A decade ago, on the eve of Yom Kippur in 2016, an extraordinary medical evacuation unfolded, highlighting remarkable international cooperation and determination in the face of crisis. The Grinfeld family from Ma’aleh Michmas, northeast of Jerusalem, was vacationing in Georgia during the Tishrei holidays when their trip took a tragic turn.
The family, consisting of Noa and Hanoch Grinfeld and their four children—Yiftach (11), Ahinoam (10), Ivri (7), and Nevo (5)—were touring the mountainous Tusheti region, known for its natural beauty and challenging terrain. While navigating the notoriously dangerous Abano Pass, deteriorating visibility led to their rented vehicle sliding off the narrow mountain road and falling into an 80-meter ravine.
The accident left Ahinoam and Nevo dead at the scene. Hanoch survived but was injured, and Noa and Yiftach sustained serious injuries, with Noa unable to move her legs. Ivri was still conscious and able to call out to his father. After regaining some composure, Hanoch managed to reach nearby roadways and alert local authorities, beginning a treacherous rescue operation that involved a 220-kilometer journey over rough roads to Tbilisi, the Georgian capital.
Once in Tbilisi, Georgian medical staff provided care but recognized that Noa and Yiftach required more advanced treatment available only in Israel. However, with Yom Kippur imminent, Ben-Gurion Airport had been closed for several years during the holiday, and Israeli emergency services were not operating, complicating plans for medical transport.
A family friend reached out to VitalOne, a U.S.-based medical transport company, which agreed to facilitate the evacuation. To proceed, permissions had to be secured from multiple Israeli government bodies, including the Civil Aviation Authority, the Airports Authority, the Transport Ministry, and the Prime Minister’s Office. Ground and flight crews, medical teams, and logistics had to be arranged on a holiday when essential services are traditionally suspended.
A further challenge was Noa’s unstable cervical spine injury, which concerned Georgian hospital officials reluctant to approve her transfer. The family sought an orthopedic surgeon willing to oversee her transport—one who initially hesitated due to the timing but agreed once the airport was reopened for the mission.
The orthopedic surgeon, Prof. Josh Schroeder of Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, received notification during Yom Kippur prayers that the evacuation was approved. He quickly gathered equipment and joined the medical team on a night flight to Tbilisi. Upon arrival, Schroeder provided critical cervical spine stabilization to Noa and intervened in the care of Yiftach, whose treatment for a complex fracture he deemed inadequate. Despite initial reservations from local doctors, Schroeder assumed responsibility and adjusted the treatment plan.
Following hours on the ground, the team returned with the injured family members to Israel. Despite the holiday, medical staff at Hadassah Medical Center had mobilized by walking, biking, or ambulance to provide urgent surgery, which lasted throughout Yom Kippur. The successful interventions were accompanied by prayers for healing in the hospital’s synagogue, underscoring the emotional weight of the day.
Ten years later, the family expressed gratitude to those involved in the rescue. Yiftach, who suffered the most complex injury, has since married, a sign of resilience and recovery. Schroeder, now head of Hadassah’s Spine Unit, reflected on the mission as a fulfillment of professional and personal commitment, emphasizing the privilege Israeli medical professionals feel in being able to assist patients even on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
This remarkable episode exemplifies the intersection of international cooperation, medical expertise, and cultural dedication in a crisis that tested the limits of emergency response in extraordinary circumstances.