Left to right: Prof. Joseph Press, Prof. Michael Zilberman and Dr. Isaac Yaniv

The “The Day I Will Never Forget” Art Exhibition of works by children in Hematology-Oncology Departments in the Middle East and the United States was opened at Schneider Children’s Medical Center. The exhibition of artwork by children with cancer was initiated in 2007 by the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC), which connects and promotes cooperation between children with cancer in the Middle East and the USA. The initiative to exhibit the artwork at Schneider Children’s resulted from a collaboration between the MECC; Maskit Shochat, Director of the Educational Center; and Dr. Isaac Yaniv, Director of the Hematology-Oncology Department. The exhibition includes over 200 paintings done by children from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, USA and others.

Participating in the opening event was Prof. Joseph Press, Director of Schneider Children’s, Prof. Michael Zilberman, CEO of MECC, and renowned Israeli actress and guest-of-honor, Gila Almagor, who has been an active volunteer for many years in the Oncology Department at Schneider Children’s. Children were asked to choose a topic of particular interest from among 11 different categories for their artwork. Themes included family outings, holidays, hopes and dreams, treatment and more. The resultant artwork underscores the fact that differences of race, religion, and nationality become blurred in the face of daily coping with the disease.

The Hematology-Oncology Department at Schneider Children’s headed by Dr. Isaac Yaniv, treats and follows-up hundreds of infants, children and adolescents from all over the country and world, who have contracted malignant diseases and various malignant blood diseases. Physicians in the Hematology-Oncology Department at Schneider Children’s, who are among the best oncologists in the country dealing with cancer, bone marrow transplantations and blood diseases in children, participate regularly in leading international treatment protocols.

According to Maskit Shochat, Director of the Educational Center at Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, “the use of art as a part of treatment and support of children in oncology has proved to be a significant factor for children of all ages. Art therapy is a medium that allows creative communication in children in general and sick children in particular, and opens channels for emotional expression of fears and desires and in this way, responds to their psychological and emotional needs. We are happy and excited to host this art exhibition at Schneider Children’s.”


January 2010