60 Faces of Reuth – Yael Ilan

The story of the Reuth TLV Rehabilitation Hospital, which celebrated its 60^th anniversary, is the story of people. Every day, hundreds of individuals walk through the hospital gates – some are going through extreme moments of crisis, for others the hospital is part of their daily routines.

We looked into the eyes of those people and captured their photos naturally, honestly, and without any means of embellishment or stylization. We photographed physicians, therapists, patients and their family members, all of whom are bravely fighting for their own lives or those of others.

Their stories share themes of struggle, hope, victory, life, health, and family – words that gain new meaning at Reuth.

Their portraits reflect the mosaic of Israeli society and the spirit of Reuth. At the hospital, Jews, Arabs, new immigrants, secular and religious individuals, as well as volunteers from Israel and abroad work shoulder to shoulder alongside patients and their families who are working to overcome difficulties and rebuild their lives.

A gray side wall of a hospital building became our backdrop and our studio. The photography is authentic and in its simple truth lies the power and radiance of this place.

About the photographer: Yael Ilan is a photographer of the Khan Theater and the Mishkenot Sha’ananim Music Center in Jerusalem. With 20 years of experience in documentary photography, Yael presented her work in numerous exhibitions, including a 2019 exhibition on Jerusalem in Paris.