On a brisk November morning in Jerusalem, the Israeli Cabinet convened for a meeting that would ultimately signal a turning point for healthcare in the country’s south. At the center of the discussion was the Soroka University Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, a hospital that, just months earlier, had become an unlikely symbol of both vulnerability and resilience after suffering a direct hit from an Iranian missile during Operation Rising Lion on June 19, 2025. The attack left the region’s only tertiary hospital reeling—more than 300 beds were suddenly unavailable, eight operating rooms were destroyed, and the hospital’s research labs, shared with Ben-Gurion University, were reduced to rubble.
Yet, out of the ashes, a plan for renewal emerged, thanks in large part to Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams. On November 2, 2025, Adams announced a $100 million donation to help rebuild Soroka, a move that nearly matched the government’s own allocation and set the stage for a sweeping $300 million (1 billion shekel) initiative to transform healthcare in the Negev. According to AP and Devdiscourse, Adams made the announcement in person during the Cabinet meeting, stating, “Our answer to Iran is to build back bigger and better. On the very place where missiles fell, we will build in Beersheba, the capital of the Negev, a state-of-the-art hospital that will be one of the most advanced in the Middle East.”
The new project, dubbed the Rebirth Building, is more than just a reconstruction effort. It’s a fortified, 10-story inpatient tower designed to provide protected space for at least 70% of Soroka’s beds, as well as critical departments like operating rooms, intensive care units, and imaging. The funding—shared equally among Adams, the government, and Clalit Health Services (Soroka’s owner)—also includes contributions from private donors and compensation from the Property Tax Fund, though hospital officials have noted that the latter has so far fallen short of actual damages. Dr. Tzachi Slotzky, Soroka’s deputy director, didn’t mince words: “If we rely on them, we’ll never get back to where we were.”
The scale of the devastation has been sobering. Since the missile strike, Soroka has struggled with severe shortages. Prof. Asher Bashiri, head of Maternity Ward C, described the heartbreaking reality: “I have to apologize to women at their most difficult moments and explain why they see men with catheters in the hallway. It’s not normal. We never imagined we’d face such a situation.” Dr. Yarden Zohar, a urology resident, added, “The rooms are cramped, without windows or ventilation. This costs lives and affects the quality of care.”
Despite these hardships, the hospital’s staff continued to provide care for more than one million residents of southern Israel, including Bedouin communities and border towns. During the war, Soroka played a pivotal role in treating thousands of wounded, its resilience in the face of adversity drawing praise from across the Israeli political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Adams’s donation as “a tremendous response to the attack we suffered and a great gift to the Negev and the people of Israel.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized that “this investment is not just about repairing damage. It is a statement of our commitment to the Negev and to reducing the gap between the center and the periphery.”
The government’s decision to back the reconstruction was unanimous. Health Minister Haim Katz explained, “It will strengthen public healthcare infrastructure and provide proper protection for Soroka, the medical anchor of the South.” Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov went further, calling Soroka “not only a hospital but a symbol of the strength of Israel’s public health system and the spirit of the Negev’s residents.”
For Adams, the donation is deeply personal. As reported by Haaretz, he declared, “The Soroka Medical Center is a cornerstone of resilience and growth in the Negev and the South. From the very place that was directly and deliberately targeted by missiles, we will build a beacon of medicine, progress and hope. Our answer to hatred and destruction is simple: we choose life. That is the secret strength of the Jewish people.” Adams, who also serves as president of the World Jewish Congress Israel region, previously donated $100 million to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev following the October 7 attacks, underscoring his commitment to strengthening Israel’s south. “I am making this contribution as a proud Jew and as an Israeli who loves his country with all his heart and soul,” he said. “Soroka’s sacred mission is to save lives and care for people. I thank its heroic staff who continued to work professionally and compassionately under missile fire. You represent the best of Israel.”
Clalit CEO Dr. Eitan Wertheim praised the government’s decision and the partnership with Adams: “From the moment the missile struck, Clalit and Soroka worked tirelessly to restore the hospital’s operations. We welcome the government’s decision to repair the severe damage and strengthen the hospital for the years ahead, in light of the many challenges it faces in both routine times and emergencies.”
But the story of Soroka’s renewal is also a story of broader change. The hospital’s new tower is being built to national emergency preparedness standards, reflecting a growing recognition—especially after the Iranian strike—of the need to fortify Israel’s healthcare infrastructure against future threats. Be’er Sheva Mayor Rubik Danilovich called the project “a crucial national investment in both security and health.”
Adams’s philanthropy, meanwhile, extends beyond medicine. He is well known for his support of sports and education in Israel, having co-owned the Israel Premier Tech cycling team. However, in late October 2025, Adams announced he would step down from an active role in the team and that it would move away from its national identity, a decision prompted by protests and disruptions at international events related to the Gaza war.
For Soroka, the path forward is clear. As Director Prof. Shlomi Codish put it, the hospital “will emerge stronger, combining cutting-edge infrastructure, research and innovation to deliver world-class medicine and ensure the Negev’s physical and moral renewal.” The new Rebirth Building is set to be a beacon not just for Be’er Sheva, but for all of southern Israel—a testament to resilience, collaboration, and the enduring belief that even after devastation, hope can take root and flourish.
With construction poised to begin, Soroka’s recovery is more than a local story. It’s a reminder, for Israel and beyond, that the response to destruction can be vision, unity, and renewal—one brick, one bed, and one act of generosity at a time.
