I, Neil Weisbrod, was born in New York City, started my career in public television in Boston, and made Aliyah with my wife in 1978. I spent 35 years of my career in Israel before pursuing documentary filmmaking in the Arctic for 15 years. I'm now approaching 80, and Israel is my longest home.

Yad Sarah was always in the background of my life. My wife worked as a tour guide, and occasionally tourists would injure themselves during visits to Israel. She would recommend they turn to Yad Sarah’s Tourist Services Program for readily available equipment. 

Yad Sarah’s equipment lending services later became personal for my family. In her final years, my mother-in-law required a special bed and a crane device to help her get out of bed. She rented everything from Yad Sarah. It was all there when we needed it. No drama. No slow bureaucracy.

I, too, have been the recipient of Yad Sarah’s services. I recently underwent reconstructive surgery on my left foot, and my surgeon told me that for the first six weeks after the operation, I couldn’t put weight on my leg. I went to Yad Sarah, spoke with volunteers, and proactively rented all of the equipment I thought I might need, including a small, light electric wheelchair, for a nominal monthly fee. Everyone I dealt with was a volunteer, each extraordinarily helpful and kind. The experience was overwhelmingly positive.

Yad Sarah is there for the people of Israel and all who visit. Equipment can be borrowed or purchased at a low cost. Clients place a deposit on certain rented items, and when you return them, you can choose to donate that deposit back to Yad Sarah. For people who cannot afford the minimal fee, Yad Sarah works out an arrangement. The organization lifts a critical financial burden by ensuring people can access the resources they need in their most vulnerable moments.

There's no equivalent institution to Yad Sarah in America. I don't know a single person in my circle who has had a negative experience with Yad Sarah. It functions as a safety net, working smoothly and silently in the background of life in Israel until the day you need it. Then, it's exactly what you need it to be.