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Prof. Dina Ben Yehuda has been selected for the prestigious national honor of lighting a torch at the state ceremony on Mount Herzl for Israel’s 78th Independence Day. Lighting one of the 12 beacons — the pinnacle of the ceremony marking the transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day — is one of the highest honors the State of Israel can bestow. This selection recognizes her lifelong commitment to the Israeli health system and her profound impact on the nation.
As the head of the Hematology Division at the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO), Prof. Ben Yehuda’s career is defined by lifechanging medical breakthroughs and historic leadership. She was the first woman to serve as Dean of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine and has held pivotal roles as Chairperson of the “Drug Basket” committee and Director of the Department of Research Medical Education.
Her dedication to medicine is deeply personal. Prof. Ben Yehuda knew she would become a doctor at just three years old, following the tragic loss of her seven-year-old brother, Zvika, to cancer. This early loss instilled a philosophy of care that transcends technology.
“Young physicians and nurses sometimes think they can use technical devices to diagnose their patients,” she says. “They don’t realize they need to touch and listen to them.”
Beyond her clinical excellence, Prof. Ben Yehuda is a decorated figure in Israel’s defense history. During the Yom Kippur War, she became the first female soldier to receive the IDF Chief of Staff’s Commendation for her initiative in gathering information on the fallen and missing while providing essential support to their families.
“Prof. Ben Yehuda is a symbol of the strong Israeli spirit,” said HMO Board Chair Dalia Itzik. “Her work embodies the values of Zionism and a profound love of humanity.”
Prof. Yoram Weiss, director general of HMO, said, “She is the most appropriate choice to represent the Israeli health system. She has saved countless lives through scientific breakthroughs and tireless service.”
Medicine and service are a true family calling. Her husband, Hadassah physician Prof. Arie Ben Yehuda, serves as the Ombudsman for Medical Professions at the Health Ministry and as head of Hadassah Hospital's Residency Center, having previously served as the director of the Internal Medicine Department.
The Ben Yehuda family legacy continues through the next generation as well. Their daughter, Dr. Sheer Shabat, is a rehabilitation physician who exemplifies her mother's values of empathetic, expert care. Since October 7, Dr. Shabat has led the rehabilitation process for wounded soldiers at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus, carrying forward an unbreakable spirit of healing.
