The Swiss Friends of Yad Sarah raised $1.4 million for Yad Sarah initiatives supporting the rehabilitation and healing of individuals in Israel since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern communities on Oct. 7, 2023, at its inaugural gala in Zurich, Switzerland, on Aug. 31.
More than 200 Yad Sarah friends and supporters attended the event, which was focused on raising awareness about the volunteer-led health and home-care organization, as well as the support it provides for nearly all families in Israel, including the loved ones of hostages and victims of the ongoing war.
The evening was emceed by Swiss AI entrepreneur Linda Ebizuka-Jacoby and included a keynote address by Daniel Levin, board member of the Liechtenstein Foundation for State Governance, who is highly involved in the hostage negotiations.
In his remarks, Levin spoke of some of the challenges that negotiators have faced, in addition to the intricacies of navigating such a highly complex and delicate situation.
Since the beginning of the war, Yad Sarah and its 7,000 volunteers have greatly expanded the organization’s operations to over a dozen no-cost and low-cost services, necessitating replenishing of its inventory and resources. This has included airlifting critical mobile oxygen equipment amid the threat of widespread power outages; supplying the injured with essentials for home recovery; and providing transportation and accommodations for evacuees and those with mobility challenges.
Among notable guests at the gala were Doris Frick, ambassador of the principality of Liechtenstein to Switzerland, and Aaron Frenkel, chairman of Yad Sarah’s international board. Donations from the event were matched by Frenkel, a global entrepreneur and philanthropist.
“It’s my personal experience that when you give, you receive 10 times more in return,” said Frenkel. “As a longtime supporter of Yad Sarah, I’ve seen that lifting up the vulnerable among us helps strengthen the very fabric of Israeli society.”
Philip Bendheim, a board member and the director of Yad Sarah’s international Friends’ organizations, inspired generous donations while sharing his direct perspectives as a second-generation volunteer. During an address, he opened up about his family’s experience with personal losses in the war, underscoring the depths of trauma and the vital need for community support both within Israel and from abroad.
“This event was a powerful demonstration of the Swiss people’s dedication–Jewish and non-Jewish alike–to standing with Israel in these turbulent times,” Bendheim said. “Their support ensures that no one falls through the cracks of the health-care system—helping people facing illness, injury and recovery to live with greater dignity, independence and comfort.”
