Israeli hospital officials meet with Kyiv mayor in Ukraine’s capital to discuss collaboration

With a menorah and Hebrew Bible on his office shelf, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko meets with Sheba Medical Center-Tel HaShomer officials responsible for the hospital’s international projects.

The Israelis — the same group that led the Israeli field hospital project in Lviv last year — are in Ukraine to explore ways to join the Kyiv municipality’s new rehabilitation initiatives.

For now, the Sheba officials are looking at training local professionals in physical and psychological rehabilitation, especially for soldiers. There is a possibility that down the road that there will be a standalone Israeli rehab center in Ukraine, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky tells The Times of Israel.

On May 30, the embassy will host a conference in Lviv in which Israeli medical centers and rehab facilities will showcase their capabilities and meet with Ukrainian officials to understand the country’s needs. The first ladies from both countries are expected to participate by videoconference.

The embassy in Kyiv is also planning to mark Israel’s Independence Day in the coming weeks. Next Friday, it is planning to unveil a mural in central Lviv depicting local Jewish poet Naftali Herz Imber, author of “Hatikvah”, Israel’s national anthem. The embassy has already overseen the creation of a mural in Odessa celebrating Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky, and in Dnipro depicting the poet Zelda.

The embassy is hosting a reception in the capital on May 15 to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.