For months, Lynn sat by her husband’s side as he received treatment at Sha’are Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The couple, however, lived about an hour away in Kfar Saba, so the daily commute gradually became overwhelming. As the exhaustion of travel wore her down, she realized she needed a more sustainable solution to be with her husband through his hospital stay — a place near the hospital where she could rest and regain her strength.

Yad Sarah’s Hospitality Suites became that place.

Located just a short walk from Sha’are Zedek, the suites provide modest, comfortable overnight accommodations for families supporting loved ones in the hospital. For Lynn, the room became more than a place to sleep. It lifted the burden of frequent travel and gave her a quiet space to recharge before returning to her husband’s bedside.

When her stay at the Hospitality Suite came to an end, Lynn returned her keys to Shoshi, a Yad Sarah volunteer. During their conversation, Shoshi learned that Lynn has a background in therapy and caregiving. Yet despite years of helping others, Lynn admitted that she could use emotional support of her own.

Recognizing the need, Shoshi immediately connected her with Yad LaTomech, Yad Sarah’s support service for caregivers. That same day, Yad Sarah’s program coordinator reached out, listened to Lynn’s story, arranged support sessions, and referred her to therapist Shula Wolf.

Last week, Lynn returned to Yad Sarah — not for assistance, but simply to say thank you. She shared that her sessions with Shula had given her strength during one of the most difficult periods of her life, offering moments of relief amid days filled with worry and uncertainty.

Yad LaTomech, meaning “A Helping Hand,” is a counseling service for individuals caring for loved ones facing illness, disability, or aging. The program recognizes that caregivers take on the responsibility of caring for others, which can cause a sense of isolation and depression. Yad Sarah’s Yad Latomech program provides help and hope to these individuals through counseling, therapy, and support services.

Yad Sarah currently offers Yad LaTomech services in Jerusalem, Raanana, Rishon Lezion, Beersheva, and Maale Adumim, with plans to expand to additional branches across Israel.