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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

This clown eats bubbles, cracks jokes to help Israeli children recover from trauma

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Medical clowns in Israel use humor and play to help children cope with trauma and illness.
  • Israel is a global leader in medical clowning, with specialized training programs and a clinical approach.
  • The practice has gained renewed importance in supporting healing and resilience since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Shorty, a medical clown with a flamboyant costume and a penchant for bubble-eating jokes, works at Tel Aviv's children's hospital. Dressed in a lace cravat and a disco-themed cap, Shorty, whose real name is Shira Friedlander, is one of seven "Dream Doctors" at Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital. Her playful interaction with a young patient, whose tonsil operation shares a name with the doctor, highlights the blend of humor and empathy central to her role.

Israel has emerged as a world leader in medical clowning over the past 25 years. The country boasts two major organizations dedicated to the practice and hosts the world's first bachelor's degree program in medical clowning at Haifa University. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, medical clowning has become even more critical in fostering healing and resilience among children.

You’re joking. That’s it, I’m done. I have no reason to be here.

— Shorty (Shira Friedlander)The medical clown reacts playfully to learning a doctor's name is the same as a child's tonsil surgery.

Two main organizations operate in Israel: Simchat Halev, with around 500 volunteer clowns focused on entertainment and emotional relief, and Dream Doctors. Founded in 2002, Dream Doctors employs about 100 professional clowns in over 30 hospitals. These clowns work as paraprofessionals alongside medical teams, participating in procedures and offering support in operating rooms, oncology wards, and transplant units. They have also expanded their services to rehabilitation, trauma care, and adult wards.

Atay Citron, who established Haifa University's medical clowning degree program, noted the "audacity and insane courage" of Israeli medical clowns. He described their approach as characterized by an independent spirit, bold humor, innovation, and risk-taking, combined with formal training in attentive listening, hospital protocols, and collaboration with medical staff. This distinct ethos has impressed international practitioners like Ines Rosner, co-founder of a German medical clowning organization, who observed that in Israel, "you have an idea and you just do it."

In Israel, it’s common that you have an idea and you just do it.

— Ines RosnerCo-founder of a German medical clowning organization, she contrasts the Israeli approach with that in Germany.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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