September 9, 2025 – The Swiss Friends of Yad Sarah raised $1.4 million USD for Yad Sarah initiatives supporting the rehabilitation and healing of individuals in Israel since October 7th, at its inaugural gala on August 31st in Zurich, Switzerland.
Over 200 Yad Sarah friends and supporters attended the evening focused on raising awareness about the volunteer-led health and home care organization and the support it provides for nearly all families in Israel–including the loved ones of hostages and victims of the ongoing war.
The event 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 involved in hostage negotiations. In his remarks, Levin spoke of some of the challenges negotiators have faced and 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 operations of the organization’s 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 ensuring accessible transportation and accommodations for evacuees and those with ongoing mobility challenges.
Among special guests at the gala were Mrs. Doris Frick, Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to Switzerland and Mr. Aaron Frenkel, Chairman of the International Board of Yad Sarah. Donations from the event were generously matched by Frenkel, a global entrepreneur and philanthropist.
“It’s my personal experience that when you give, you receive ten 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.”
Mr. Philip Bendheim, a Board Member and Director of Yad Sarah’s International Friends’ organizations, also inspired generous donations while sharing his direct perspectives as a second-generation volunteer. During an address, Bendheim opened up about his family’s experience with personal losses in the war, underscoring the depths of trauma and 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 healthcare system, helping people facing illness, injury, and recovery to live with greater dignity, independence, and comfort.”
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About Yad Sarah
Yad Sarah, the leading volunteer-staffed humanitarian organization in Israel, provides a vital array of compassionate health and home care services for people of all ages.
Founded in 1976, Yad Sarah has 127 branches throughout Israel staffed by more than 7,000 volunteers. Although the organization is best known for its extensive lending service for medical equipment, its volunteers also drive its wheelchair-accessible vans, reach out to the homebound, advocate for the elderly at risk for abuse, provide in-home geriatric dental care, staff its play center, and more. Nearly every family in Israel has been impacted or helped by Yad Sarah. Yad Sarah saves Israel’s healthcare system over NIS 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion USD) each year through its home hospitalization equipment lending services. To support the organization’s ongoing efforts and learn more about its initiatives, visit yadsarah.org
