Jeb Brownstein, 68, has completed 13 Wheels of Love rides in Israel. But when he talks about what has kept him returning for nearly two decades, he does not begin with the miles, the climbs or even the finish line.
He begins with ALYN Hospital, Israel’s only pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation hospital. “The hospital itself is truly an amazing place,” Brownstein said. “It is a place that performs miracles—literally miracles.”
Brownstein first learned about Wheels of Love through Steve Zerobnick, one of the ride’s original founders in 2000 and the husband of his longtime friend Rebeca. Already an avid cyclist with a longstanding connection to Israel, Brownstein joined his first ride in 2008.
One ride became 13. There is, Brownstein readily admits, something personal in the ride. “It’s a very challenging event,” he said. “When I’m able to complete it, it’s very reaffirming.”
But the reason he returns goes far beyond cycling. “It’s also the most tangible way that I can contribute to Israel,” he said. Over the years, Brownstein’s commitment has also become a shared one. Friends and family have rallied behind his participation and fundraising year after year, allowing the impact of each ride to extend far beyond the person on the bicycle. Brownstein is quick to recognize that their generosity has been an essential part of what he has been able to accomplish for ALYN.
Wheels of Love raises over $2 million for ALYN Hospital annually. Children and adolescents with congenital and acquired disabilities receive specialized rehabilitation. The goal is helping each child reach the greatest possible level of mobility and independence.
For Brownstein, that mission is something he has witnessed firsthand. During the five years he lived in Israel, from roughly 2008 to 2013, he volunteered at ALYN and watched children progress through their rehabilitation over time. “I saw with my own eyes the growth of these kids,” he said.
What stayed with him was not only their progress, but the determination of the staff helped them achieve it. Brownstein recalled ALYN’s teams continually finding ways to meet children at their individual abilities while encouraging them toward the next milestone. “They’re constantly challenging them,” Brownstein said, “so that they progress and become thriving individuals.”
Brownstein’s admiration extends across the ALYN community, from the children and their families to the staff supporting them through rehabilitation. “You hear words like dedication and heart. This is the culture at ALYN. You have to have a special kind of soul to work at a place like ALYN.”
In that sense, Wheels of Love has given him a way not only to support a hospital he deeply believes in, but to bring the people around him into that mission—and to form new friendships along the way. It is perhaps why one ride could so easily become 13.
Asked what he most wanted people to understand about ALYN, Brownstein returned to a familiar teaching by Rabbi Hillel: saving one life is like saving an entire world. “We’re saving worlds,” he said. “One life at a time. That’s honestly how I feel about that place.”
This November, you can experience it for yourself. Wheels of Love returns to Israel November 8–12, 2026, bringing together participants from Israel and around the world in support of ALYN Hospital. The 25th ride includes cycling routes for different levels, as well as hiking and touring options.
