ICRF Chapters

"Salute to the Nobel Prize Laureates" - ICRF Israel

When the 2004 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was granted to ICRF Professors Avraham Hershko and Aharon Ciechanover, every citizen of the State of Israel swelled with pride. The Board and Friends of ICRF's Israeli branch were especially thrilled by this prestigious endorsement of the Israel Cancer Research Fund's mission and they decided to celebrate in style with a "Salute to the Nobel Prize Laureates" Dinner. A Dinner Committee was formed and the members- Adv. Ruth Barak, Adv. Tamar Goldenberg, Mr. Barak Palatchi, Mr. Eliezer Peled, Adv. Yossi Shattah and Adv. Yaacov Tor - worked above and beyond the call of duty to produce an event that would do the ICRF proud.

On January 20th, 2005, two hundred and fifty guests attended an elegant reception and dinner at the stylish Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, hosted by ICRF Israel Chairperson, Mrs. Leah Susskind, and ICRF President Yashar Hirshaut - who flew in with his wife, Perie, especially for the occasion.

To the gratification of the organizing committee this first ever major event of the ICRF in Israel was attended by some of the most eminent legal, scientific and business personalities in Israel, all of whom were delighted to meet and mingle with each other and with the two Nobel Laureates and their wives.

The event was also a very special opportunity for Aharon Ciechanover, ICRF's Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Research Professor, to meet his sponsor for the first time in the person of Gloria Kaylie - in Israel for the dinner and accompanied by ICRF Trustee Alisa Sorkin, daughter and son-in-law, Alicia and Dan Yaacobi, and members of her family and friends.

The evening's celebrations were made possible through the generosity of Mr. Eitan Wertheimer, renowned Israeli industrialist, who was present with his wife, Ariela; Mrs. Simcha Stern, staunch friend of the ICRF in Israel; and Mrs. Fanya Heller, in honor of her granddaughter, Sophie.

Under the auspices of master of ceremonies - veteran Israeli broadcaster and media personality, Dan Pattir - Leah Susskind and Dr. Yashar Hirshaut welcomed the gathering and explained the history, significance and spirit of ICRF's involvement in supporting cancer research in Israel. Professor Hershko's enlightening talk described the prolonged process of the discovery of the ubiquitin system and emphasized the fundamental part played by the ICRF in this process. Professor Ciechanover utilized his address to draw the audience's attention to the dire need for elementary reform in the education system in Israel, without which, he maintains, the academic potential of generations of Israeli children will be completely lost.

Eitan Wertheimer concluded the evening's proceedings with a humorous and inspiring discourse on the nature of Israel's development and the need to encourage generations of Israelis to come - regardless of ethnic, economic, social or religious background - to aspire to Nobel Prize status.