Every child deserves home Here, they find one

The story behind Ditmas

A child’s promise in darkness

The year is 1944. The place is crowded, enclosed by barbed wire and patrolled by soldiers whose eyes burn in cruelty. The air is thick with the acrid smell of smoke, despair, and the scent of death. Hunger gnaws at every stomach, and fear hangs heavy over the narrow streets.

A young boy stands in a long, silent line, awaiting his stale slice of bread and bowl of filthy water they call soup. His hands are thin and trembling, his frail body barely able to keep upright. Around him, quiet sobs echo—children too weak, too small to reach the food line at all. They collapse where they stand, succumbing to the hunger that steals their lives.

As his turn comes, this boy makes a vow from the depths of his heart:
“If I ever survive this nightmare, I will dedicate my life to saving children.”

From survivor to savior

This boy was Sander Oberlander. A Holocaust survivor who, against all odds, rebuilt his life and his spirit.

Years later, when he heard of a need for a place that could care for medically fragile children, Sander leaned in, asked questions, and listened to the parents who had nowhere to turn. While many dismissed the idea as financially unviable and far too complex to bring to life, Sander saw something else.

For him, it wasn’t a risk—but a calling.

The moment he had been waiting for.

The opportunity to fulfill the promise he made in that food line many decades before.

“Now it’s time to give back,”
he said. And with that, Ditmas Children’s was born.

A legacy of love

Though Sander is no longer among the living, his son Shabsy carries the Ditmas legacy with the same unwavering conviction that children deserve not only care, but dignity, joy, and love.

Today, Ditmas stands as a promise kept. A place built not for profit—but for purpose. A space where every child is seen, cherished, and cared for like their own.

Dr. Michael G. Marcus

Medical Director

Dr. Michael Marcus brings over 40 years of distinguished expertise in pediatric pulmonology, allergy, and critical care to his role as Medical Director of Ditmas Children's Nursing and Rehab. Board-certified in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy/Immunology, he currently serves as Vice Chair of the Pediatric Ambulatory Network and Director of Pediatric Pulmonology & Allergy/Immunology at Maimonides Medical Center.

As Associate Professor of Pediatrics at SUNY Downstate School of Medicine, Dr. Marcus has built one of New York State's largest pediatric pulmonary divisions and pioneered innovative care for technology-dependent and medically fragile children. His expertise in treating children with complex respiratory conditions and neuromuscular disorders has earned him consistent recognition as one of New York's "Best Doctors" by New York Magazine and the Castle Connolly Guide.

Dr. Marcus earned his medical degree from SUNY at Stony Brook and completed fellowships in Allergy/Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Chest Physicians, and American Thoracic Society, with extensive research contributions and nationwide speaking engagements on pediatric respiratory care.

Dr. Zalewitz

Clinical Care

Dr. Zalewitz has an incredibly fulfilling career in Pediatrics for over two decades. She practiced primary care pediatrics in the beginning, before deciding to pursue a new path as an inpatient hospitalist. Prior to joining Ditmas Pediatric Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in November, Dr. Zalewitz held a role encompassing both clinical care and administration at a pediatric inpatient acute rehabilitation hospital in New Jersey.

In her Medical Director role, she was responsible for the medical management of extreme preemies, babies with congenital anomalies, and children with various neuromuscular and genetic syndromes, while they underwent intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Her role in caring for these patients inherently encompassed palliative care principles and practice, for which she received training at Harvard. She found pediatric complex care to be incredibly rewarding and could not imagine doing anything else.

Dr. Zalewitz’s educational journey includes graduating from Cornell University, followed by Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel. She completed an internship year at Maimonides Medical Center and then completed residency in Pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. She is Board-Certified and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Zalewitz lives in New Jersey with her husband, three very energetic sons, and golden retriever. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, travelling, and cooking.