- Yona Yahav, Mayor of Haifa
- Rambam Award recipients
- Meri Barer, President of the American Friends of Rambam
- Dr. Michal Mekel, Rambam upcoming Director
- Professor Rafi Beyar, President, of the International Friends Associations of Rambam,
- Prof. Moshe Revach – Rambam's former Director
- Prof. Daniel Herschkowitz - Commissioner of the Civil Service
- Commissioner Daniel Levi – Head of the Israel Police
- Friends of Rambam from Israel and around the world,
- Rambam family
- Ladies and gentlemen,
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Dear friends, esteemed partners, and distinguished guests from Israel and around the world.
It is with profound gratitude and heartfelt emotion that I welcome you to this special evening—the Rambam Summit Gala, and my final summit as CEO of Rambam Health Care Campus. Though circumstances prevented us from gathering in June, we resolved
that nothing would stand in the way of our meeting now.
Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate a hospital, but to honor a shared vision, a journey that has transformed Rambam into a beacon of medical excellence, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the sanctity of human life.
Over the years, Rambam has undergone extraordinary transformation:
- Our clinical services have expanded dramatically, allowing us to provide world-class care to more patients than ever before.
- Our research enterprise has flourished, producing groundbreaking discoveries in translational medicine that are shaping the future of global healthcare.
- Our infrastructure has evolved, with cutting-edge facilities, advanced technologies, and a campus that embodies our mission of healing through innovation.
Yet above all, Rambam’s true strength lies in its people. The pioneers who laid our foundations, the visionaries who lead us today, and the next generation preparing to carry the torch forward. To our physicians, nurses, researchers, administrators, and staff, you are the heartbeat of Rambam. Your dedication, humanity, and pursuit of excellence are the source of everything we have achieved.
This evening, we are proud to honor the remarkable recipients of the Rambam Award:
- Mrs. Ariela Wertheimer, whose generosity and vision, inspired by the enduring legacy of her late husband, Eitan, have profoundly shaped Rambam’s healing environment.
- Professor Aaron Ciechanover, Nobel Laureate, scientific pioneer, and cherished friend, whose groundbreaking work inspires generations.
- The Israeli Navy, defenders of Israel’s coastline, exemplifying professionalism, courage, and steadfast partnership in challenging times.
We also celebrate Marcelo and Fernanda Kalim, devoted leaders of Rambam Friends Brazil, and Dr. Genero Levinson of Mexico, who received their awards in heartfelt ceremonies in their home countries.
To our loyal supporters in Israel and across the world, thank you. Your partnership empowers us to dream boldly, build courageously, and heal with purpose.
This past year has tested us in ways we could never have imagined. Since October 7th, and throughout the Iron Swords and Rising Lion wars, Rambam responded without hesitation. Our teams treated the wounded with courage, skill, and boundless compassion. Many of our staff left their posts to serve on the front lines, risking their lives to protect our nation. And when called upon, Rambam’s underground hospital was fully prepared in just 15.5 hours, an achievement that stands as a testament to our readiness and resilience.
Yet we carry in our hearts the deep sorrow of loss, the urgent hope for the return of all hostages, and the unshakable belief in the power of unity and resilience. Tonight, we embrace members of our Rambam family who have suffered profound personal sacrifice. We honor the memory of:
- Ilay Gavriel Atadgi, son of Eti Atadgi, mammography technician.
- Adi Eldor, son of Dr. Liron Eldor, Plastic surgeon and grandson of Prof. Emeritus Itzhkovits Eldor the former director of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department.
- Yoav Daniel, son of Shahar Daniel, physicist in Oncology.
- Alexei Shamkalov, son of Elena Shamkalov, nurse in Surgery.
- Netanel Yaakov Elkobi, husband of Sarit Elkobi from Rheumatology.
May their memory be a blessing.
My vision for Rambam’s future is deeply personal. It is shaped by my life as a husband, father, grandfather, physician, proud citizen of Israel, and as the General Director of this extraordinary institution. For me, leadership at Rambam was never just a role, it has been my life’s calling: to advance health equity, to ensure that every citizen receives the highest standard of care, and to build a culture where our staff can thrive with respect, opportunity, and purpose.
I have had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional leadership team. To each of you: Dr. Weissman, Dr. Mekel, Prof. Schachor, Dr. Horowitz, Prof. Gepstein, Gila Hymes, Nisim Haim, Shlomo Pashkus, Kobi Bosel, Dr. Golan, Prof. Beyar, and so many others, thank you. Your partnership has been both a professional honor and a personal joy.
On a more personal note, I want to thank my beloved wife, Marlene, our children Adi, Guy, Amit, and Hadas, their families, our six wonderful grandchildren, my brother Rubi, and my late parents, Chana and Menachem. Your love, strength, and patience have been my beacon through long days and sleepless nights.
As I stand before you at my final summit as CEO, I am filled with emotion. But this is not a farewell, it is a celebration. A celebration of all we have accomplished, together. Rambam has been my second home, and in truth, perhaps my first. From my earliest days as a medical student, through every chapter of my career, to the privilege of serving as General Director, I have grown here as a physician, as a leader, and as a believer in the power of public medicine, research, and innovation.
I am bound to Rambam with every fiber of my being. Thank you for entrusting me with this mission: to heal, to serve, and to safeguard the future of public health.
At this meaningful and emotional moment, it is my great honor to entrust the leadership of this extraordinary institution to Dr. Michal Makel. She is a leader more than worthy of the role, whose dedication, integrity, and remarkable abilities I have witnessed firsthand. With her professionalism, wisdom, and outstanding interpersonal skills, I am fully confident that Rambam’s future is in the very best hands.
Michal, I wish you every success. The road ahead is filled with promise, and I know you will guide Rambam forward with strength, vision, and grace.
We are at the beginning of a new year and I want to extend to each of you my warmest wishes for a Shanah Tovah. May the coming year be one of health, in body and soul. A year of growth, personal, professional, and national. A year of unity, where we learn to embrace one another even in disagreement. A year of listening, compassion, and above all, the safe return of all our hostages, our soldiers, our sons and daughters.
At 77 years, Israel stands resilient. But resilience is not to be taken for granted. Each of us bears responsibility for preserving our nation’s strength, unity, and the sacred bond with Jews worldwide, as well as with our brothers and sisters of all faiths who share our destiny here.
May this be a year in which we prove ourselves worthy of all that we have. A year in which we continue to dream and to fulfill those dreams. And may we, together, keep building a healthier, more compassionate future.
Shanah Tovah and enjoy the evening.
