American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center (AFKMC)
AFKMC friends - Information will be available soon for the next AFKMC Zoom Event.
It was an amazing experience to meet and hear from the Israeli diplomat who arranged for the UN and world acknowledgment and annual observance of the commemoration of the Shoah.
A recording of the Zoom video can be experienced here.
UN International Remembrance of the Shoah
…Why did it take 60 years?
Thursday, January 28, 2021
2 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Fifteen years ago, on January 27, 2006, the UN finally recognized the Holocaust with an international Day of Remembrance.
Meet the Israeli Ambassadors who changed history.
Learn what Israel did that showed world leaders its desire for peace.
Seventy-Five years after the Shoah, find out what Israel is accomplishing now at the UN and on the world scene.
Hear a first-hand account from Israeli Ambassadors:
Honorable Ron Leshno-Yaar, Israel’s Ambassador to the EU and NATO &
Honorable Ron Adam, Israel’s Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda
Ambassador Ron Leshno-Yaar
Israel's Ambassador to the EU and NATO
Ambassador Aharon Leshno-Yaar was born in Tel Aviv in 1955. He graduated from Tel Aviv University in Literature and History of the Middle East and Arabic Language.
Ambassador Leshno-Yaar joined the Foreign Ministry in 1981 after having served in the IDF for eight years. His foreign posts include Washington D.C., Canberra and Singapore. Prior to the Oslo Accords he was a member of the Israeli delegation for Middle East peace negotiations and later on for peace negotiations with Lebanon. He equally served as Coordinator of the Israeli delegation to the Multilateral Working Group on Palestinian Refugees.
He was the Ambassador of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva from 2008 until 2012.
Prior to coming to Brussels, Ambassador Leshno-Yaar served as the Deputy Director General, Head of U.N. and International Organizations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Leshno-Yaar was appointed Ambassador of Israel to the European Union and NATO in 2016.
Ambassador Ron Adam
Israel's Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda
Ron has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1990. During his first period at the ministry he was personal assistance to the Director General and dealt mainly with the Oslo process and the economic peace with the Palestinians.
In 1997 he started a long and interesting period of 15 years dealing with all aspect of the United Nations. He started in New York, serving as counselor for economic and social affairs at the Permanent Mission of Israel.
In 2004, two years after his return from NY, he became the director of the UN Department at the Foreign Ministry and engaged mainly with the efforts to promote the relations between Israel with the United Nations, as well as the image of the UN among the Israeli public. As part of these efforts he initiated the UNGA resolution on Holocaust Remembrance and the International Commemoration Day. He served as a member and the chairman of a UN committee on Program and Coordination and at the same time promoted an ODA law in the Knesset.
In 2008 Ron started his post as Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the UN in Geneva where he was in charge on the relations with numerous International Organizations and Specialized agencies, such at the ILO, WHO, UNEP, UNHCR, IOM and ITU.
Upon his return to Israel Ron has engaged in the OECD membership of Israel, and now in the Energy file, including the relations with the International Renewable Energy Agency. Ron is committed to promote Israel's engagement in the International Aid efforts and the in trying to increase the ODA of the country.
In recent years, Ron is the Special Envoy on Energy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible of the relations between diplomacy and Energy. In November 2018 he was nominated as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to the Republic of Rwanda, and will start his ambassadorship on May 1st, 2019 in Kigali.
AFKMC National “Virtual” Program / Tribute BookBe a Partner in Supporting the American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center (AFKMC).
Sponsorship rates of $100 - $25,000 enable AFKMC efforts to inform America of Israel's dynamic accomplishments and support life-saving projects at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.
AFKMC is proud to have produced Zoom seminars of unique content with a personal connection to major leaders in the Jewish and Israel world:
AFKMC Monthly Zoom Events:
1 - April 6, 2020 - AFKMC's First Zoom Event - “Israel's Response to the Coronavirus” with our partners, Magen David Adom, Hadassah, Ben Gurion University, Rambam Hospital, and the Consulate General of Israel in New York sharing Israeli “Best Practices” to US officials.
Link to Zoom Event
2 - May 14 – “Israel's Heroes” Yom Ha'Atzmaut with Tal Brody, Israel's Goodwill Ambassador, “Officer Netta” of the IDF Elite Unit #669, operations manager for Israeli International Rescue, and Niv Nehemia, hero who fought off the Yavna Supersol stabber in 2017.
3 - June 29 - “Israel's Heroes” with Ambassador Ido Aharoni, (former) NY Consul General, Sherwin Pomerantz, US state governments' coordinator in Israel's economic miracle. Plus Christian volunteers to Israel, Jerome Baxley and Adeline Smidt.
Link to Zoom Event
4 - July 30 - “Israel's Spies” with Mossad's Col. Avner Avraham, operations officer who curated international exhibits on “Operation Finale” the capture and trial of Adolph Eichmann, and “Operation Yonaton” the Miracle Rescue at Entebbe. And with Shir Peled – a real-life “Fauda” undercover agent in an elite counter-terrorism unit. Four years risking her life to gather intelligence and capture terrorists “behind enemy lines.”
Link to Zoom Event
5 - August 16, “Conversations on Comedy” - the Israeli-American Relationship & Jewish Identity … What Seth Rogen does not 'get' - arranged with Young Jewish Leadership Concepts (YJLC). A discussion with top Israeli-American Comedians Benji Lovitt and Avi Liberman, including a discussion of the Seth Rogen controversy. With a surprise guest appearance by Tal Brody, Israel's Goodwill Ambassador.
Link to Zoom Event
6 - September 8, “Rosh Hashanah in a Covid-19 World.” Guest speakers: NY Consul General Israel Nitzan and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik – Executive Vice President, NY Board of Rabbis, and AFKMC National Board leader, with a “Rabbinic Roundtable” of eight other rabbis around the US sharing insights on the Jewish response to Covad19 for the High Holidays.
Link to Zoom Event
7 - October, 28, “Israel, the Vatican, and Jewish-Christian Relations- an insider's view.” A comprehensive presentation on world issues and experiences of Ambassador (Ret.) Zion Evrony, Ph.D, Former Israeli Ambassador to the Vatican, Israel Institute Visiting Professor at the Catholic University of America, AFKMC National Board Leader.
Link to Zoom Event
8 - December 16, “Global anti-Semitism, the US-Israel relationship, and the anti-Semitism challenge to young leadership.” with Elan Carr, US State Department's Special Envoy for Combatting Anti-Semitism, and Andy Borans, Executive Director, AEPi Foundation.
Link to Zoom Event
▲ Watch the video (in Hebrew; English transcription coming soon)
► Read The Jerusalem Post article
(Photo courtesy The Jerusalem Post)
AFKMC recognizes Heroes of Israel who highlight the life-saving mission of Kaplan Medical Center, especially in Trauma Response to Terrorism:
Niv Nehemiah is an Israeli hero who fought off a knife-wielding terrorist with his bare hands. The 55-second YouTube video of his heroism made international news in August, 2017.
Niv was declared a hero by President Rivlin and Prime Minister Netanyahu. While Niv saved the lives of Israeli supermarket shoppers, Kaplan Medical Center Emergency Trauma doctors saved his life and continue his treatment.
Niv's wife Sigal is also an Israeli hero. She manages the medical and therapeutic needs of her husband, along with caring for their five children, one with a debilitating illness, all with the warm smile of a caring mother and wife.
Honoring dynamic American women leaders at the forefront of building community and support for Israel.
Due to Covid-19, the March 23rd, 2020, AFKMC “Women of Valor” Awards Gala was postponed.
Please stay tuned for details of the rescheduled Awards event to honor:
Linda Richman, Emeritus Regional Director, American Technion Society and Vered Nohi, Executive Director, Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.
As we get through this challenging period, we will determine if it will be a “live” event or otherwise, with the safety of our community as the primary concern.
The AFKMC team and leadership appreciate your understanding and engagement.
Be part of AFKMC's mission in enabling Kaplan Medical Center, Israel's biggest hospital…that you never heard of!*
► Located in Rehovot, the center of Israel
► Providing life-saving health services to more than one million Jewish and Arab Israeli citizens
Kaplan is critical…
★ To Israel's strategic defense for mass casualty preparedness
★ For Israel's trauma response (Kaplan is a world leader)
★ For international medical rescue, with Kaplan doctors on-call 24/7 to the nearby Tel Nof IDF air force base
And is a leader in hi-tech innovation in Israeli medicine, with Professor Kobi George, Kaplan's Chief Cardiologist…
★ Leading a team of 30 top Israeli heart doctors, as we build the Largest Hi-Tech Cardiac Center in the Middle East
★ Introducing 3D heart imaging, using the latest hi-tech equipment in the newest cardiac catheterization operating room in Israel
* Only 0.08% of non-Israeli American Jews know about Kaplan Medical Center (KMC) but 99.9% of Israeli-Americans know about KMC — Many of them were born there.
Kaplan Medical Center (KMC), one of Israel's major general hospitals, is a recognized Center of Excellence in major departments including Trauma, ICU, OBGYN and Obstetrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, and Pediatrics.
KMC in Rehovot serves more than one million Israeli citizens (11% of the population). Kaplan is often in the news for life-saving procedures and major advances in medical research.
Our Projects:
We're working hard to build a new state-of-the-art Cardiac Center, to be the largest in the Middle East. We are also building a new Pediatric Oncology Unit at the Beit Ida Children's Medical Center.
Newest Israeli Cardiac Catheterization Operating Room
► Watch amazing 3 minute video describing the background of Kaplan Medical Center and our high-tech cardiac advances.
► To bring lovers of Israel together to do good work
► To enable life-saving hi-tech Medical Miracles at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, Israel
► To build up the critical relationship between North America and Israel through creative initiatives, especially in collaboration with other Israel-loving organizations
► To foster the next generation's support for Israel through young leadership development and collaborations with local communities throughout North America
This is an AFKMC project with 17 national US and Israeli organizations (currently) working together to invite young professionals to be “foot soldiers” for the “Heart & Sole” project. We are building the largest Hi-Tech Cardiac Center in the Middle East, in Rehovot, Israel, with the message in America of “Israel Saving Lives with Cutting-Edge Medical Miracles.”
Nationwide Young Professionals
Rosh Hashanah 10-Minute Meetup
September 30, 2019
• At your neighborhood participating synagogues
• 17 US and Israeli organization partners
Help us build a Kids Cancer Care Center in Rehovot, Israel
The American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center has taken on a new challenge, to help build a new Kid's Cancer Care Center in Rehovot.
Children undergoing cancer therapy in the Center of Israel, the Rehovot region, have, up until now, only had a Day Unit that they could go to with their families. For more involved care or for stays requiring overnights in the hospital, they had to travel to other hospitals in Israel to receive this care.
AFKMC is looking for Partners in American leadership to play a significant role in raising the $600,000 needed to create a new comprehensive Pediatric Oncology Unit in the new Ida Kabakoff Pediatric Hospital at KMC.
Please help us make this Cancer Unit a reality for Israeli kids and their families!
This crucial project will create a breakthrough for Israel and the Middle East in finding solutions for heart diseases and heart disease prevention, the main cause of medical fatalities in the western world.
The Center's hospitalization rooms, labs, and clinics will house the most advanced technologies available and will take its position at the forefront of advanced treatment and medical care.
By establishing a cardiac research center, in collaboration with the Hebrew University and the Weizmann Institute, the Cardiac Center will be amongst the most advanced Cardiac Centers in the world.
≫ Read more about the Cardiac Center and how you can support it.
Newest Israeli Cardiac Catheterization Operating Room
Heart Center currently located in barracks from 1953!
“Thank you to the American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center for their generous support of GA 2018 and the Israel Anniversary GA Mission.”
—Jewish Federations of North America
American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center (AFKMC) has been developing a strategic partnership with Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). The partnership has included AFKMC's EXCLUSIVE role as the Sole Sponsor of the October 2018 JFNA 4-day Israel Mission for the GA for “Israel 70!”
Additionally, AFKMC is working directly with JFNA and local Jewish Federations in programming support for local Maimonides Society Chapters. As a part of this effort, we are also collaborating in finding new funding directed through local Jewish Federations to share in supporting the life-saving medical innovation at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.
Federation leaders, please contact us for more information, and to partner.
2018 GA in the Cardiac Center Control Room
Newest Israeli Cardiac Catheterization Operating Room
Cardiac Center Ceiling - in Barracks from 1953
✡ Located in the center of Israel, halfway between and just south of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
✡ Affiliated with Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University Medical School
✡ Serves a growing population of more than one million Israeli Arabs and Jews.
✡ As a Community Hospital it provides programs of direct medical and outreach community services to:
— 39% of Israel's Ethiopian community
— Large community of immigrants from the former Soviet Union
— Large Sephardic community
— Large minority population
✡ Among the “Centers of Excellence” and Hi-Tech Medical Care departments include:
— Ilan Ramon Emergency Care and Trauma Center, recognized as a world leading trauma center
— Advanced Cardiology Center with open heart surgery and Catheterization Lab
— Hartzfeld Geriatric Rehabilitation Center
— Ambulatory Surgery
— Breast Health Center
— Ears, Nose, and Throat Center
— Gynecology and Obstetrics
— Hemato-Oncology Center
— Cancer Research and Treatment Center
— Intensive Care Unit
— “Neve Or” AIDS Treatment and Research Center, Israel's premier AIDS clinic
— Nuclear Medicine Department and Isotopes Unit
— Oncology Institute and the Digestive System Tumor Unit
— Ophthalmology Department
— Ida Cabakoff Children's Medical Center - Pulmonary Institute
Help us build the largest high-tech Cardiac Care Center in the Middle East.
Help us build a new Pediatric Oncology Unit at the Beit Ida Children's Medical Center.
At national conferences like the GA, AIPAC, IAC, and while visiting local communities around North America, we find Israelis who tell us, “I was BORN at Kaplan!”
We also hear amazing life-saving stories from Israel visitors and Israelis in America.
If this applies to you, please send us your details — we'd love to hear your personal Kaplan story.