As we observe the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks—the largest single-day loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust—all of us are keenly aware that antisemitism has risen to alarming levels around the world.

And yet, when it comes to Jewish security, a lot of things are going right. Israeli society stands as united in defense as it is diverse in its opinions. Its citizen army crushed Hamas’s offensive capacity. The nation has withstood missile barrages from Iran and all of its proxies, relying on its vast network of shelters and, when necessary, evacuating citizens from the most vulnerable areas.

The Hadassah Medical Organization, too, has mobilized like never before to respond to a three-year state of emergency. Just two months into the war, we inaugurated the Gandel Rehabilitation Center on the Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus campus, months ahead of schedule, to meet the first wave of injured soldiers and civilians in need of recuperative therapy.

A decade before the war we had the foresight to build the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Tower, on our Ein Kerem campus, with five underground levels that include surgical and intensive care facilities. In 2024, we began the phased opening of the renovated Round Building (adjacent to the Davidson Tower) with four underground levels. Before the Iranian attacks, we also completed a quick conversion of underground parking lots into patient-care spaces.

Our medical professionals save lives every day. And one of Hadassah’s most dedicated and humble angels helped give closure to the families of terror victims who never reached a hospital. Dr. Esi Sharon-Sagie is director of the oral rehabilitation graduate program at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine. Some of the October 7 victims were so mutilated that identification appeared impossible, but she and her forensic team were able to identify victims’ remains through dental X-rays. In an article just published in Forensic Science International, she concludes, based on her experience, that comparative medical imaging should be considered “a robust and reliable identification modality,” comparable to fingerprints and DNA.

Of course, there are medical needs that go beyond war readiness. In 2026 alone HMO has opened two new maternity wards. The reason? Israel is the only country in the Western world experiencing a baby boom, indeed the only one where the birth rate is above replacement level. According to the Population Reference Bureau, Israel averages 2.7 births per woman, more than 50 percent higher than France and Australia, the nearest comparisons among developed nations.

One positive occurrence in a world that seems full of enemies and critics is the emergence of new allies. I am especially gratified by Hadassah’s relationship with the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, whose leaders I count not only as partners but also as dear friends. In May, AMMWEC members marched with their Jewish and Zionist friends in New York City’s Israel Day on Fifth Parade, and in July we co-sponsored the second annual joint conference of the National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate in Washington, D.C.

As a small people, we recognize that quality beats quantity. This is especially true when it comes to influencers. I am grateful to the Arab and Muslim influencers who defend Israel, often in the face of intense hostility. In July, Nuseir Yassin, the Arab Israeli vlogger, entrepreneur and creator of Nas Daily (with 14 million followers), spent a day at HMO; his video recording of the visit highlighted Hadassah’s history, excellence and reputation as a bridge to peace. He also managed to include a scene with his grandmother, who was discharged from our hospital—“in full health,” he emphasized—that very day.

October 7 is now observed on the Jewish calendar, on the 24th of Tishrei. It’s a day we will never forget. Nor should we ever forget to enumerate our blessings. As written in the Psalm, may we always go from strength to strength.