For Hockstein, the Negev is more than arid land—it is the wellspring of Israel’s pioneering spirit, the embodiment of David Ben-Gurion’s vision, and the foundation for innovation that benefits the world. As a national Board of Directors member and chair of the Delaware Chapter at A4BGU, Hockstein channels this passion into advocacy, philanthropy, and deeply personal engagement.

“I do believe at my very core that Israel springs from the Negev,” Hockstein reflects, citing the foresight of Israel’s first prime minister in making the desert a hub for solving ecological challenges, dispersing population across the land, and ensuring strategic access to the Red Sea.

Hockstein’s journey with A4BGU began about a decade ago through the Zin Fellows Leadership Program, an immersive experience designed to equip civic leaders with the tools, knowledge, and relationships to make a lasting impact on Israel. Though health circumstances in his family prevented him from completing the fellowship at the time, the spark was ignited.

Over time, he deepened his involvement—first locally in Delaware, then nationally. His wife, Carolyn Hockstein, is co-chair of the Delaware Chapter. Along the way, he developed not only an intellectual connection to BGU’s work but also a personal affinity for the land itself. When it comes to hiking through the Negev, he says, “There’s something about the little trail markers painted on the rocks that makes me feel a sense of excitement.”

His prestigious professional background informs his volunteer leadership. A board-certified otolaryngologist, he practices with ENT & Allergy of Delaware and serves as Medical Director of Head and Neck Surgery at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center. He is also deeply engaged in state health policy, serving in gubernatorial appointments and advisory roles—including as chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission. In fact, Governor of Delaware Matt Meyer will be the A4BGU Delaware Chapter’s honoree along with Philadelphia honoree, David Magerman, at the organization’s 2025 Tribute Brunch in Philadelphia on November 16th.

Hockstein’s career reflects both surgical precision and a commitment to community health, values that align naturally with his work on behalf of BGU.

Visiting Israel—Three Times Since October 7th

Hockstein’s connection to Israel is not abstract; it is rooted in experience. His first visit came in the late 1970s, followed decades later by his daughter’s bat mitzvah trip. Since then, he has returned multiple times—seven in total, including three trips since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks. Each journey has been distinct, reinforcing his bond with Israel and BGU.

His first post-October 7th trip came just weeks after assuming the Delaware chairmanship. He attended the BGU Board of Governors meeting, feeling a profound obligation to be present.

“If I’m not going to go and support Israel, who’s going to do it? If not me, then who? If not now, then when?” he recalls asking himself. That visit introduced him to BGU’s wartime innovations, such as the 3D-printed medical kits designed for battlefield medics, symbolizing the University’s responsiveness and ingenuity.

His second trip amid the current war came with the Momentum organization’s men’s program, and then his third trip proved most transformative. Hockstein obtained an Israeli volunteer medical license, connected with the ENT department at Soroka University Medical Center (BGU’s main teaching hospital), and spent days performing surgeries, lecturing residents, and exchanging expertise. That mission ended dramatically: He boarded his flight home just hours before this past summer’s war with Iran. Four days later, an Iranian missile struck Soroka itself.

“I literally saw hallways where I had walked in videos after the bombing,” he says, describing the emotional weight of supporting A4BGU’s emergency campaign that followed. His donation to that effort was deeply personal—an extension of the bonds forged with colleagues at Soroka, many of whom were called up to military service during his stay.

Soroka and BGU: A Microcosm of Israel’s Future

Hockstein views Soroka not just as a hospital but as a living example of BGU’s mission. Its faculty and staff embody the diversity of the Negev, from Bedouin physicians to Arab specialists, working side by side with Jewish colleagues.

“Education is the way to change a culture,” he observes, highlighting BGU’s role in expanding opportunity across communities.

The innovations emerging from BGU further cement his dedication. He points to research like Prof. Amit Gross’s aquaculture projects—using fish waste to fertilize crops—as models of ecological sustainability. He is equally inspired by BGU’s groundbreaking autism initiatives, leveraging Israel’s unique health system data and new technologies to support vulnerable populations.

“You really learn about a people through how it takes care of its most vulnerable,” he notes.

For Hockstein, supporting A4BGU is not simply philanthropy—it is participating in the unfolding story of Israel’s future. He sees BGU as a beacon of innovation, resilience, and inclusivity, rooted in Ben-Gurion’s belief that the Negev is where Israel’s destiny will be shaped.

“Israel is a lot of things to a lot of people,” he says. “For me, it’s the pioneering spirit. The original pioneers came to the desert, and when I’m in the Negev, I feel that same sense of excitement.”

That spirit drives his work as a physician, a leader, and now as an advocate ensuring that BGU and the Negev continue to thrive—for Israel and for the world.