Each and every year, guests at the ‘Friends of Bezalel’ (pronounced Betz-a-lell) are treated to a sneak peek at some of the most innovative designs ever created.
Honoring Bezalel’s Industrial Design Program, Chairman, Friends of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Ilan Kaufthal introduced the evening’s festivities.
Professor Eva Lllouz, President, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, along with Professor Ezri Tarazi, Founder and Former Head of Masters of Industrial Design Program Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem introduced guests to the latest and greatest from Bezalel.
Some personal favorites include: Earthquake-proof tables for students. As a native Californian, I have experienced first-hand the devastation left in the aftermath of these natural disasters.
More lives will be saved with this clever design and hopefully, readily available to all worldwide.
Another, almost obvious, cool design was the Etch-A-Sketch designs on car windows. The ability to choose your very own landscape on long road trips sounds like really much more fun on cross-country adventures then simply looking out the window for hours on end.
Each table was adorned with Bezalel Industrial Design custom-made gifts for attendees:
• Disc bottle openers created by Avisar Caspi
• Luggage tags created by Osnat Hashash
• Computer key magnets created by Adi Paz Faingold
• Cute Corkers collaborated between Oded Friedland (Bezalel Grad 1994 and Lecturer) and Reddish Studio
Celebrity, sex-therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer quietly took her seat at the table in front of ours, she was also spotted at last year’s gala as well! Nice to see a steady supporter of the arts!!!
The Blanche and Romie Shapiro Award for Outstanding Service to Bezalel was awarded to Dr. Leonard Polonsky, Member of the Board of Governors, Bezalel Academy.
Omer Ackerman, Bezalel Graduate, Industrial Design 2012 was the recipient of the Presentation of Gift Award.
SVP and Director of Sotheby’s Fine Art sales, Live Auctioneer, Jennifer Roth was crucial to the fundraising efforts at the Gala.
Bathsheva Rifkin, President Friends of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design as well as Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York was amongst the honorees and are key figures at Bezalel.
The setting, spectacular views of Columbus Circle and Central Park from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel was the perfect venue for this very worthwhile fundraiser and endeavor. If you would like to learn more about Friends of Bezalel or would like to donate to the Academy, please visit: http://www.bezalelfriends.org
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