In Israel’s southern frontier, a leading rehabilitation village builds resilience by Healing Body & Soul

Located just a short drive from the Gaza border in the vast Negev Desert of southern Israel stands a place that symbolizes resilience and rehabilitation in the shadow of ongoing regional challenges. Supported by Jewish National Fund-USA, this oasis of recovery—ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran—is more than a hospital. It’s a state-of-the-art rehabilitation village spanning 40 acres, providing critical care for children, adolescents, and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities, as well as wounded soldiers and civilians from communities affected by October 7 and the ensuing conflict.

A Testament to Physical and Communal Resilience 

Following Iran’s June 19, 2025, morning ballistic missile barrage on Israel, which directly hit Be’er Sheva’s Soroka Medical Center, damaging the hospital’s old surgical ward and seriously injuring six people, Soroka began transferring patients in need of rehabilitation to the Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center at ADI Negev 

Established in June 2022 and powered by Jewish National Fund-USA, the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center was purpose-built to withstand nuclear, chemical, and biological attacks—ensuring uninterrupted care even during war. Since October 7, 2023, it has been a cornerstone of Israel’s medical resilience, providing world-class rehabilitative and emotional care for dozens of wounded IDF soldiers and civilians. The hospital’s Neurological Patient Ward even doubles as a bomb shelter. 

“Three years ago, we opened the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center to meet the urgent needs of the Negev’s residents,” said Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, founder and chairman of ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran. “By design, our center was built to protect against all security threats and continue operating even during times of emergency. This medical center is part of our contribution to Israel’s national resilience and the medical security of the region.” 

The Human Side of Healing 

For Ilana Shoat Narkis, the village’s longtime psychological coordinator, the events since October 7 have transformed both the patients and the staff. “We treated a new population we usually don’t treat,” she explained. “Many of the workers themselves were traumatized, yet they had to come to work and care for patients. It was scary to even come here.” 

Recognizing that recovery begins with the caregivers, the rehabilitation village’s leadership launched programs to support their staff’s mental health, enabling them to continue providing compassionate, life-changing treatment for those coping with the trauma of war. 

For soldier Ron Vaknin, his road to recovery began at the village after suffering a severe leg injury during battle.  

“I was bombed in Gaza in February 2024, after two Hamas terrorists ambushed me in a trap house in Khan Yunis,” he recalled.  

The 22-year-old arrived at the center for a rehabilitation program that lasted nine months, living on-site and participating in daily therapy and physical training. His first goal was to stand on his own two feet, with the  

aim of one day running again. His next goal was to address PTSD.  

Through the post-trauma program, he worked with psychologists to process what he had experienced.  

“It’s a place where you can talk about all the bad things that happened to you. That’s how it worked for me,” he said.  

The progress, he said, has been “amazing” and “life-saving.” “I feel comfortable with my injury, physically and in my mind,” he added, explaining that he’s learned to not only talk about what happened but also direct his energy to a positive place and use the trauma to better understand his own capabilities and who he is deep down.  

“I prefer to talk about it, not hide it,” said Vaknin.  

Circles of Impact 

At the heart of this inspiring effort is Jewish National Fund-USA’s vision for a thriving, resilient future for the land and people of Israel. Through strategic investments in medical infrastructure, housing, and employment, the organization is working to attract 500,000 new residents to Israel’s south—creating communities that are strong not only in spirit but in opportunity. 

A Village of Hope 

Today, within the walls of the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center and throughout the village, patients and families rebuild what war has tried to take.  

While this oasis of healing exists in the shadows of a conflicted world, inside, the atmosphere feels different. It’s a place that thrives on the strength and enthusiasm of those aiming to overcome their complex hardships and situations. 

Through world-class facilities like ADI Negev, along with numerous other Jewish National Fund-USA initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for those living on Israel’s frontiers, the organization’s goal to attract 800,000 new residents to Israel’s North and South is more than just an ambitious dream. It’s something that becomes more of a reality every day.

To help Jewish National Fund-USA develop Israel’s North and South for all its residents, including those with disabilities, visit jnf.org/disabilities.