As Israel marks Passover under the shadow of an ongoing war, Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) prepares to host what is expected to be the world's largest protected Passover Seder, held in its Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital.
Approximately 400 participants—patients, family members, volunteers, and staff—are expected to gather in the underground complex on the eve of the holiday, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in what will likely be the largest protected Seder in the world. This year marks the first time that Rambam’s traditional Seder will take place below ground, with the event held simultaneously across three separate stations inside the fully reinforced space.
Every year, the Passover Seder on the campus is led by Rabbi Shmuel Turkov, director of Chabad’s Lev Chabad at Rambam. Rabbi Turkov says that each year "we retell the story of the Exodus to remind ourselves of our roots and the values that shaped us as a people." He notes that "Given the circumstances, Passover carries even deeper meaning. In every generation there are those who rise up against us—but through unity, just as we overcame Pharaoh, we will overcome this as well."
Children Celebrate Early in Rambam’s Wartime Daycare
On Monday, March 30, some 250 children enrolled in Rambam’s underground emergency daycare center on the minus 2 level of the underground hospital—established for the children of hundreds of essential hospital workers—celebrated their own early Seder.
Among the many activities in the daycare center, they learned about holiday traditions, tasted symbolic foods, and explored the Passover story through a child-friendly Haggadah.
Maya Benjamin, Welfare Manager within Rambam's Learning, Welfare, and Human Capital Division, noted this is the first time Passover was celebrated under such complex wartime conditions. "In this difficult reality, we are able to give the children a safe place—a place of joy, protection, and today, the chance to celebrate Jewish tradition. This is our strength as a medical center and as a people."
Emergency Childcare as Part of Wartime Conditions
The dedicated daycare serves children ages three months to 12 years. The center functions thanks to extensive and ongoing collaborative efforts with the IDF Education Corps, Haifa Municipality, the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Division, Midreshet Tavor for Zionist Leadership, and Rambam retirees, who assist in daily activities alongside a variety of external enrichment programs.
Emergency childcare operations are managed by representatives from Rambam’s Division of Learning, Welfare & Human Capital—Maya Benjamin and Vicky Cohen—together with Rama Levi from the Human Resources Division.
