Blue & White Night Gala Benefit Dinner
Our annual gala benefit dinner, this year named the Blue & White Night , was held on June 15, 2016 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The event was dedicated to fundraising to complete the construction of a new facility to house Soroka’s Rehabilitation Medicine Department. Soroka’s new rehabilitation center will serve the more than 1 million people living in the geography, representing the fastest growing region in Israel. This facility will contribute greatly to alleviating the suffering of patients and their families who would otherwise have to travel to Tel Aviv for rehabilitation treatment services. Attended by 300 guests, it was our most successful fundraising event to date.
Dan Abrams, chief legal affairs anchor for ABC News, welcomed guests as master of ceremonies for the event held at The Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The evening featured several inspiring speakers. Dr. Iuly Treger, chief of the Department of Rehabilitation at Soroka Medical Center informed guests on the importance of having family members present throughout the rehabilitation process. He shared a touching video showing patients from all walks of life during various stages of recovery. Mayor Gadi Yarkoni shared his touching story of tragedy and triumph. During Operation Protective Edge last year, Yarkoni was attempting to repair power lines with two of his friends, Ze’evik and Shahar. A heavy barrage of mortar fire landed near them just moments before the ceasefire was reached. During the attack Yarkoni lost both of his friends and both of his legs. He explained the challenges of having to relocate to Tel Aviv during his recovery and how hard it was on his family. Following his rehabilitation, Yarkoni went on to win an election Cantor Israel Singer, Mindy Gale Zeigerman, Amb. Ido Aharoni, Marc Bennett, Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld earning his title as Mayor of the Eshkol Council. His love and pride for Israel was apparent to all in the room that night.
Dan Abrams, chief legal affairs anchor for ABC News, welcomed guests as master of ceremonies for the event held at The Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The evening featured several inspiring speakers. Dr. Iuly Treger, chief of the Department of Rehabilitation at Soroka Medical Center informed guests on the importance of having family members present throughout the rehabilitation process. He shared a touching video showing patients from all walks of life during various stages of recovery. Mayor Gadi Yarkoni shared his touching story of tragedy and triumph. During Operation Protective Edge last year, Yarkoni was attempting to repair power lines with two of his friends, Ze’evik and Shahar. A heavy barrage of mortar fire landed near them just moments before the ceasefire was reached. During the attack Yarkoni lost both of his friends and both of his legs. He explained the challenges of having to relocate to Tel Aviv during his recovery and how hard it was on his family. Following his rehabilitation, Yarkoni went on to win an election Cantor Israel Singer, Mindy Gale Zeigerman, Amb. Ido Aharoni, Marc Bennett, Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld earning his title as Mayor of the Eshkol Council. His love and pride for Israel was apparent to all in the room that night.
Two Israelis were honored with awards recognizing their tireless efforts in support of their land.
Ambassador Ido Aharoni received the Statesman for Israel Award in recognition of his inspirational advocacy for Israel and his support for its institutions during his term as Counsel General for Israel in New York. Professor Zehavi Cohen received Soroka’s Distinguished Service Award. Prof.
Cohen served as the Director of Pediatric Surgery at Soroka from 2000 to 2014. The Soroka Pediatric Surgery Department is renowned for handling complex cases referred by all the hospitals in southern Israel treating infants and youth in a variety of surgical specialties including oncology.
Rabbi David Greenberg, spiritual leader of Temple Shaaray Tefila of Bedford, NY, made a special presentation of a check to Soroka – representing the culmination of a community- wide fundraising drive to raise the funds to dedicate a special new Incubator to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Israel Action Committee, the Men’s club, the Hebrew school and Bnei-Mitzvah groups have all held fundraisers to contribute to this projects for Soroka’s NICU.
A highlight of the evening featured the presentation of a special work of art created by artist Mark Podwal to Ambassador Ido Aharoni. The spectacular Jerusalem Rose was inscribed with a special message of thanks to Ambassador Aharoni, who has supported and encouraged all of the activities of American Friends of Soroka with his trademark collaboration and charm.
Mark Podwal is renowned for his innovative ink drawings and paintings of the Jewish experience. Initially known for his drawings on The New York Times Op-Ed page, he is the illustrator of numerous books in collaboration with the likes of luminaries such as Elie Wiesel, Harold Bloom, and Francine Prose. In pen and ink, gouache and watercolor this prolific artist universalizes the meaning of Jewish history, tradition and Biblical imagery. A sense of hope, joy, and the miraculous infuses each of Podwal’s often humorous and always clever images. Reimagined: 45 Years of Jewish Art, a collection of 350 of the artist’s drawings and paintings, as well his textile designs from the world’s most historic synagogues, will be published by Glitterati, Inc. in September 2016.
Special Guest Tal Brody took to the stage to introduce Miri Ben-Ari. Tal serves as Israel’s Good Will Ambassador and also added a unique warmth and excitement to the evening by declaring that, as evidenced by the enthusiastic crowd, Soroka is now “On the Map”.
The night ended with stunning visuals and inspiring sounds from Grammy Award-winning violinist, Miri Ben-Ari. She opened with an electronic song titled Intense, a collaboration she did with Armin Van Buuren that is very popular in Israel. She also played a number of her most popular ballads including Symphony of Brotherhood, which features excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech, to highlight the spectacular accomplishments people can make when they come together in brotherhood.
We thank the extraordinary committee who planned an executed this highly effective evening. Led by dinner chairs Caroline Friedfertig and Ruth Steinberg, the committee worked tirelessly to procure attractive auction gifts and create a magical ambience.
Ambassador Ido Aharoni received the Statesman for Israel Award in recognition of his inspirational advocacy for Israel and his support for its institutions during his term as Counsel General for Israel in New York. Professor Zehavi Cohen received Soroka’s Distinguished Service Award. Prof.
Cohen served as the Director of Pediatric Surgery at Soroka from 2000 to 2014. The Soroka Pediatric Surgery Department is renowned for handling complex cases referred by all the hospitals in southern Israel treating infants and youth in a variety of surgical specialties including oncology.
Rabbi David Greenberg, spiritual leader of Temple Shaaray Tefila of Bedford, NY, made a special presentation of a check to Soroka – representing the culmination of a community- wide fundraising drive to raise the funds to dedicate a special new Incubator to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Israel Action Committee, the Men’s club, the Hebrew school and Bnei-Mitzvah groups have all held fundraisers to contribute to this projects for Soroka’s NICU.
A highlight of the evening featured the presentation of a special work of art created by artist Mark Podwal to Ambassador Ido Aharoni. The spectacular Jerusalem Rose was inscribed with a special message of thanks to Ambassador Aharoni, who has supported and encouraged all of the activities of American Friends of Soroka with his trademark collaboration and charm.
Mark Podwal is renowned for his innovative ink drawings and paintings of the Jewish experience. Initially known for his drawings on The New York Times Op-Ed page, he is the illustrator of numerous books in collaboration with the likes of luminaries such as Elie Wiesel, Harold Bloom, and Francine Prose. In pen and ink, gouache and watercolor this prolific artist universalizes the meaning of Jewish history, tradition and Biblical imagery. A sense of hope, joy, and the miraculous infuses each of Podwal’s often humorous and always clever images. Reimagined: 45 Years of Jewish Art, a collection of 350 of the artist’s drawings and paintings, as well his textile designs from the world’s most historic synagogues, will be published by Glitterati, Inc. in September 2016.
Special Guest Tal Brody took to the stage to introduce Miri Ben-Ari. Tal serves as Israel’s Good Will Ambassador and also added a unique warmth and excitement to the evening by declaring that, as evidenced by the enthusiastic crowd, Soroka is now “On the Map”.
The night ended with stunning visuals and inspiring sounds from Grammy Award-winning violinist, Miri Ben-Ari. She opened with an electronic song titled Intense, a collaboration she did with Armin Van Buuren that is very popular in Israel. She also played a number of her most popular ballads including Symphony of Brotherhood, which features excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech, to highlight the spectacular accomplishments people can make when they come together in brotherhood.
We thank the extraordinary committee who planned an executed this highly effective evening. Led by dinner chairs Caroline Friedfertig and Ruth Steinberg, the committee worked tirelessly to procure attractive auction gifts and create a magical ambience.
