The Friends of Barzilai has brought to Los Angeles for the first time the Qassam missiles that are fired into Israel every day, causing destruction and devastation, and yet garnering no media, international press, or community support.  Honoring Friends of Barzilai Board Member and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who was integral in getting the rockets from Israel to the United States, the Friends of Barzilai Reception will be held on October 5th at the elegant residence of Daphna Ziman. It will display this stunning collection of rockets, reworked into a staggering presentation of sculptures by acclaimed Israeli artist Niso Maman, and help bring to light the nature of life at the Barzilai Medical Center.  Due to the importance of our project, it is first time that the Israeli Government has allowed the remnants and shrapnel from Qassam missiles launched by Hamas into Israel to leave the country.

Guests will be encouraged to mingle through the collection of sculptures, followed by a dazzling list of speakers that will include Friends of Barzilai Board Member and event Honoree Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, and the evening will culminate with a live Qassam auction.

The pieces will then embark on a traveling exhibit around the United States in order to show people the realities of life in a war zone, which, when combined with a live speaking program, will give guests the opportunity to better understand the achievements of Barzilai Medical Center in light of the difficult challenges they face every day. 

We hope this will impart a sense of all that Barzilai will achieve with proper funds and support.  The most immediate goal of the event is to raise much needed funds to support the traveling exhibit, Friends of Barzilai, and the Medical Center’s security.  The underlying goal of the event is for guests - through the art pieces, presentations and speakers - to feel intimately connected with the hospital and support Friends of Barzilai.