
A Message From the Chairman
It is my honor and privilege to serve as Chairman of the Board of the American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center (AFKMC). Kaplan Medical Center (KMC) is part of Clalit, Israel’s largest health services system and second largest in the world. For close to 60 years, …
Critical Need: Cardiac Center
American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center (AFKMC)
We’re finalizing details for the next AFKMC Virtual Community Gathering.
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“Kaplan Saved My Husband’s Life”
Leaving No Heroes Behind
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.
“Women of Valor” Awards
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.
Quick Facts and an Invitation to Support the American Friends of Kaplan Medical Center
Be part of AFKMC’s mission in enabling Kaplan Medical Center, Israel’s biggest hospital…that you never heard of!*
Strategic values to Israel of the Kaplan Medical Center:
► 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.
Newest Israeli Cardiac Catheterization Operating Room
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.
Our Mission
► 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
If you can help with our mission, please send us your info below so we can get in touch…


Major Projects
Kaplan Pediatric Care: “Best in Israel!”
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!
Hi-Tech Cardiac Center
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.
≫ Cardiac Center Naming Opportunities


AFKMC Partners with Jewish Federations
“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.



Quick Facts About Kaplan Medical Center (KMC)
✡ 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
How Can YOU Help?
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.
Does “life begin” at Kaplan?
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.