From Different Hospitals to One Underground Facility: A Mother and Son at Rambam
- RHCC
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
After long stretches without seeing each other, a mother and son employed at different medical centers reunite—deep in the Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam).
Haifa resident Eyal Goldenshtein (25) works as a security officer at Rambam, while his mother, Ilona (62), is a nurse at Carmel Medical Center (Carmel). Their demanding, often opposing shifts keep them apart for days at a time.
“I’ve worked at Rambam for almost three years,” Eyal says. “And during this time, it’s already the third national emergency in which the fortified underground hospital has been activated. During air‑raid sirens, we head straight to the underground hospital for protection.”
“When Eyal started working at Rambam, I felt so proud, but I miss him—we’re often on opposite schedules,” Ilona says. “Sometimes we don’t see each other for days. At least his laundry still finds its way home,” she adds with a laugh.
When Operation Roaring Lion began and patients and staff from regional hospitals—including Carmel—relocated to Rambam’s fortified underground facility, Ilona joined them, in what became her second term working in the underground hospital.
“When we meet in passing, we catch up—even for a few minutes. And when we manage to meet at home, it’s a celebration—we sit down to eat together, and when we meet underground at Rambam, I always ask for a selfie,” Ilona says with a broad smile. “Eyal tries to resist, but he doesn’t stand a chance. I love it when people recognize me as his mom. Even hearing from colleagues that he was here a short while ago is enough to lift my spirits.”
Eyal adds, “We’re handling complex cases, more military helicopters, and rocket fire—it's a challenging workload. But we’re responsible for helping and protecting our patients. Amidst the chaos, having my mom close by is truly wonderful.”
Ilona and Eyal Goldenshtein share a united message: “Unity brings strength. We wish everyone good health, and with God’s help, may this end soon and the skies be blue and quiet once again." They add that even brief encounters are enough—for now—so long as their family remains safe and well.
