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

Medical clowning in Israel has become a global leader over the past two and a half decades, with organizations like Dream Doctors and Simchat Halev providing therapeutic support in hospitals. Dream Doctors, founded in 2002, employs salaried medical clowns who work as paraprofessionals, even participating in medical procedures and pioneering trauma care. Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, medical clowning has taken on an expanded role in supporting healing and resilience, with clowns working around the clock with traumatized individuals and families. Studies show medical clowning can reduce anxiety, pain, and crying in children during hospital procedures. As medical clown Shira Friedlander, known as Shorty, states, "It isn't a nice-to-have. It's part of recovery. We're part of a giant system."