UAE makes historic donation to Israeli medical centre

When an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) attends an event in support of an Israeli medical centre, it’s a momentous occasion. When that ambassador then donates R2 million to the centre on behalf of his government, the occasion is historic.

Such was the case this past Sunday at the international virtual gala hosted by the African Friends of Sheba Medical Center at the Saltzman Family Community Centre in Linksfield.

The event – held in support of the medical centre based in Tel-Hashomer – brought together attendees from the United States, South America, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the UAE.

“The evening was aimed at supporting Sheba’s efforts to fight the coronavirus,” says Naomi Hadar, the executive director of African Friends of Sheba Medical Center. “The event was streamed live in all the participating countries, but it was only in South Africa that we came together physically for the gala evening, subject to strict social distancing protocols.”

As unique as that was, Hadar wanted to add another special dimension to the event by inviting Mahash Saeed Alhameli, the UAE ambassador to South Africa.

“I love challenges,” says Hadar. “Sheba Medical recently signed an agreement of medical co-operation with the UAE, and I wanted to do something special that would bring Israel, the UAE, and South Africa together at this event.”

“I asked the Israeli ambassador to South Africa, Lior Keinan, for help. He and Alhameli are actually friends, and he gave me his number. I called Alhameli to invite him, and I was bowled over when he said yes. I was stunned.”

The event – sponsored by Ivan and Lynette Saltzman (the former being the chairperson of the African Friends of Sheba) – featured an auction in support of the Sheba Medical Center. Alhameli attended the gala, and was one of the first to arrive and the last to leave, says Hadar. He also addressed the gathering, twice receiving a standing ovation from those in attendance.

Also in attendance was Dr Thesi Reddy, a Durban paediatrician whom Hadar escorted to Sheba Medical in Israel earlier this year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“Thesi shared his story and even got to see the doctor who had treated him in Israel over the live feed,” said Hadar. “Professor Yitshak Kreiss, the director general of the hospital, and even Shira Haas (the Emmy nominated actress from Netflix’s Unorthodox) were also present, and they raised a l’chaim to Thesi.”

It was during the course of the evening that the ambassador offered the donation on behalf of his country.

“He turned to me and said, ‘We are the first in the UAE who felt it was time we became friends with Israel, and it’s time we change the perception people have of Israel and the Jews’,” says Hadar. “From today, Naomi, you are my sister’.”

Alhameli then offered to donate R2 million to Sheba Medical Center, telling Hadar that this was just the beginning of a long partnership.

According to Hadar, when the event ended, one of the guests approached her and said, “I’m a historian, and what I witnessed here today was nothing short of historic. I don’t think we can actually grasp that for the first time in history, a representative of the UAE attended an event arranged by Israel. This is the highlight of my life.”

“The UAE’s involvement at Sheba is an incredible development,” says Hadar. “It’s a historic moment that I think has the potential to improve relations between Israel and South Africa as well.

“Sheba has so much to give everyone, not just Jews. I regularly receive requests from people in need of help, and to date, we’ve been able to get some of them the treatment they need in Israel, among them Thesi.

“One of my goals is to save lives, Jewish and non-Jewish,” Hadar says. “I believe that if we save one life, we save an entire world. As Kreiss says, if you save the life of one who hates you, he will never be able to hate you again. Healing is a bridge for peace.”