Fourteen-year-old Eyal stood on a stage built on the spacious back lawn of the Dan Carmel Hotel, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra directly behind him, and a sea of grownups in evening attire facing him.

The audience had just watched a clip featuring a younger version of Eyal, but that little boy with soulful eyes and a face made puffy from cancer treatment looked unlike the poised teenage speaker to whose face a natural slimness had been restored: "I overcame cancer," he said, thanking Prof. Myriam Ben Arush, Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Rambam. "Today I can live my life like every normal child of my age."   

Former Director of RHCC, Prof. Moshe Revach, after receiving the Rambam Award at the Gala Event of the Rambam Summit . Photo credit: Koko.	Mrs. Ruth Rappaport after receiving the Rambam Award at the Gala Event of the Rambam Summit. Photo credit: Koko.

L to R: RHCC Director Rafi Beyar congratulates Rambam Award recipients Rabbi Elimelech Firer and Mr. Sammy Ofer. Photo credit: Koko

At the gala, the American, British, Canadian, and Israeli Friends of Rambam were represented by Mssrs. Yair Kagan and Adam Emmerich, Ms. Anita Alexander-Passe, Ms. Suzanne Kaye, and Prof. Yehuda Hayuth respectively.

Member of Knesset Lieutenant-General (res.) Shaul Mofaz presenting his speech at the gala event for the Rambam Summit. Photo credit: Koko.	AFORAM President Mr. Adam Emmerich addressing the crowd at the gala event for the Rambam Summit. Photo credit: Koko

Mr. Emmerich, who had brought a large contingent of Rambam supporters with him from the States, took the podium to thank Rambam on behalf of "those of us who are not in Israel and not in the healing profession" for doing "tremendous work truly without borders that benefits the whole world in the great tradition of Maimonides."

MK Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz, Minister of Science and Technology, shaking hands with CEO of IDB Foundation Mr. Rami Mardor. Photo credit: Koko.