Voice Of The Jewish News: Musa’s Jewish heart lives on
This week's editorial reflects on the amazing story of a Palestinian child who fought for his life after receiving a Jewish boy's heart in a transplant
When the Jewish News called Sheba Hospital to find out about the condition of the Palestinian baby, Musa, given a heart transplant in Israel last week, there was, for once, no need to explain on whose behalf we were inquiring.
Musa’s story, and the inspiring work undertaken by Sheba Hospital’s surgical and medical team, had captured the imagination and gone global. More than 22,500 people saw the story on social media and posted and re-posted it.
For this was not just a heart transplant. It was, as the doctors noted, a “hope transplant” — it was a heart donated by a Jewish Israeli family in the devout wish that another child could benefit.
Their own child had died of a chronic condition last week.
Amid all the hatred which has come to define the Middle East, it is unsurprising that Musa and the work done by the Jewish and Arab doctors and nurses should have struck such a powerful chord with readers worldwide.
Though, as we report this week, little Musa tragically died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the hospital will continue to perform radical and dramatic surgery on young children who need help, from whatever community.
That is the Israel we can all admire and support – and in some way, Musa’s Jewish heart will live on.
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