Hadassah On Call's Benyamin Cohen shares his all-time favorite episodes of the podcast he hosts — one for each night of Hanukkah. This holiday, join him as he brings to life the medical miracles the doctors, nurses and staff at Hadassah's hospitals make happen every day.

My Eight Favorite Podcast Episodes of Hadassah On Call
By Benyamin Cohen

1. Post-COVID Health issues and Life After the Pandemic
I’m really proud of the fact that we’ve been able to pivot so quickly this year, producing additional COVID-themed episodes. This one is particularly intriguing because it examines all the strange “after-effects” of a disease we’re still wrapping our minds around.

2. Breast Cancer – Early Detection, Higher Risks and the Effect of COVID-19
Breast cancer is such a common and well-known disease, it’s easy to think we’re already familiar with all there is to know about it. But what I always enjoy about these interviews is how much there is still to learn. Both Prof. Beatrice Uziely and Dr. Shani Paluch-Shimon cover all the bases – including revolutionary new treatments on the horizon.

3. Behind the Scenes of Hadassah’s ICU
I’ve been doing this long enough that I know how valuable time is for these busy doctors. What stuck out for me on this episode was that after we finished recording, Dr. Van Heerden took the time to give me a tour of the ICU and introduce me to some of his patients.

4. Uncovering New Ways to Treat Kidney Disease in Children
Dr. Oded Volovelsky is one of the warmest doctors I’ve met so far on this journey, and we instantly bonded. Shortly after the recording, he was already making plans to visit me in the US on his next trip.

5. Face to Face with the Coronavirus
We recorded this episode back in March 2020, just as the vast scope of the pandemic was starting to become clear. Dr. Ran Nir-Paz offered both a calming and sobering look at what was unfolding.

6. Timing is Everything for Hadassah’s Director of OB/GYN
Dr. Asnat Walfisch is such a pleasure to interview. Her passion for her patients always shines through, and it was neat to see all the baby photos lining her office wall, reminding her each day of the impact she has on people’s lives.

7. The Future Is Now – Corneal Transplants and Eye Banks
I think we all take our eyes for granted, so it was fascinating to talk with someone who’s on the cutting-edge of corneal research. The story he told about the blind patient who was able to see again still sticks with me to this day.

8. This Israeli Midwife Believes Her Job Is Her Calling
This was the first episode I recorded as host of the show, so it’s particularly near and dear to my heart. Midwife Gila Zarbiv is originally from Pittsburgh, which is close to where I live, so we were able to talk about the warm and welcoming Jewish community there.

Benyamin Cohen is the host of two podcasts: Hadassah on Call: New Frontiers in Medicine, as well as Our Friend from Israel. The Editorial Director of From the Grapevine, he's written for publications including The Washington Post and Slate and is the author of the award-winning "My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith" (HarperCollins). Cohen was the founding editor of Jewsweek and American Jewish Life magazine.

Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine takes you behind the headlines with Hadassah Medical Organization doctors and specialists, patients and nurses. Listen and be amazed.

Love podcasts? Check out Hadassah's other podcast, too: The Branch: Real stories about building connections between Jews and Arabs.