Life in Three Acts

The book is organized around three pivotal “acts” in Arkady Gorenstein’s life:

1.Childhood in Russia – Growing up in the 1950s, surviving under Nazi occupation, embarking on daring adventures along the Dnieper River, coming of age under a communist regime, pursuing medical studies, and working in remote regions.
2.Immigration and Life in Israel – Arriving with his family in the 1970s, navigating personal and societal adaptation, collaborating with fellow Russian physicians, integrating into Israel’s medical system, and serving in the IDF reserves.
3.Career as a Senior Physician – Practicing at Hadassah and Wolfson Hospitals, mastering Israeli medical techniques, engaging in academic and clinical work, co-founding the “Save a Child’s Heart” organization, and establishing the pediatric surgery department at Wolfson Hospital.

Originally written in Russian between 2012 and 2013, the book continues the tradition of Russian physician-writers, including Anton Chekhov, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Saul Tchernichovsky. Gorenstein’s autobiography blends depth, humor, optimism, and candor, even as he confronted serious illness. The Hebrew translation, by Dina Marcon, was published in the summer of 2014.

Arkady Gorenstein was born on July 6, 1941, in Kherson, then part of the Soviet Union. He studied medicine in Leningrad and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1978. He built a distinguished medical career while serving in the IDF reserves, holding senior positions at Hadassah and Wolfson Hospitals, where he founded the pediatric surgery department. Alongside Prof. Ami Cohen, he also played a key role in the Save a Child’s Heart organization.
The book draws on extensive archival research and firsthand interviews. Gorenstein’s writing places him in the tradition of Russian physician-writers such as Anton Chekhov, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Saul Tchernichovsky.