Just before last week's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, Ada and Ze'evik Rubel inaugurated a guest room at Wolfson Hospital in Holon in the name of their son Bnaya, who was killed in the 2014 Gaza conflict.
The softly lit and comforting room has illustrated the harsh realities of life in the region for both the family and its very first guest.
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Saher Sabera, left, stands with Ada and Ze'evik Rubel outside the room named for their fallen soldier son and Saher at the hospital
(Photo: Lihi Krupnik)
The room's very first guest is Saher Sabera, a 44-year-old woman from Gaza who lost her brother in a 2008 attack by the Israel Air Force.
Sabera is accompanying her 9-month-old grandson Ibrahim as he is treated at the hospital as part of the "Save a Child's Heart" project that brings children from around the developing world for life-saving heart surgeries.
"When we came from Gaza, our situation was dire," says Sabera, who has been in Israel since November.
"In Gaza, the boy's fate was death. There is no technology in Gaza to treat his condition. [Wolfson hospital] received him with great warmth and carried out life-saving procedures."
Ada and Ze'evik for their part are happy for the chance to help anyone they can in their son’s name.
“We are all human beings and we are all looking to do good. This is what Bnaya would want,” says Ada, who says that the meeting with Sabera felt heaven sent.
“I had goosebumps," says Ze'evik. “We never dreamed of people coming from Gaza."
His wife adds: "Obviously this is not an easy time, but alongside the difficulties there is help from above to heal these wounds."
Ada says the guest room in her son's memory left her tearful but feeling tremendously close to her son.
After their initial encounter, Ada, Ze'evik and Sabera went into the room together, where Bnaya’s picture hangs beside the bed.
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The guest room at Wolfson Hospital created in Bnaya Rubel's name
(Photo: Lihi Krupnik)
"We thought about what to write in the room," says Ada.
“At first we thought of writing a biblical quote, but then came the thought that maybe a non-Jewish family would use it, so we decided that the quote would be something that embraces everyone."
She adds: "We have no trace of hatred or anger; we are all human beings. I said this before I knew who would be staying in the room. My heart goes out to them and I too would like my children to be cared for, wherever it may be, in the best way possible."
Sabera, despite her own haunting memories of the 2014 war, shares the sentiment.
"We are all ultimately human beings, this is above politics, which often sweeps the people to the side," she says.
"We pray to Allah that peace will return, that we will not suffer and that there will be no more wars."