Toys for Hospitalized Children opened the Bibas Family Playroom at Schneider Children’s Medical Center in central Israel on Aug. 6 as part of a grand opening that marked the first in a series of four therapeutic playrooms for children facing medical challenges.
It was named in memory of Shiri Bibas, 32, and her young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were murdered after being taken hostage during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Among those in attendance were 35-year-old Yarden Bibas, Shiri’s husband and father of the two boys, along with other members of the Bibas family, as well as hospital leadership and donors of the project.
Board member and philanthropist Michelle Domb remembers the day she came up with the idea. She was visiting Schneider Children’s Hospital as part of her work with the nonprofit Toys for Hospitalized Children. It was the same day of the Bibas family funeral, their memory marked across Israel by waves of bright-orange balloons to symbolize the color of the red-headed boys.
Later that day, she visited Rachel’s Tomb. Emerging from that sacred space, Domb turned to the president of Toys for Hospitalized Children, Rabbi JJ Hecht II, and said: “I want to dedicate one of the playrooms in honor of the Bibas family.”
The Bibas Family Playroom is an immersive space, designed to reflect the warmth of the family’s kibbutz. It features butterflies, bright-orange flowers and touches that honor the children’s memory, including Tonto, the family’s dog, and a purple elephant, one of Ariel and Kfir’s toys.
“This playroom aims to bring light during life’s darkest times,” said Domb. “It’s a space where children can play, smile, and recover. A reminder that joy is a crucial part of healing. Happy kids heal faster.”
Partnering in this project is Sruli Anatian, who dedicated his support in honor of his mother, Dorit. “My mother taught me that kindness knows no bounds,” Anatian said. “Helping create this room was my way of sharing her love by spreading joy where it’s needed most.”
Maurice Shnaider, an uncle of Shiri Bibas, said: “When Rabbi JJ told me about the playroom to honor Ariel and Kfir, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. After everything our family endured on Oct. 7, this space brings comfort. Seeing it bring joy to sick children is the greatest tribute we could imagine.”
Mindy Schneider, whose family is a major benefactor of the hospital and its magnificent glass building, also shared heartfelt words: “Shiri, Ariel and Kfir will live on through this playroom forever.”
The Bibas Family Playroom is the first of four therapeutic playrooms being built at Schneider by Toys for Hospitalized Children. Each is uniquely designed to spark creativity, stimulate the senses, and help children feel like children even in the middle of medical hardship.
“This isn’t just a room with toys,” said Hecht. “It’s a place where joy becomes part of the cure. When a child plays, they begin to heal, body and soul.”
Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, CEO of Schneider Children’s, said: “At Schneider, we believe healing is not just physical. Children are whole beings, emotional, creative, spiritual. This playroom brings that belief to life.”
