Noa Tishby, Bruce Pearl to headline Soroka gala for mental health center

American Friends of Soroka Medical Center will hold its 14th Hope, Healing & Heroism Gala on Nov. 17 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City to support a new Mental Health Center at Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel. The event will feature Noa Tishby, honor Bruce Pearl and fund expanded trauma and psychiatric care for children, families and communities affected by war.

Why it matters: - The gala is meant to help fund a new Mental Health Center at Soroka Medical Center, which would expand specialized trauma treatment, psychiatric services and broader mental health care in southern Israel. - Soroka treats more than 1 million people across southern Israel and is the region’s medical lifeline. - The need has grown after years of rocket fire, war, displacement and loss in the region. - The effort comes as children, families, survivors, first responders and healthcare workers face long-term psychological strain.

What happened: - American Friends of Soroka Medical Center will host its 14th Annual Hope, Healing & Heroism Gala on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. - The event will feature Noa Tishby and Bruce Pearl. - Tishby will take part in a fireside conversation moderated by Neria Kraus, Channel 13’s White House bureau chief and anchorwoman. - Pearl will receive the Inspired Leadership Award. - The gala is chaired by AFS founding member Caroline Franklin Freidfertig and Angela Retelny, who received the 2022 Inspirational Leadership Award.

The details: - Tishby is a two-time New York Times best-selling author, Israel’s former special envoy for combating antisemitism and delegitimization, and founder and CEO of Eighteen. - Pearl is a former Auburn University men’s basketball coach, a college basketball analyst and an advocate for Israel. - Simi Teitelbaum Schneier and Rabbi Marc Schneier, along with Lizzy and Dr. Ira Savetsky, are serving as honorary chairs. - Dr. Ira Savetsky received the 2025 Healthcare Champion Medal of Honor. - Rabbi Marc Schneier received the 2025 Humanitarian Award. - Soroka’s medical teams treated nearly 680 casualties in 24 hours on Oct. 7, 2023. - On June 19, 2025, an Iranian ballistic missile struck the hospital and severely damaged a major surgical building. - The new Mental Health Center is being made possible by a lead gift from Philip and Cheryl Milstein through UJA-Federation of New York, and the center will be named in their honor. - AFS Executive Director Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld said the growing demand for mental health services requires a long-term commitment to accessible, specialized care. - AFS says the gala will help strengthen services that children, families and communities rely on as they heal and rebuild. - AFS is a New York State 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting Soroka Medical Center. - Soroka is based in Be’er Sheva and is the sole medical center in the Negev, serving over 1 million residents, including more than 400,000 children. - Soroka covers a region that makes up 60% of Israel’s land and is known for groundbreaking research and lifesaving treatments.

Between the lines: - The gala is both a fundraising event and a public statement about the toll of war on mental health in southern Israel. - Naming the center after the Milsteins signals a major philanthropic anchor for the project. - The hospital damage and mass-casualty response underscore why Soroka is framing mental health capacity as part of regional recovery, not just routine care.

What's next: - Supporters can join the gala through Soroka.org/Gala. - For additional information, contact Friends@Soroka.org or call (914) 725-9070. - AFS is positioning the event as part of a longer effort to expand trauma and psychiatric services across the Negev. - More information is available on Soroka’s gala page.