24 | JANUARY 4 • 2024 J
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OUR COMMUNITY
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sraeli native and current West
Bloomfield resident Dany
Saar, 71, who served in the
IDF for four years, knew he had
to do something after Hamas’
attack on Israel.
“I felt the urge to go,
” explains
the rehabilitation specialist, who
has lived in West Bloomfield since
the early ’90s. “I spoke to my wife
about it, and I decided that I want
to go and volunteer.
”
Saar, who was born in a kibbutz
in northern Galilee, maintained
many connections in Israel and
got in touch with leadership at
Sheba Medical Center in Tel
HaShomer, near Tel Aviv.
As a specialist in hydrotherapy
and other rehabilitation services,
the hospital system quickly deter-
mined that Saar’s expertise was
necessary to help treat injured
and ill soldiers and civilians.
Not only was there an uptick in
service requests with the ongoing
war, but numerous industries
across Israel faced staff shortages
as many joined the Israel Defense
Forces.
ONE-WAY TICKET
On Oct. 16, Saar packed his bags
and flew on a one-way ticket to
Israel.
He didn’t know how long he
would be there or when he would
return, but Saar, who was admit-
ted to the hospital staff as a vol-
unteer, was determined to help as
long as needed.
On a day-to-day basis, the reha-
bilitation clinic saw some 60 to 70
patients.
Israeli native and West
Bloomfi
eld resident volunteers
rehab services in Israel.
Giving Hope to
Injured Soldiers
and Civilians
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The rehabilitation clinic at
Sheba Medical Center in Tel
HaShomer (near Tel Aviv)
Dany Saar (wearing the
Michigan shirt) poses
with a patient at Sheba
Medical Center.