On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, eighty distinguished guests met at Christie’s in New York City to honor Mr. Eugene M. Grant and celebrate the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem, hosted by the Museum’s American Friends organization (AFBLMJ). This event served as the non-profit’s inaugural benefit luncheon, and will be the first of a series of annual fundraising events. It brought together leaders in the financial, real estate, and Jewish and Israeli philanthropic worlds. All joined to pay tribute to Mr. Grant, celebrating his long and illustrious career as a Real Estate industry visionary, philanthropist, and Past Chairman of the AFBLMJ Board of Directors.
After the Ha-motzi blessing given by Professor Lawrence Schiffman of Yeshiva University, guests enjoyed delicious Kosher fare while being informed about the mission, history, and exciting future plans of the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem. The program was led by the institution’s director, Amanda Weiss. Princeton professor Dr. Robert MacLennan gave a most heartfelt introduction to Mr. Grant. Mr. Grant then took the stage, and with eloquence and humor addressed the room, accepting the honor. Ms. Weiss and her mother, Museum co-founder Batya Borowski, presented Mr. Grant with an award commemorating the creation of The Eugene M. Grant Young Scholars Program at the Museum in Israel, which will award one bright, driven scholar annually the opportunity to work directly with the curatorial staff of the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem on priority research related to upcoming exhibitions or academic projects of the Museum’s collections. The event’s printed program highlighted the first beneficiary of this Scholars Program, gifted archaeologist Igor Kreimerman.
