AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
IS AN ORGANIZATION FORMED BY INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, FAMILIES
AND BUSINESSES WHO GATHER TO JOIN FORCES IN BENEFIT OF
SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
THEIR EFFORTS AND DEDICATION NOT TO MENTION THE LOVE AND TIME
THEY INVEST IN THIS WORTHY CAUSE
HAD BEEN A TIRELESS WORK OVER DECADES AND
THAT LOVE AND DEDICATION HAD BROUGHT US TOGETHER ON
A LOVELY NIGHT OF SPRING AT THE PIERRE HOTEL WHERE
THIS AMAZING GALA TOOK PLACE SURROUNDED BY GOOD PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEARTS
THE EVENING STARTED WITH A GENEROUS COCKTAIL HOUR WITH A FULL BAR AND AMAZING FINGER FOOD AS WELL AS KOSHER AND VEGETARIAN FOOD
AMBIANCE WITH JAZZ MUSIC MAKING THE EVENING EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE
ATTENDEES ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON BEAUTIFUL ITEMS AT THE SILENT AUCTION
SPONSORED BY DOZENS OF DONATIONS FROM GREAT TRIPS TO FINE JEWELRY
THE SITTING DINNER TOOK PLACE AT THE FOREVER CLASSIC AND ELEGANT BALLROOM
THIS BLACK-TIE DINNER START IT WITH WELCOME REMARKS FROM
MICHELLE DIVON, THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE EVENING
THE
AMERICAN AUTUMN WAS SUNG BY DANIELLE GOZ
AND
THE ISRAEL AUTUMN WAS SUNG BY “HA TIKVA” DAVID SERERO
SPECIAL GUEST DR. YASMEEN ABU FRAIHA WHO IS ONE OF THE KEY PERSONS AT
SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
A VIDEO PRESENTATION SHOWED THE PROGRESS OF THE CENTER AND THE PLANS FOR ITS FUTURE
SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO DEVELOP THE NEGEV BIOBANK (NBB), A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE SOROKA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (SUMC) AND THE BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV (BGU).
Soroka Medical Center is a increasing unit for innovation in cancer care, integrating breakthrough research and technology," remarks Professor Itzhak Avital, head of the Legacy Heritage Oncology Center and the Dr. Larry Norton Institute at Soroka Medical Center
IS AN ORGANIZATION FORMED BY INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, FAMILIES
AND BUSINESSES WHO GATHER TO JOIN FORCES IN BENEFIT OF
SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
THEIR EFFORTS AND DEDICATION NOT TO MENTION THE LOVE AND TIME
THEY INVEST IN THIS WORTHY CAUSE
HAD BEEN A TIRELESS WORK OVER DECADES AND
THAT LOVE AND DEDICATION HAD BROUGHT US TOGETHER ON
A LOVELY NIGHT OF SPRING AT THE PIERRE HOTEL WHERE
THIS AMAZING GALA TOOK PLACE SURROUNDED BY GOOD PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEARTS
THE EVENING STARTED WITH A GENEROUS COCKTAIL HOUR WITH A FULL BAR AND AMAZING FINGER FOOD AS WELL AS KOSHER AND VEGETARIAN FOOD
AMBIANCE WITH JAZZ MUSIC MAKING THE EVENING EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE
ATTENDEES ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON BEAUTIFUL ITEMS AT THE SILENT AUCTION
SPONSORED BY DOZENS OF DONATIONS FROM GREAT TRIPS TO FINE JEWELRY
THE SITTING DINNER TOOK PLACE AT THE FOREVER CLASSIC AND ELEGANT BALLROOM
THIS BLACK-TIE DINNER START IT WITH WELCOME REMARKS FROM
MICHELLE DIVON, THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE EVENING
THE
AMERICAN AUTUMN WAS SUNG BY DANIELLE GOZ
AND
THE ISRAEL AUTUMN WAS SUNG BY “HA TIKVA” DAVID SERERO
SPECIAL GUEST DR. YASMEEN ABU FRAIHA WHO IS ONE OF THE KEY PERSONS AT
SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
A VIDEO PRESENTATION SHOWED THE PROGRESS OF THE CENTER AND THE PLANS FOR ITS FUTURE
SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO DEVELOP THE NEGEV BIOBANK (NBB), A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE SOROKA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (SUMC) AND THE BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV (BGU).
Soroka Medical Center is a increasing unit for innovation in cancer care, integrating breakthrough research and technology," remarks Professor Itzhak Avital, head of the Legacy Heritage Oncology Center and the Dr. Larry Norton Institute at Soroka Medical Center
VISIONARY AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION TO
ED OATES
WHO IS ALSO A TERRIFIC MUSICIAN AND CO-FOUNDER OF
"ROCK YOUR BUSINESS LLC"
HE EARNED HIS BA IN MATHEMATICS FROM SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY AND
HE GRADUATED IN STUDIES IN CYBERNETIC SYSTEMS.
HE PLEASED ATTENDEES WITH HIS MUSIC AT THE AFTER PARTY PORTION OF THE GALA
HERE IS HIS INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH:
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for the honor you have given to me. To be
included with Dr. Ratner and Ms. Simkhai is humbling. I thank you.
Innovation has been a driving force in my life and I believe is the driving force for all
positive change in the future.
I so appreciate that Soroka is dedicated to innovation in the most important of ways:
Healthcare. To have a state-of-the-art medical center that conducts groundbreaking
research, that is developing a game-changing bio-bank, and that delivers comprehensive
and cutting edge healthcare in so many areas--including cancer, cardiology, women’s
health, rehabilitation and emergency medicine, and much more--in what was once
parched desert--is truly remarkable.
Oracle, the company I helped found in the 1990s was started by me and two other
guys--and is now technology that is used in about 175 countries.
I believe that the breakthrough research conducted at Soroka will have a similar global
impact. Tonight, we are here raising money for Soroka’s Bio-bank--a database that will
be filled with samples of biological material, including blood and tumor specimens. It will
benefit all future patients of Soroka Medical Center and will, ultimately, benefit people
throughout the world, as so much learning will be possible because of Soroka’s Bio-
bank. This is innovation, this is life-saving data analysis.
This honor belongs to more people than just myself: Larry Ellison, Robert Miner and I
started Oracle with the idea of changing the way information are made available to
everyone, and to create a meritocracy in the way we deal with our employees and
others. The thousands of Oracle employees share this award.
These days, my focus is on Music, and its power to connect all of us and change the way
we interact with one another. The inspiration for this new venture came from David
Fishof, and my business partner, Michelle Fox. Thank you.
My family has given me total support and the luxury of the time to be a part of these
ventures, and to participate in educating all of us through my non-profit work at the San
Francisco Zoological Society, and The San Jose State University Tower Foundation.
Education is our key to the future. To my wife, Jennifer, and my children Michelle,
Christopher, and Eleanor: thank you.
And of course, the band, CHOC’D, who is here tonight and will perform for you all
after dinner. You have been my best friends for over 50 years, keeping me sane and
humble: thank you all for decades of friendship, music, and inspiration.
Thank you
ED OATES
WHO IS ALSO A TERRIFIC MUSICIAN AND CO-FOUNDER OF
"ROCK YOUR BUSINESS LLC"
HE EARNED HIS BA IN MATHEMATICS FROM SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY AND
HE GRADUATED IN STUDIES IN CYBERNETIC SYSTEMS.
HE PLEASED ATTENDEES WITH HIS MUSIC AT THE AFTER PARTY PORTION OF THE GALA
HERE IS HIS INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH:
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for the honor you have given to me. To be
included with Dr. Ratner and Ms. Simkhai is humbling. I thank you.
Innovation has been a driving force in my life and I believe is the driving force for all
positive change in the future.
I so appreciate that Soroka is dedicated to innovation in the most important of ways:
Healthcare. To have a state-of-the-art medical center that conducts groundbreaking
research, that is developing a game-changing bio-bank, and that delivers comprehensive
and cutting edge healthcare in so many areas--including cancer, cardiology, women’s
health, rehabilitation and emergency medicine, and much more--in what was once
parched desert--is truly remarkable.
Oracle, the company I helped found in the 1990s was started by me and two other
guys--and is now technology that is used in about 175 countries.
I believe that the breakthrough research conducted at Soroka will have a similar global
impact. Tonight, we are here raising money for Soroka’s Bio-bank--a database that will
be filled with samples of biological material, including blood and tumor specimens. It will
benefit all future patients of Soroka Medical Center and will, ultimately, benefit people
throughout the world, as so much learning will be possible because of Soroka’s Bio-
bank. This is innovation, this is life-saving data analysis.
This honor belongs to more people than just myself: Larry Ellison, Robert Miner and I
started Oracle with the idea of changing the way information are made available to
everyone, and to create a meritocracy in the way we deal with our employees and
others. The thousands of Oracle employees share this award.
These days, my focus is on Music, and its power to connect all of us and change the way
we interact with one another. The inspiration for this new venture came from David
Fishof, and my business partner, Michelle Fox. Thank you.
My family has given me total support and the luxury of the time to be a part of these
ventures, and to participate in educating all of us through my non-profit work at the San
Francisco Zoological Society, and The San Jose State University Tower Foundation.
Education is our key to the future. To my wife, Jennifer, and my children Michelle,
Christopher, and Eleanor: thank you.
And of course, the band, CHOC’D, who is here tonight and will perform for you all
after dinner. You have been my best friends for over 50 years, keeping me sane and
humble: thank you all for decades of friendship, music, and inspiration.
Thank you
ORNA SIMKHAI
WAS AWARDED WITH THE INSPIRED LEADERSHIP AWARD
WAS BORN IN ISRAEL TO A SABRA MOTHER AND RUSSIAN FATHER
SHE CREATES JEWELRY THAT SYMBOLIZES HOPE AND PRAYER
BEEN AN ACTIVIST IN SUPPORT OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
AS WELL AS LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF SOROKA
HERE IS HER SPEECH:
I am humbled and honored, thankful and grateful to be standing here celebrating an
evening of compassion and care for this worthy cause for the Soroka Medical Center.
I want to thank the Soroka Board Members, honorees, dear guests, and all the Soroka
team for their hard work in putting together this event.
A special thanks to my dear friends Caroline and David for presenting me with this
award which moved me to tears.
I would like to acknowledge my dear family, Amir, Muli, Joel, Jonathan, and TJ, my darling
husband Beni, and my precious friends who are supporting me tonight.
Your support and love have made my life magical.
You all have made the Mitzvah of Tikum Olam, repairing and healing the world, a reality.
By participating here tonight you have already made a difference in the lives of patients
in Soroka, a magnet of inspiration and innovation in healthcare in the South of Israel.
I visited Soroka Hospital last October and I was mesmerized by the impressive facilities
and care that patients receive in this unique institution.
There is a plaque hanging on the wall in Soroka’s entrance that highlights a quote by
David Ben-Gurion, a statesman, and visionary of the Negev.
It says “Every man and woman hides in them mighty forces, and one should only know
how to reach them, discover them, and use them”.
I find this quote very fitting for our event and is being fulfilled by everyone here with
your presence.
I found my own inner strength when I was inspired by a wounded Israeli soldier in 2016
during the Lebanon war. That was the beginning of my Shema Or jewelry which
enabled me to reach out to various individuals and charities who inspired me on my
journey of love towards humanity.
To show my appreciation for your support in being here this evening I am presenting
each one of you my specially designed Shema Or prayer bracelet with the blue and
green colors of Soroka. The Shema prayer carved in the jewelry represents hope, faith, and compassion for mankind. I hope you will wear it with pride and love and keep
Soroka in your heart.
Thank you all and Toda Raba!
LOVE YOU ALL!!
WAS AWARDED WITH THE INSPIRED LEADERSHIP AWARD
WAS BORN IN ISRAEL TO A SABRA MOTHER AND RUSSIAN FATHER
SHE CREATES JEWELRY THAT SYMBOLIZES HOPE AND PRAYER
BEEN AN ACTIVIST IN SUPPORT OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
AS WELL AS LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF SOROKA
HERE IS HER SPEECH:
I am humbled and honored, thankful and grateful to be standing here celebrating an
evening of compassion and care for this worthy cause for the Soroka Medical Center.
I want to thank the Soroka Board Members, honorees, dear guests, and all the Soroka
team for their hard work in putting together this event.
A special thanks to my dear friends Caroline and David for presenting me with this
award which moved me to tears.
I would like to acknowledge my dear family, Amir, Muli, Joel, Jonathan, and TJ, my darling
husband Beni, and my precious friends who are supporting me tonight.
Your support and love have made my life magical.
You all have made the Mitzvah of Tikum Olam, repairing and healing the world, a reality.
By participating here tonight you have already made a difference in the lives of patients
in Soroka, a magnet of inspiration and innovation in healthcare in the South of Israel.
I visited Soroka Hospital last October and I was mesmerized by the impressive facilities
and care that patients receive in this unique institution.
There is a plaque hanging on the wall in Soroka’s entrance that highlights a quote by
David Ben-Gurion, a statesman, and visionary of the Negev.
It says “Every man and woman hides in them mighty forces, and one should only know
how to reach them, discover them, and use them”.
I find this quote very fitting for our event and is being fulfilled by everyone here with
your presence.
I found my own inner strength when I was inspired by a wounded Israeli soldier in 2016
during the Lebanon war. That was the beginning of my Shema Or jewelry which
enabled me to reach out to various individuals and charities who inspired me on my
journey of love towards humanity.
To show my appreciation for your support in being here this evening I am presenting
each one of you my specially designed Shema Or prayer bracelet with the blue and
green colors of Soroka. The Shema prayer carved in the jewelry represents hope, faith, and compassion for mankind. I hope you will wear it with pride and love and keep
Soroka in your heart.
Thank you all and Toda Raba!
LOVE YOU ALL!!
DR. JULIE RATNER
WAS HONORED DURING THE EVENING WITH THE HEALTHCARE CHAMPION MEDAL OF HONOR
(HERE WITH GILLIAN HARDING, GALA CHAIR AND CARLOS GUTIERREZ JR. GALA CHAIR)
DR. RATNER, HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THE MISSION TO IMPROVE
THE SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
SINCE SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD COMBINING HER WORK AT
THE ELLEN HERMANSON FOUNDATION AS CO-FOUNDER
WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER HER SISTER WHO DIED FROM BREST CANCER IN 1995
THIS DAYS DR. RATNER IS MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL BREST CANCER COALITION AND THE
LEAGUE EDUCATION AND TREATMENT CENTER IN BROOKLYN WHERE SHE IS
THE PRESIDENT. HERE IS HER SPEECH:
Evev Tov, Charerim v’ charerot
It is quite overwhelming to be recognized for living my passion and doing what I love:
honoring my sister Ellen’s memory and ensuring that women living on the East End of
Long Island, have access to state of the art quality breast health care.
One of my trips to Israel was to Soroka Medical Center for the dedication of a
Women’s Breast Center. We toured the hospital and saw up-close an institution that
represented the best of Israel – Israeli ingenuity, Israeli brilliance, and Israeli commitment
to social justice by providing access and medical care to everyone regardless of who
they are – religious and secular Jews, Bedouins, Palestinians, immigrants - all with
rachmones and chesed.
What Soroka and The Ellen Hermanson Foundation share is the core belief that access
to health care is a human right.
Tonight’s honor is for my work with The Ellen Hermanson Foundation and therefore
about my sister, Ellen. Ellen spent her junior year at Hebrew University and loved
everything about Israel from learning the language to its vibrant, diverse culture. For
Ellen, being Jewish and Israel were inextricable.
In 1989, when Ellen’s daughter Leora was six months old, Ellen was diagnosed with stage
4-breast cancer. At the time, I did not understand the enormity of this diagnosis, and
so, I was hopeful. As was the renowned Dr. Larry Norton, last year’s honoree, and
Ellen’s oncologist. After a year of chemotherapy, Ellen was able to get back to her life.
But then came to nagging pain and Ellen was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
The disease was relentless encroaching on her body – but not her mind. Ellen became
actively involved with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, was one of the
founders, and first executive director of the Jewish Healing Center, and was the
founding executive director of Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert.
As strong and committed as Ellen was to getting well, breast cancer was stronger. Ellen
died April 11, 1995.
One year later, I was finishing my doctorate at Teachers College when I met a friend,
who hearing about Ellen said, “you need to honor her memory” and said, “I am trying
to think of what to do.” My friend said you run marathons. Let’s do a run and call it
Ellen’s Run. And this is how it all began. From a simple little run 23 years, we have
grown into The Ellen Hermanson Foundation and literally changed the medical landscape
of the East End of Long Island by funding The Ellen Hermanson Breast Centers at Stony
Brook Southampton Hospital including a whole new facility that houses tomosynthesis
and the latest technology that one might find in a large teaching hospital and Ellen’s
Well, a program that provides psychosocial support services free of charge.
And now a moment of gratitude:
Thank you, American Friends of Soroka for this great honor. I look forward to visiting
Soroka and seeing the Dr. Larry Norton Institute. To my friends, your love and
support are a gift to me. And special thank you’s: To my brother-in-law Hugo Moreno
and sister-in-law Kasia Moreno. To my sister, Emily Levin for just being my sister and
her husband Jim.
To Sam for sharing my life with me and for your love and support of all that I do.
To my daughters, Rebbie and Lizzy, being your mother is the proudest part of my life. I
learn from you all the time. To my beautiful grandson, Elias, my heart and soul. You
inspire me to look at the world with fresh eyes every day.
And finally, Ellen. Your memory is the inspiration for what I do. I accept this award for
you.
MORE PICS FROM THE GALA BELOW
WAS HONORED DURING THE EVENING WITH THE HEALTHCARE CHAMPION MEDAL OF HONOR
(HERE WITH GILLIAN HARDING, GALA CHAIR AND CARLOS GUTIERREZ JR. GALA CHAIR)
DR. RATNER, HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THE MISSION TO IMPROVE
THE SOROKA MEDICAL CENTER
SINCE SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD COMBINING HER WORK AT
THE ELLEN HERMANSON FOUNDATION AS CO-FOUNDER
WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER HER SISTER WHO DIED FROM BREST CANCER IN 1995
THIS DAYS DR. RATNER IS MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL BREST CANCER COALITION AND THE
LEAGUE EDUCATION AND TREATMENT CENTER IN BROOKLYN WHERE SHE IS
THE PRESIDENT. HERE IS HER SPEECH:
Evev Tov, Charerim v’ charerot
It is quite overwhelming to be recognized for living my passion and doing what I love:
honoring my sister Ellen’s memory and ensuring that women living on the East End of
Long Island, have access to state of the art quality breast health care.
One of my trips to Israel was to Soroka Medical Center for the dedication of a
Women’s Breast Center. We toured the hospital and saw up-close an institution that
represented the best of Israel – Israeli ingenuity, Israeli brilliance, and Israeli commitment
to social justice by providing access and medical care to everyone regardless of who
they are – religious and secular Jews, Bedouins, Palestinians, immigrants - all with
rachmones and chesed.
What Soroka and The Ellen Hermanson Foundation share is the core belief that access
to health care is a human right.
Tonight’s honor is for my work with The Ellen Hermanson Foundation and therefore
about my sister, Ellen. Ellen spent her junior year at Hebrew University and loved
everything about Israel from learning the language to its vibrant, diverse culture. For
Ellen, being Jewish and Israel were inextricable.
In 1989, when Ellen’s daughter Leora was six months old, Ellen was diagnosed with stage
4-breast cancer. At the time, I did not understand the enormity of this diagnosis, and
so, I was hopeful. As was the renowned Dr. Larry Norton, last year’s honoree, and
Ellen’s oncologist. After a year of chemotherapy, Ellen was able to get back to her life.
But then came to nagging pain and Ellen was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
The disease was relentless encroaching on her body – but not her mind. Ellen became
actively involved with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, was one of the
founders, and first executive director of the Jewish Healing Center, and was the
founding executive director of Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert.
As strong and committed as Ellen was to getting well, breast cancer was stronger. Ellen
died April 11, 1995.
One year later, I was finishing my doctorate at Teachers College when I met a friend,
who hearing about Ellen said, “you need to honor her memory” and said, “I am trying
to think of what to do.” My friend said you run marathons. Let’s do a run and call it
Ellen’s Run. And this is how it all began. From a simple little run 23 years, we have
grown into The Ellen Hermanson Foundation and literally changed the medical landscape
of the East End of Long Island by funding The Ellen Hermanson Breast Centers at Stony
Brook Southampton Hospital including a whole new facility that houses tomosynthesis
and the latest technology that one might find in a large teaching hospital and Ellen’s
Well, a program that provides psychosocial support services free of charge.
And now a moment of gratitude:
Thank you, American Friends of Soroka for this great honor. I look forward to visiting
Soroka and seeing the Dr. Larry Norton Institute. To my friends, your love and
support are a gift to me. And special thank you’s: To my brother-in-law Hugo Moreno
and sister-in-law Kasia Moreno. To my sister, Emily Levin for just being my sister and
her husband Jim.
To Sam for sharing my life with me and for your love and support of all that I do.
To my daughters, Rebbie and Lizzy, being your mother is the proudest part of my life. I
learn from you all the time. To my beautiful grandson, Elias, my heart and soul. You
inspire me to look at the world with fresh eyes every day.
And finally, Ellen. Your memory is the inspiration for what I do. I accept this award for
you.
MORE PICS FROM THE GALA BELOW
ALL THE TERRIFIC IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE THE WORK OF
Jared Siskin
Getty Images courtesy of the American Friends of Soroka Medical Center
Jared Siskin
Getty Images courtesy of the American Friends of Soroka Medical Center
