The Schneider-Lesser Family Pavilion

Schneider Children's, a member of the Clalit Group and the leading pediatric care hospital in Israel, inaugurated the new glass building last week – an additional inpatients facility located adjacent to the three-decade old stone building. 

The ribbon-cutting took place in the presence of the donors whose names appear on the building, Mindy Schneider Lesser and Dr. Michael Lesser, who came from the United States with their children Katie and Jake, and a group of friends to attend the opening. Also present was the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Moshe Bar Siman Tov, Chair of the Clalit Directorate, Mr. Yochanan Locker, Clalit CEO Mr. Eli Cohen, heads of hospitals in Israel, members from the business sector, and more. The President of the State of Israel, Mr. Yitzhak (Boogie) Herzog, sent a moving video recorded message. Two MCs, Ronny Dalomy and Yael Bar Zohar, shared chairing the event simultaneously in the stone and glass buildings. Entertainment was provided by Shiri Maimon, the Shalva and Moran choirs. "Heartbeat" exhibition photographs taken by Ziv Koren, who documented Schneider children three times over the past decade, were also displayed.

The 7-floor building, which was constructed according to the highest architectural standards, is located adjacent to the existing facility on an area of some 40,000 sq m, doubling the physical size of the hospital. The glass building comprises a 2-floor underground emergency hospital, fortified to withstand conventional, biological and chemical warfare and includes a protected and modernized neonatal department - the first of its kind in Israel - with 52 beds, 28 of which are in private rooms for the family and newborn, and the protected Dialysis Institute. 

The addition will enable Schneider Children's to absorb many more patients in Israel and from abroad. The area of each department has been enlarged by 150%. Inpatient departments that will be transferred to the new facility will comprise both individual rooms for the child and parents, as well as rooms with two beds. This capability, over and above the high standards and spacious areas, will promote the prevention of infections. After the departments move across, remaining units in the stone building will be gradually expanded and upgraded such as Hemato-Oncology, Cardiology, the Intensive Care Units, the Surgical Suite and other ambulatory services.

The glass building will include the sole Research and Innovation Center for children in the country and among the few in the world; the Center for Brain Diseases which will also integrate Neurology and Psychiatry and the Center for Clinical Research of the Brain; the Eating Disorders Institute; a synagogue, auditorim, movie theater and an outdoor therapeutic garden. 

The enhanced Educational Center will also move to the new facility and will embody an innovative interpretation of a "school for hospitalized children". It will be located in a large area at the front of the building in order to accord a unique environment linking children with the healthy world outside. The significance is to create added value through the integration of leisure time, research, art, music and the experience of a healthy routine, alongside mandatory studies as defined by the Ministry of Education. An underground parking area with 1000 spaces for patients and visitors is nearing completion next to the building.

Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, CEO of Schneider Children's, said that " Schneider Children's set a new bar and changed the face of pediatric medicine in Israel, and very quickly became recognized as one of the global leaders in its field. The founders of the hospital and the multidisciplinary staff weaved a distinct culture for all children wherever they may be, created a unique language with children and their families, and achieved medical successes adapted to all ages from infants to adolescents. At the same time, its popularity soared dramatically as its services grew in demand, resulting in heavy overload. 

"As part of the hospital's strategy plan a decade ago that was approved by Clalit's management, the idea of building an extension was presented by my predecessor, Prof. Joseph Press, that would grant Schneider the needed breathing space and allow it to take another step forward while reinforcing its renowned quality as the one and only unique center for children in Israel. The glass building propels us towards the future and heralds good news for pediatrics. The building was constructed according to the highest international standards and will promote the advanced professional care of many more children from all over the country. The hospital will underscore innovation, and offer a different hospitalization experience both from the aspect of the setting and the equipment, to the privacy for families."  

Mr. Eli Cohen, CEO of the Clalit Group, stated that "Schneider Children's is the leading hospital for children in Israel. The new inpatient building prepares it to meet the next 50 years and provides it with the most advanced infrastructures and abilities now and in the future. The unparalleled investment of both donors and Clalit ensures the continuation of its development and novel therapies in providing the finest pediatric care to every child in the country."

L-R: CEO Clalit, Mr. Eli Cohen, CEO Schneider Children's, Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, Director General of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Moshe Bar Siman Tov, and the Chair of Clalit Directorate, Mr. Yochanan Locker