The 15th Annual Bel Air Affaire, hosted at the iconic Papillon Estate in Beverly Hills, raised over $2.5 million for scholarships to assist Hebrew University of Jerusalem students impacted by the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. 

This year’s honorees, Drs. Eric and Melina Esrailian, received the AFHU Humanitarian Torch of Learning Award at the event, hosted by the western region of American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU), for their community philanthropy and longstanding support of the Hebrew University Armenian Studies Program.

Keyboardist David Foster, a 16-time, Grammy Award-winning writer and producer, and his wife, singer and actress Katharine McPhee Foster, feted gala participants as the surprise evening musical entertainment. Among those who provided tributes were Cher, Barbra Streisand and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

For decades, the Esrailians have been active in the Los Angeles philanthropic, medical, academic and Armenian communities. Eric Esrailian is chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian division of Digestive Diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, as well as an Emmy-nominated producer, investor and entrepreneur. Melina Esrailianis a practicing dentist with a background in public health and a successful real-estate investor. 

The Esrailians have been closely involved in creating the Promise Institute for Human Rights at the UCLA School of Law and the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA, formalizing an organization to protect Armenian scholarship, history, language and culture. 

Together with AFHU western region vice chair Patricia L. Glaser, Eric Esrailian produced two films as part of a bold and ultimately successful strategy to get the U.S. government to recognize the Armenian genocide. 

The Promise, starring Christian Bale, was inspired by true events showcasing survival, love and faith. Dr. Esrailian simultaneously produced the documentary Intent to Destroy: Death, Denial & Depiction, which analyzed the Armenian genocide, its historical context and ongoing denial. Intent to Destroy was nominated for an Outstanding Arts and Historical Documentary Emmy in 2018. 

“The AFHU Humanitarian Torch of Learning Award, for us, is truly a mechanism to build a bridge between the Armenian community and the Jewish communities,” Dr. Esrailian said. “Melina and I are grateful to AFHU and Hebrew University, which educates people from all backgrounds and faiths in one of the world’s most historic cities.”

The Hebrew University offers Armenian and Armenian-cultural studies through its Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. The program, which began in 1966, encourages students to explore the rich history, culture and language of Armenia, and to foster a deeper understanding of the Armenian experience in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Student ambassador Shona Goldwirth, a third-year medical student at Hebrew University who was born in Los Angeles, addressed attendees at the event. Following Oct. 7, Goldwirth organized medical students to cover hospital shifts for physicians recruited for military service. This initiative placed more than 4,000 student volunteers in hospitals throughout Israel, with more than 200 in Jerusalem alone. 

Hebrew University president professor Asher Cohen gave welcome remarks to the guests and congratulated the Esrailians for their generosity at the AFHU-hosted program. 

“The Esrailians were ideal honorees given their longstanding commitment to elevating human dignity and to strengthening educational institutions that are finding solutions for so many of the world’s challenges,” says Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, president, AFHU western region. 

Dr. Natterson-Horowitz also expressed gratitude to co-chairs Joyce Brandman, Renae Jacobs-Anson and David Anson, as well as Helen Jacobs-Lepor and Norman Lepor, “whose devotion and tireless effort contributed to our spectacular event in support of the University’s ‘We Are One’ campaign to help students in need.” 

She adds, “Our honorary chairs, Irving Azoff, Stephen J. Cloobeck, Patricia L. Glaser and Sam Mudie, as well as May and Richard Ziman, deserve my endless appreciation for their help in making this year’s Bel Air Affaire a resounding success. In addition, I am grateful to our dedicated dinner chairs, including Martha and Barry Berkett, Roberta and Stanley Bogen, Hella and Chuck Hershson, William H. Isacoff, Corie and Michael Koss, Allison and Tom Levyn, Anthony Pritzker, Kathleen and Chip Rosenbloom, as well as Charlene Andersson and Harry Zimmerman.”

The 220 guests dined on sumptuous cuisine prepared by a four-star list of Los Angeles area celebrity chefs, including Areg Avanessian, chef de cuisine at Spago; Armen Ayvazyan, chef de cuisine at Chi Spacca; Della Gossett, Spago executive pastry chef; Rene Mata, chef de cuisine at Chinois on Main; and Nancy Silverton, chef and owner of Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza, Mozza2go and Chi Spacca.