American Committee for Shaare Zedek Fundraiser Honors Sam Yebri

On Thursday, Sept. 7, the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem honored local leader Sam Yebri at the Sephardic Temple in Westwood. The event was a fundraiser for Shaare Zedek, a 120-year old, 1,000 bed medical center on two campuses in the center of Jerusalem that serves the Jewish, Muslim and Christian populations in the city.

Sam Yebri, an accomplished attorney and civic activist, recently ran for LA City Council in the 5th City Council district. He was a city commission under former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and he currently serves as board president of ETTA, which provides housing and supportive services developmentally disabled individuals. 

Yebri, a member of the ACSZ advisory council, has visited Shaare Zedek twice, including on a mission to Israel with Villaraigosa. Another time, he visited with his wife Leah when she was pregnant with their first child.

“We were moved to see Israelis of all backgrounds receiving world-class care in the hospital’s newly opened underground emergency room.” – Sam Yebri 

“The hospital touched my heart each time but in different ways,” he said. “While expecting our first child, we were moved to visit the world’s busiest maternity ward at Shaare Zedek, filled with Israeli expectant parents of all backgrounds. During our political mission, we were moved to see Israelis of all backgrounds receiving world-class care in the hospital’s newly opened underground emergency room.”

The host committee, including former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse and her husband Jon, Nate Miller of Miller Ink, his wife Emily, Rabbi Zachary Shapiro and Hon. Ron Galperin served as the host committee for the event. It featured special guests like Villaraigosa, who spoke about the six times he visited Israel and said a blessing in Hebrew on stage; Jewish Journal Editor David Suissa, who is friends with Yebri; actor Ben Savage, who MCed and is running for congress; and comedian Avi Liberman of Comedy For Koby. The USC Trojan Marching Band, from Yebri’s law school alma mater, played their fight song, “Fight On” as well as their versions of hits from The Offspring, Pat Benatar and Bruno Mars. Yebri’s two daughters led the singing of the U.S. and Israeli national anthems. 

“I feel humbled to be recognized by such an important and historic Israeli institution,” Yebri said. “I am excited to leverage my passions and relationships to raise vital funds for the life-saving work of Shaare Zedek.”

Paul Jeser, the national director of major gifts and director, western region for ACSZ said, “Sam is one of the great young leaders of our community … Supporting SZ means one is supporting innovative medicine while, at the same time, SZ is known as the hospital with a heart. [It’s a] strong and successful medical center in the heart of Jerusalem [that] benefits the people of Jerusalem.”

In 2022, over 22,000 babies were born at Shaare Zedek, and doctors there performed more than 35,000 services and oversaw upwards of 850,000 outpatient clinic visits. There are over 1,200 physicians, 2,000 nurses and 600 paramedical staff working at the hospital. It is the fastest growing major medical center in Jerusalem, and was founded 45 years before the founding of the State of Israel. 

Now that the State of Israel is 75 years old, Yebri is supporting it by staying involved with ACSZ and encouraging others do the same. 

“We hope to raise critical funds for the hospital today and plan the seeds for future philanthropy, innovation and collaboration in the future,” he said. “The hospital in many ways represents the best of Israel and the Jewish people: welcoming and inclusive, resilient and innovative, superlative but humble, big brains and an even bigger heart.”

He continued, “For those of us who believe that Israel is home and Israelis are family, there is no better way to help your home and your family than making sure they have the best medical care in the entire Middle East.”