Two Doctors, One Mission: Healing Israel Through Medicine, Service, Resilience

Editor’s note: This story was written before the Iran-Israel war began in the early hours of June 13. The doctors who The Algemeiner interviewed were unavailable to provide any additional comments after the conflict began, as they are in “emergency mode.”

Whether wearing scrubs or a combat medic’s uniform, Jewish Drs. Elisha Friedman and Steve Jackson share a common conviction: that healing and service are not just professions, but deeply personal acts of devotion to their people and their homeland.

Originally from New York, Friedman went to college in Boston and earned his medical degree in Cleveland before making the life-changing decision to relocate to Israel with his family in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I grew up with a strong love and appreciation for Israel and moving there was something I had considered for many years,” Friedman told The Algemeiner in an exclusive interview.

“Israel has always been a significant part of my life through my family’s upbringing, culture, and religion,” he continued.

More than just a matter of timing, Friedman explained that their decision to move to Israel was also deeply guided by what he and his wife believed was best for their children.

“Although we love America, we felt it was important to raise our children here to immerse them in the cultural, religious, and value-based environment we want for them,” he said.

Today, Friedman is a leading radiotherapy specialist at the Davidoff Cancer Center in Petah Tikva, where he directs care for patients with urinary cancers.

In the wake of the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Friedman discovered a renewed sense of purpose and urgency to help, looking for ways to use his medical expertise to support those in need.

“This is a national effort, and we are all part of a bigger collective effort to help in any way we can,” he said.

Since that day, he has dedicated himself fully to his work, caring for his patients despite the challenges and uncertainty brought on by the war with Hamas and other allied terrorist groups sponsored by Iran.

“Helping people and making a real difference in their lives is a strong source of motivation,” Friedman told The Algemeiner.

Even amid these challenging times, he described a palpable sense of solidarity in the country, a communal spirit that reinforces his belief that he is exactly where he’s meant to be.

“There is a strong sense of family and connection across the culture in Israel. This creates a very positive and motivating feeling,” he said. “I feel I’m truly contributing and making a significant difference here.”

A similar sense of purpose drives Jackson, a senior neurosurgeon at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, who is also a mohel and a former combat medic in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

A mohel is a trained practitioner who performs the ritual circumcision in Jewish tradition known as a bris.

Born in Montreal to a mother who survived Auschwitz and a father who fought in World War II, Jackson made aliyah — the process of Jews immigrating to Israel — in 1976 to fulfill a dream that had long taken root.

He went on to study medicine at Tel Aviv University and serve in the IDF combat units, carrying forward his family’s legacy of resilience and service.

“Making aliyah was fulfilling a long-planted dream,” Jackson told The Algemeiner in an exclusive interview.

Looking back on his time in the military, Jackson described it as one of the most important experiences of his life, one that instilled lasting values and helped shape the person he is today.

“When you’re in the army, nothing else matters — where you come from, whether you’re rich or poor. You’re judged by who you are and what you do,” Jackson said.

He believes that standing by your comrades in challenging times is what truly defines a person’s character.

“I loved every minute in the army. I’m proud to have served and to honor my family’s legacy,” Jackson said. “I consider myself very lucky to have had this experience.”

In the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 onslaught against Israel, Jackson felt a deep sense of sorrow that he could no longer serve his country on the front lines. Instead, he turned to his medical skills and years of experience to support those in need in any way he could.

Like many Israelis, Jackson experienced the Oct. 7 tragedy on multiple levels — as a doctor prepared to treat the countless wounded, but also as a husband, a friend, and a neighbor, sharing in the collective grief and resilience of his community.

“I wear different hats: mohel, doctor, soldier, father, and a husband — all high-intensity roles,” Jackson told The Algemeiner. “It’s essential to know how to compartmentalize, listen, and be present in the way each person needs.”

As a father, he was profoundly worried for his son, who was serving in the military, actively fighting in Gaza, and putting his life on the line to defend his country.

“I could not get a good night’s sleep during the six months my son was there,” Jackson said.

Even in such difficult times, Jackson points to the steadfast strength and resilience of the Israeli people.

“Israel is a tough country, and its people are tough as well — in the best, most positive way,” he said. “Living and working in Israel teaches you resilience — you have to be resilient.”

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