ICRF to Honor Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie

The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) will host its Tower of Hope Gala on March 10 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. Rabbi Eli Abadie, MD, will be honored along with Helene Miller—whose late husband, Dr. Daniel G. Miller, founded ICRF—and Dr. Daniel F. Roses, the Jules Leonard Whitehill Professor of Surgery and Oncology of the New York University School of Medicine, Senior Attending Surgeon at Tisch Hospital of the New York University Medical Center and Director of Surgical Oncology.

Rabbi Abadie is the founding Rabbi of Congregation Edmond J. Safra Synagogue, the flagship synagogue of Edmond J. Safra Synagogues worldwide. In addition, he serves as Director of the Jacob E. Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies of Yeshiva University, where he  teaches at the Isaac Breuer College and Stern College.

Rabbi Abadie was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and grew up in Mexico City. He graduated from Yeshiva Univeristy and received both a master’s degree in Philosophy and Semikha from Yeshiva University. He also holds an MD from Downstate Medical Center in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, both of which he practices.

The Tribute Committee Cochairs are ICRF Trustees Charles Ben Dayan, Julie Mitnick, MD, Faith Miller, Esq, and Ted Miller, MD. The Master of Ceremonies is Benjamin Brafman, a noted litigator in New York and the auction chairperson is Sadie Jemal-Meyers.

The Israel Cancer Research Fund is the single largest source of private funds for cancer research in Israel. “ICRF has raised more than $40 million to date to fund the most brilliant physicians and scientists at the leading universities, medical centers and research institutions in Israel,” said Bradley Goldhar, the newly appointed president of ICRF. These scientists include the first Israelis ever to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

ICRF Chairman Kenneth Goodman noted that, “The purpose of ICRF and this event is to fund the new generation of cancer researchers in Israel who are working on the cutting-edge of bio-technology and medical technology. Per-capita, Israel has the world’s largest concentration of cancer researchers but insufficient funds to sponsor promising projects which could enhance all humankind.”

The Tower of Hope Gala will begin at 6 pm, with cocktails, silent and Chinese Auctions, followed by dinner and awards ceremony. Tickets are $600 per person. For information and reservations, please contact Donna Kurz at (212) 969-9800 or email, donna.kurz@icrfny.com.