By this point in January, most of us have already let go of at least a few New Year’s resolutions. Life gets busy, routines return, and good intentions often fall by the wayside. But at ALYN Hospital, there is no giving up.

Two new, innovative learning spaces have recently been unveiled at ALYN Rehabilitation Hospital , creating joyful environments where children and teens can learn, create, and connect while continuing their rehabilitation journeys. Designed with care, creativity, and intention, these multipurpose activity rooms reflect ALYN’s commitment to treating the whole child—not only through clinical therapy but also through play, exploration, and meaningful engagement. Filled with therapeutic toys, games, and hands-on activities, the spaces invite children to move, imagine, and interact in ways that feel natural and fun. One of the most exciting features is a ceiling-mounted projection system that brings interactive games directly onto the floor. These games encourage children to stand, walk, crawl, jump, and explore movement at their own pace—turning therapy into an experience that feels more like play. Through this innovative technology, mobility, coordination, and confidence are strengthened in an environment filled with laughter and encouragement.  These new spaces were made possible thanks to the support of SASA Setton and generous contributions from partners who believe deeply in ALYN’s mission. Their support is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that thoughtful initiatives can have on young lives. At ALYN, every detail matters. These new learning spaces are more than rooms—they are places where children discover what they can do, build independence, and experience the joy of progress, one step, jump, or game at a time.

Over the past few months, our events have created space for people to connect—through movement, learning, and shared experiences—while getting to know the work of American Friends of ALYN Hospital (AFAH). We kicked things off with a Barry’s Bootcamp class in Chelsea with Barry's , Empowered2Sweat, Moishe House, and Jukebox. These high-energy events brought together people from different circles and sparked new connections around a shared goal. Later in December, we gathered in Miami for a Challah Braid & Learn in Aventura—an evening filled with conversation, tradition, and learning—followed by a Pilates class in Miami Beach with Club Allenby that offered a more relaxed way to come together. Across all of these events, the focus stayed the same: building relationships and raising awareness for AFAH’s mission.

At 18, Mati Weiss rides a hand-powered bicycle after paralysis, while her coach Ohad Tanami carries the weight of war and loss together, they joined 300 cyclists and 17 rehabilitating children to complete a journey halted by war two years ago. Thirty kilometers in, on a cold night, in open terrain near Modi’in, a flat tire brings everything to a halt. Mati Weiss, 18, sits on her bicycle reading a book, waiting patiently as her coach, Ohad Tanami, fixes the punctured wheel. As he works, Ohad finds himself thinking of a sentence his battalion commander, Nati Alkobi, used to repeat: “Do the very best, and then a little more, and we will have a different country.” Nati was killed in combat in Khan Younis, four days before the end of Ohad’s first reserve duty rotation in the war. The sentence stayed with him. It accompanied them not only throughout the 260 kilometers of the cycling journey completed by Mati, Ohad and the rest of the group, but throughout the emotional journey they have traveled since October 7. “After Nati was killed, I needed time for myself,” Ohad shares. “I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress. I lost close friends. I felt I couldn’t commit to a journey like the one we did the year before.” After several months, he decided to return. For Mati. For himself. For Nati. READ MORE

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After a tragic road accident that nearly cost him his leg, Amri spent months in rehabilitation at ALYN Hospital before returning home to his friends and family—and along the way, his parents shared a message that stayed with us: "In a magical city, between mountains and quiet neighborhoods, there is a place like no other. Anyone lucky enough to arrive here discovers something wondrous, a home filled with superheroes disguised as everyday heroes, angels in the form of nurses and caregivers, and musicians conducting the orchestra in the shapes of doctors and therapists. Four months ago, we came here lost and hurting. Between long days and longer nights, within the walls of the ward, you lit a light for us, a light of gentleness, of patience, of boundless humanity. In a difficult time, you became our anchor, the steady hand that held us when our strength trembled, and the wide, wordless embrace that carried us forward. You do not only heal wounds, you also restore faith. You do not only treat the body, you also touch the soul. Thank you for being the light in our healing journey, for turning pain into hope…"

Article by Steven Stark Lowenstein in The Times of Israel

This November, we are kicking off the month with community, movement, and more! November 3–6, you joined us in Israel at Wheels of Love and were able to see firsthand the incredible multi-disciplinary approaches ALYN Hospital uses to make each child’s state-of-the-art therapy fun, effective, and long-lasting, allowing them to ride with us through the mountains of Galilee and beyond!  Whether it be hydrotherapy on the rooftop pool, physical therapy and diagnosing using Virtual Reality, or mobility exercises in the hospital, each form of therapy is crafted by a team of experienced experts who prioritize reintegration and management of the patient and family needs inside and outside the hospital. And it all starts with getting active.

Every day, children at ALYN push boundaries and take new steps toward independence. By following us on social media, you’ll get a front-row seat to their inspiring stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and updates on how American Friends of ALYN supports these incredible children. We’re now on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn —and most recently, TikTok ! Our feeds offer more than just updates: you’ll see the dedication of ALYN’s therapists, get a glimpse inside our innovation space, PELE, and witness the amazing progress children achieve every day. You’ll also stay up to date on Wheels of Love, Heels of Love, our Young Professionals Program, and other events that help raise awareness for ALYN and AFAH. When you follow, like, share, or comment, you’re helping spread awareness and grow our community of supporters. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and TikTok to see hope in action and help children reach their fullest potential.

As I walk down the steps of the rolling hills of Jerusalem, I breathe in the fresh air, taking in my surroundings. There are children of all ages, laughing, running, rolling, swimming, gardening—filling the atmosphere with a sense of joy and strength you’d think belonged only in fiction novels. You see, this isn’t any

June 2025 Newsletter

June 2025 Newsletter

June 2025 Newsletter

Gharam, a 14-year-old from Jerusalem, has a simple wish: to be able to walk normally and go out with her friends, like she used to before she was badly injured in a car accident. After a complex surgery and three months in a cast, Gharam visits ALYN Hospital for weekly occupational therapy sessions. She spends some of her time in the Virtual Reality (VR) room using products developed by Senserum , an ALYNnovation portfolio company. The VR room is inviting and welcoming. Once the children put on their VR headsets, they are transported to a world devoid of disabilities and difficulties. Instead, they are immersed in a game or action that requires mobility. It’s hard work, but they WANT to do it so they can win the game or succeed at the task they’ve been given. “It’s fun for me and I enjoy the VR therapy,” Gharam says with a smile. “Some of the other therapies are boring or painful. In the VR room I move much more because I forget the pain and concentrate on the games and activities.”  And Gharam? She is working hard toward her goal of walking without crutches. “In the VR room I am walking much better. I can’t wait to walk everywhere without pain, get back to school and hang out with my friends”

Tzlil was seriously injured in a car accident. She arrived at ALYN on a respirator and in a coma 10 months ago. Even veteran ALYN staff, who had seen miraculous recoveries against all odds, had a bad feeling that this time the cruel reality was that this young girl would never come out of the coma and would remain in nursing care for good. Indeed, over the first few months, Tzlil did not respond at all despite the various therapies and medications. Her days were spent in agonizing discomfort, while her dedicated family surrounded her with love, never giving up. Gradually, the discussion turned to the possibility of transferring Tzlil to a nursing home. Surprisingly, four months after the accident, Tzlil began to respond to music, to speech and to touch, although she was still unable to express herself in any way. Once she started responding, improvement was slow but unremitting. I have known Tzlil and her parents throughout the entire 10 months. I have seen how they have reached out for support from different parts of their community. How they have recruited top musicians and songwriters to come to her bedside, and how her first responses were to familiar songs, although we still did not hear her voice.  Tzlil is still making progress, now talking fluently. She still requires a lot of assistance in activities of daily living, and is still working to improve through multidisciplinary therapies by our Brain Injury Team. She ambulates in a powered wheelchair and will probably be a day patient at ALYN for months to come. The road ahead for Tzlil is still long, but she will fight alongside us to earn her right to her own voice and opinion and ability to function in a world that won’t give up on children like her.

Shimon is almost 12 years old and is a triplet! He was born healthy and remained healthy until he started having back pains earlier this year. After going to the doctor and having a number of tests including an MRI, the doctors discovered that he had a malformation of the blood vessels leading to his spinal cord. Due to complications of the surgery, he was left paralyzed from the waist down (paraplegic). When Shimon came to ALYN Hospital in April 2019 (just a few days before Pesach), he was not able to hold his own body weight to sit up at all. He needed a specialized wheelchair that supported his entire body in a sitting position. Today, after a tremendous amount of effort working in various therapies, especially physiotherapy, Shimon is now able to use a regular wheelchair. He also has intensive occupational therapy, hydrotherapy and psychological treatment, and he learns in the ALYN Hospital Learning Center within the Rehabilitation Department to help him stay on target with his progress in school. His treatments are augmented by using medical clowns, virtual reality, therapeutic gardening, animal assisted therapy, art and the therapeutic sports center. In addition to all of the above, the ALYN Hospital staff of the Learning Center as well as the social worker reached out with advice and guidance to the staff of Shimon’s school regarding what adaptations would be needed in order to re-admit him – with his wheelchair – this fall so that he can go back to his class, his teachers and his friends. He still has a long road of continued rehabilitation ahead of him, but Shimon and his family can take comfort in the knowledge that they can rely on the ALYN Hospital staff to be there for them the entire way. 

In December 2014, Raz Ben David experienced a spinal cord infarction, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. The doctors who diagnosed him at a general hospital thought the damage was so severe that he would not walk again. The following month, Raz was referred to ALYN Hospital for rehabilitation. Turns out he is one of only 33 people in the world who have had this specific type of spinal cord infarction. As far as we know, no other known patient with this specific condition is reported to have mobility except for Raz. At ALYN, he received intense physical therapy, hydrotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as psychological support for both him and his parents. Raz’s father says about the staff at ALYN, “The people here are amazing, truly amazing. They are giving, caring, genuinely concerned and do their very best.”