: since the outbreak of the war, the place has been hosting entire families of cancer patients living in the conflict zones in the south and north of the country, so that they can breathe a little from the war outside.
Evicted from Sderot at a hotel in Tel Aviv // Moshe Ben Simhon
The center, located in Petah Tikva adjacent to Schneider Children's Hospital, was established from the outset to allow temporary rest for parents accompanying children or adults coping with cancer. According to Dr. Bracha Zisser, director of the Oranit House and director of the organization's national database of bone marrow donors, "On normal days, the place accepts patients up to the age of 65 and we hold various classes for them and for their families. We are now taking in families from the conflict zones who have a cancer patient being treated at Sheba, Schneider and Beilinson hospitals."
How many families are staying with you right now?
"Of the 30 rooms here, 28 are already occupied – large rooms suitable for families with children. And since the kids get bored, we have lots of rooms with activities for them. There are rooms with activities such as a petting zoo, a gaming room and a gymboree, which are also open on Saturdays and are operated with the help of many volunteers."
The request to the place is made only by the social workers in the hospitals, and Dr. Zisser notes that "there is no point in contacting us, because apart from the last two rooms we have in the reserve, there is no room. I estimate that by the end of the week we will reach full capacity."
Bracha Zisser. "By the end of the week we will reach full capacity", photo: Arik Sultan
Housekeepers note that due to the weak immune system of sick children, they are usually unable to participate in social activities and are prevented from social gatherings, school studies and even playing with pets. For this reason, Beit Oranit is an island of sanity for them through the various activities in which they participate with the family.
"Fighting for Adele's life, at the same time as the war outside"
Dikla and Alex Budeshevsky have known Beit Oranit since their 4-year-old daughter Adele contracted cancer when she was two. Now, due to the war, the entire family is staying there to rest a bit from the incessant barrage of missiles fired at their city of Ashkelon. "This wonderful place provides a solution and respite for parents. For two years now, the people of Beit Oranit have been accompanying us and assisting us," says Dikla.
This week, little Adele was admitted to Schneider Children's Hospital for treatment that will last at least five days, so the family asked to be together at the cancer crisis center. Dikla: "This is a continuation of the war for Adele's life, while at the same time there is also a war outside, and in Ashkelon the situation is very difficult. Since I have two other children, Hillel, 10, and Ruth Simcha, <>, we asked if we could all come to the place to get some rest.
"They approved of us and accompany us in children's activities, help, meals, and in general in creating a very good feeling. I really feel the need to say thank you very much. It is important to get to know the place and contribute to it so that it will be possible to help more families," concludes Dikla.
"A real miracle": When Boris was in the Oranit house, his house was hit by a missile
Boris Dworkin, 60, from Sderot, returned this year to deal with cancer again, 23 years after recovering from it, but last week a miracle happened to him: his life was saved because he was treated at Beilinson Hospital.
Boris was supposed to arrive at the hospital for chemotherapy last Sunday, a week after the war broke out. However, the staff of Beit Oranit took the initiative and invited him to stay with them the previous Friday and Saturday – thus saving his life, because that same Friday his house was destroyed by a missile fired by the murder organization Hamas.
"I had a real miracle," Boris says excitedly. "I called Ezer Mizion about my treatment, they told me to come, and that's how I got my life all over again. My entire house, where I've lived since I immigrated to Israel, was destroyed by a missile."
Volunteer Bracha, who accompanies Boris to the treatments, notes: "We will give Boris accommodation with us until he has somewhere to live. In any case, he should soon receive chemotherapy that will require him to live in solitary confinement with us. After the treatments, I hope the state will help him manage again, but in the meantime, because of his condition, he'll be with us."
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