london’s chief rabbi hosts gathering of the british friends of rambam

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London’s Chief Rabbi Hosts Gathering of the British Friends of Rambam

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Rambam friends from Great Britain and Israel came together last week at the home of the Chief Rabbi of London, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and his wife, Lady Elaine Sacks. The guests enjoyed speeches by the Chief Rabbi, Director of Rambam Health Care Center (RHCC) Prof. Rafi Beyar, Nobel Prize Winner and Rambam Researcher Prof. Aaron Ciechanover and others on the medical center’s vast contributions during times of both war and peace. Rabbi Lord Saks intends to serve as patron of the Friends of Rambam in Great Britain.

On May 11, 2010, the Chief Rabbi of London, Rabbi Lord Sacks, and his wife, Lady Sacks, opened their home for a gathering of the British Friends of Rambam. The meeting, aimed to expand and honor the society, was attended by leading figures in London’s Jewish community and representatives from RHCC.

(R-L) - Israel’s Ambassador to England, Ron Prosor, director of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Rambam, Prof. Jacob Rowe, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rambam, Eitan Wertheimer and Rabbi Lord Sacks with the shofar presented to him by Rambam Director Prof. Rafi Beyar.
Danielle Manson©

The British guests included Israel’s Ambassador to England, Ron Prosor, Sir Bernard and Lady Schreier, Dr. Ramy and Mrs. Smadar Goldstein, Stanley Brodie QC, Neville Shulman and many others from the London Jewish community. Among members of the Israeli contingent were Chairman of the board of trustees for Rambam and Friends of Rambam Eitan Wertheimer, Director of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Rambam Prof. Jacob Rowe, Administrative Director of Rambam Dr. Esti Golan and her husband Cherry Golan and Director of Public Affairs and Resource Development Talia Zaks. The British Friends of Rambam, run by Mrs Anita Alexander- Passe, Liora Thoren, Malka Leon, Lior Hannes, Attorney Michael and Noga Komissar, and Amir Levy assisted with organizing the event.

Chief Rabbi Lord Saks, initiator of the gathering, opened the meeting with comments on Rambam’s importance to Israel, the Jewish world and medicine in general. He mentioned that the hospital has always provided a safe haven throughout turbulent and calm periods, and spoke on how Rambam innovations have gained worldwide acclaim. The Chief Rabbi also opened his home to announce Rambam objective to the London Jewish community as the British patron.

Rambam’s Nobel Prize-winning Biochemist Prof. Aaron Ciechanover reiterated, with great enthusiasm, on the medical center’s leading role in medical advances and Israel’s security.

“Rambam is strong because it offers the most advanced medical services to our patients and strives to acquire the most advanced medical technology for our patients' benefit,” said Rambam Director Prof. Rafi Beyar, who stressed that the hospital is committed to preparing “the next generation of doctors ‘to watch over the life and health of God's creatures’ – I am quoting Maimonides (the RAMBAM) here – and to practice compassionate patient-care.”

Prof. Beyar presented Rabbi Lord Sacks with a shofar, which he sounded with great vigor to the delight of all guests present.