A stroke and five months of hospitalization could not prevent Eitan Karako from participating in the emotional bar mitzvah of his son, Shalev, at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel.
L–R: The Karako family, Tahel, Shalev, Eitan, and Eilat. Photography: Rambam HCC
Karmiel resident Eitan Karako (47) was already fighting an autoimmune disease when he suffered a sudden, complex stroke at the beginning of November. He was subsequently admitted to Rambam’s Department of Neurosurgery.
Karako was faced with a tremendous health challenge, right when he and his wife, Eilat Karako, were starting to plan their 13-year-old son’s bar mitzvah. Despite the initial uncertainty surrounding Karako’s condition, he gradually improved, giving everyone hope that he would participate in his son's milestone event. Esther Zigelboim, the social worker in Rambam’s Department of Neurosurgery, played a crucial role in coordinating the logistics for Shalev's bar mitzvah. Looking back she recalls, “Once Karako was in the clear, he began rehabilitation and the family was able to start preparing for Shalev’s bar mitzvah.” Her goal was to enable Karako’s participation.
His wife had the same hope and began thinking of ways to celebrate Shalev’s bar mitzvah with his father present at the event. With Eilat’s determination and the assistance of Zigelboim, Shalev's bar mitzvah was set for the first day of Adar Bet on the Jewish calendar (March 11) in the Rambam synagogue. Eilat Karako's meticulous attention to detail ensured that the event was marked with festivity, including fancy attire, refreshments, and an atmosphere filled with excitement and happiness. In the end, Shalev was surrounded by his loving family, including his father, mother, sister Tahel, extended family, and close friends. It was a joyful celebration of Shalev’s transition into adulthood.
Thanks to Rambam’s commitment to both patients and their families, the Karakos were able to celebrate this life milestone, demonstrating their strength, resilience, and unwavering love for one anothe
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