A former Hamas hostage, an award-winning comedian and a medical student meeting Israel’s urgent needs will come together to deliver inspiration and hope at the Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) annual New York City Benefit on Oct. 19.
“Remarkable Resilience and the Way Forward” will feature testimonies from Sasha Troufanov, a Ben-Gurion University of the Negev alumnus and hostage survivor who endured 498 days in Hamas captivity, and Noa Shuker, a third-year medical student and casualty officer in the Israel Defense Forces reserves. Alongside their powerful firsthand accounts of resilience will be a special performance by award-winning comedian and Broadway and television star Alex Edelman, whose hit show “Just for Us” played more than 500 performances worldwide before premiering as an HBO Original Comedy Special in April 2024.
Born in Russia, Troufanov was 3 when his family moved to Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the first communities targeted on Oct. 7. He studied electrical engineering at BGU before working for Amazon Web Services in central Israel. Shuker, of Beersheva, works at Soroka and Barzilai hospitals, where she cares for wounded soldiers and supports their families as they navigate the social, mental and financial challenges of war.
Shuker’s contributions to Israel in challenging times underscore the deep impact of BGU’s Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School, as proceeds from the Oct. 19 event will benefit that school.
BGU medical students volunteered at Soroka University Medical Center—the university’s main teaching hospital, near the front line of the attacks—on and after Oct. 7. The students assisted in various capacities, including triage and emergency surgeries. Their response to the mass-casualty event accelerated their training, while the experiences of that day reinforced their commitment to the medical field.
Now, A4BGU’s New York City Benefit will celebrate 50 years of excellence at the Goldman Medical School, an institution renamed in honor of Lloyd Goldman’s parents through a generous gift from Katja Goldman Sonnenfeldt, Dorian Goldman Israelow and Lloyd Goldman himself. Lloyd Goldman serves on the board of directors of A4BGU and as chairman of BGU’s board of governors.
This naming not only pays tribute to their parents’ enduring legacy but exemplifies the Goldman family’s deep and sustained commitment to advancing Jewish causes and healthcare in Israel. The family’s decision to direct their philanthropy toward BGU, rather than to institutions closer to home, was guided by a desire to underscore the significance of the mission rather than personal recognition—a principle underscored by Lloyd Goldman’s decades-long dedication to the university.
“At a time when health care and education are more vital than ever, the Goldman family’s leadership exemplifies the spirit of ‘Migdal Or’—a beacon of light to the world that BGU represents,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU. “We are proud to stand alongside them in marking 50 remarkable years of leading medical education, innovative research and immense contributions to Israeli society.”
Tickets for the New York City Benefit start at $180. To register, visit: https://americansforbgu.org/events/nycbenefit-2025/.
