(Haipo) – The annual Rambam Medical Center appreciation evening was held in Haifa on October 15, 2026, with the participation of medical professionals and public figures.
After a meeting and a light meal, the guests gathered in the amphitheater set up in the southwest complex. The event included a review of the hospital's wartime activities, a presentation of medical projects, the awarding of decorations, and musical performances by artists and other guests.
Dr. Michal Mekel: Rambam also worked under war conditions
Rambam CEO Dr. Michal Mekel described a challenging year in which the hospital operated for six weeks in an underground complex, treating wounded soldiers and civilians and continuing to provide medical services. She emphasized the duty of equal treatment for every person and the dedication of the staff during a period of physical and mental strain. Along with dealing with the emergency, she presented investments in research, teaching and innovation, and plans for a center for heart failure, pediatric rehabilitation, protected intensive care, ophthalmology and brain health. Mekel thanked employees and partners upon completing her first year in office.
Rambam decoration for Nobel Prize winner Dr. Bruce Beutler
The Rambam Medal for 2026 was awarded to Dr. Bruce Beutler, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The ceremony highlighted his contribution to understanding the activity of the innate immune system and identifying mechanisms by which the body recognizes microbial threats. His achievements in the study of inflammatory processes and the possibilities that have opened up as a result of his research for the treatment of various diseases over the years were also presented. His family's connection to the advancement of science in Israel was also emphasized, and in particular a genomics research program named after his parents, Ernst and Bonnie, which was established at Rambam in 2013 and supports Israeli researchers.
Innovation Video: Addiction Treatment, Artificial Intelligence, and Cornea
A video screened in the evening presented research and development directions at Rambam. Among the projects described was an experimental treatment targeting areas of the brain associated with craving for addictive substances; a patient spoke about a change she felt during treatment. The use of artificial intelligence and medical and biological information to improve medical decisions and tailor treatments to patients was also presented. Another area dealt with technology that allows cells to be produced from a donated cornea, grown in the laboratory, and expanded treatment options in light of the shortage of corneas for transplantation. The video emphasized collaboration between medicine, research, and technology companies.
Netta Barzilai sings in tribute to medical teams
In the artistic part of the evening, Netta Barzilai performed the song "I Don't Need No Doctor," which was presented as a tribute to doctors. Barzilai performed it with the help of her trademark looper, as part of a program that included music alongside the presentation of decorations and the presentation of the hospital's achievements. The choice of song was part of an event that was marked by the work of the medical teams during the war and the ongoing activity on behalf of the patients and the hospital community. Her performance was one of several performances during the evening, which also included Alon Ohel, Benya Barbie, and other singers.
Discovery Tower: Connecting the Hospital to Research
Another video introduced the Discovery Tower, a project designed to connect medical practice at the hospital with academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Participants described a vision that has developed over the years, centered on an environment where doctors, researchers, and engineers can jointly develop solutions to problems arising from patient care. The video emphasized the possibilities created by new technologies, including artificial intelligence, along with the responsibility to implement them in a safe and controlled manner. The central message is that the patient must remain at the center, even as research and treatment methods change.
Zohar and Yankela Jacobson: From loss to helping cancer patients
The Rambam decoration was awarded to Zohar and Yankela Yakovson for establishing Tal Centers for Integrative Oncology Medicine and for their work on behalf of young people dealing with cancer. Their work grew following the death of their daughter Tal from cancer at the age of 26. The couple established centers at Rambam and Sheba, which offer complementary treatment alongside oncological treatment, including acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and body and mind activities. They are also co-founders of the Halasartan Association, in collaboration with Shira Cooperman. According to the data presented, the community includes more than 35 young people who are sick and recovering, and eight dedicated clinics have been established across the country.
Alon Ohel and his sons Barbie on stage
One of the musical moments of the evening was the joint performance of Alon Ohel, who was kidnapped in Gaza, and singer Benya Barbi. The two performed "The Song Without a Name" as part of the artistic program held alongside the presentation of the Rambam decorations. Ohel's presence gave the performance a particularly personal touch at an event that also discussed the war, the wounded, and the need to continue providing medical care in complex conditions. Their performance joined other performances intended to accompany the evening of appreciation in Haifa for medical professionals and social activists.
Decoration for Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman for educational and social work
The Rambam decoration was also awarded to Rabbi David Grossman, in recognition of his educational and social activities for children and youth facing difficulties. The words of appreciation described his journey from Jerusalem to Migdal HaEmek, where he arrived in the late 1960s, and his familiarity with the needs of families who faced a lack of educational opportunities and support systems. Local activity has led to the growth of a network of educational frameworks, youth programs, and welfare initiatives. The ceremony emphasized his commitment to opening new possibilities for young people and the connection he has formed with Rambam over the years.
Alon Ohel, Neta Barzilai and the "New Kids" band closed the evening
In the final part of the gala event, Alon Ohel, Neta Barzilai and the "New Kids" band performed together. The performance concluded a program that combined speeches, videos about research and development, stories of social action and the awarding of decorations during the evening. Along with well-known artists, other singers and teenagers also participated in the program. The musical gathering took place in an amphitheater set up in the medical complex, in the presence of guests who came to the event, after hours in which the challenges that Rambam faced during the war and the projects it promotes in the fields of medicine, research and treatment were presented.
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