About Us

As Jerusalem's only centrally-located hospital, Shaare Zedek Medical Center has played a vital role in the development of the city over the past century. Since its establishment in 1902, Shaare Zedek has transformed itself from a small community facility into a comprehensive multi-disciplinary medical center, offering advanced services in numerous specialties. With over a thousand beds across thirty departments, the medical center also operates more than seventy outpatient units and clinics, all dedicated to the highest standards of medical care. 

For over a century, Shaare Zedek (meaning "Gates of Righteousness", borrowed from Psalms 118) has served the diverse, multi-cultural population of Jerusalem and its surroundings. Established in1902 as a 20-bed facility on Jaffa Road, Shaare Zedek was better known in its early years as "Wallach's Hospital", reflecting the indelible impression of its first Director-General, Dr. Moshe Wallach, who held this position for nearly half a century. Over the course of his career, Wallach pursued a vision of pioneering modern medical care in Jerusalem with scrupulous adherence to Jewish law and tradition. He was aided by "Schwester (Nurse) Selma" Mayer, his head nurse, whose duties included supervising and training nurses and midwives, accompanying Wallach on house calls, and standing in for him as hospital director when he was away. Schwester Selma's special brand of warm and personal care established the legacy that defines the hospital to this day. 

In 1979, Shaare Zedek moved to its current campus, opposite Mount Herzl, and over the years has transformed itself from a respected regional hospital into a major multi-disciplinary medical center with an international reputation for excellence in numerous specialties. 

In December 2012, Shaare Zedek was approached by the Israeli Ministry of Health to assumed operational control of Bikur Cholim Hospital in downtown Jerusalem, established nearly 190 years ago (originally in the Old City of Jerusalem), which became the Shaare Zedek City Center Campus. Following the merger, the number of births in the Shaare Zedek maternity departments grew to over 20,000 a year. 

The Yakum Next Generation Building, including the Wilf Children’s Hospital, opened in 2015, designed for the comprehensive care of infants and children. 

During the global effort against COVID-19 Shaare Zedek was one of Israel’s top six hospitals for the comprehensive treatment of the virus and made a significant contribution to the international research efforts in this area.

In 2022 the Helmsley Cancer Center opened as a six-story day hospital housing Shaare Zedek's medical, radiotherapy, counseling, spiritual and palliative oncological services under one roof. Defined by the ubiquitous presence of natural wood, and expansive, open spaces infused with natural light, the facility has been designed to place the patient experience at the center. 

In the coming years and decades, as healthcare needs continue to expand in step with the demographics of the capital, Shaare Zedek is preparing for continued and extremely ambitious growth that will entail a more than doubling in size and scope of services and facilities, including the recently-announced development of a 16-story inpatient tower.

Today, Shaare Zedek is located on a campus occupying approximately 45,000 square meters, adjacent to Mount Herzl. The importance of its central location in the city was recently reinforced with the opening of Highway 16, which feeds directly from outside the city entrance to the hospital  campus and cuts ambulance arrival times to Shaare Zedek by several critical minutes. The campus comprises ten interconnected buildings as well as extensive parking space. 

Shaare Zedek is the professional home of over 5,000 employees, including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and administrative and maintenance personnel. Among the medical staff there are many internationally-renowned doctors and nurses who are engaged in cutting-edge research to advance medical frontiers.

The efforts of the staff are further amplified by the assistance of approximately 700 volunteers (including National Service volunteers) who provide a variety of support services in all hospital departments.

The main ten-story building stands out at the heart of the Shaare Zedek complex. The three lower floors accommodate the most essential services, including operating rooms, the Emergency Medicine department (triage), the pharmacy, and the medical and sterile supply. These departments were intentionally built underground to ensure that life-saving treatments can continue uninterrupted even in times of conflict or any type of attack. The hospital has extensive experience in treating a wide range of trauma and emergency cases, and is prepared to provide quick and efficient care in mass casualty events.

Shaare Zedek is recognized as the official regional center for treating victims of chemical and biological warfare.

The hospital maintains a strong working relationship with the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), with collaboration on emergency preparedness. In addition, more than 12,000 soldiers are treated at Shaare Zedek annually. 

As a prestigious research and academic institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center serves as a training ground for medical students. Its affiliation with the School of Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem enriches and benefits both the hospital and the medical school, contributing simultaneously to the advancement of research, education, and medical care.

Shaare Zedek is a private-public medical center. The routine activities of the hospital are financed through medical services covered by the Health Funds, while research, the upgrading of vital equipment, and expansion of the array of services are dependent on the generosity of a worldwide community of friends.