AFHU Southeast event raises funds for student scholarships

American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) held its annual Leaders of Distinction event to support Israel, fund scholarships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) and benefit the We Are One fund for students, faculty and family affected by the war and its aftermath.

The event was held at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 3, and honored area philanthropists and supporters including Ety Alcalay; Sherry Norris and John Bauman; Jane and Dr. Peter Feinstein; Rina Frankel; and Annette Pakula. Leaders of Distinction honorary chairs were Tamar and Milton Maltz of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Cleveland. The evening’s chairs were Elaine and Dr. Beno Michel of Palm Beach Gardens and Cleveland.

The event proceeds will provide counseling services, tutoring and scholarship assistance for students returning to the university after military-reserve service, as well as financial relief for those who have lost their homes and belongings.

“Thousands of Hebrew University students have been called to active duty in Israel’s defense, so it is important that the AFHU community in Florida is joining to support Israel’s foremost academic institution when the needs are so great,” said Dr. Beno Michel. “We are especially grateful for our honorees who exemplify the steadfast commitment to community, education and the advancement of knowledge for the betterment of humanity.”

Among the evening’s honorees, Ety Alcalay serves on AFHU’s national board of directors, AFHU’s southeast region advisory committee, and Hebrew University’s board of governors. She has a long association with Hebrew University where she earned a B.A. in Russian and Jewish studies and where she met her husband, David. Ety and David have hosted several southeast region AFHU events in their home and enjoy engaging donor prospects in the Boca Raton area of Florida and beyond.

John and Sherry Bauman have generously provided scholarships for Hebrew University’s students in need. In 2004, the philanthropic couple was recognized on HU’s Wall of Life and in 2017, John received an honorary fellowship from the Hebrew University. John Bauman is a member of the Hebrew University board of governors, the AFHU national board of directors and the Southeast region board. Past positions include membership on AFHU’s northeast region board, the national campaign committee, and the real estate and financial services division. Sherry serves on AFHU’s national board of regents.

Rina Frankel has been a dedicated supporter of the Hebrew University for many years. She serves on the AFHU board of regents. In 2012, she and her late husband, Samuel Frankel, established an endowment fund to provide scholarships for Ethiopian students at Hebrew University. Rina also continues the couple’s support for professor Yaakov (“Koby”) Nahmias and his diabetes research. Together with her husband, Rina is inscribed on Hebrew University’s Wall of Life in Jerusalem.

Jane and Dr. Peter Feinstein currently serve on the AFHU national board of directors and the southeast region advisory board, of which Jane is president. They chaired the 2019 AFHU Annual Leadership Education Forum (ALEF) in Palm Beach and are among the hosts of the annual Frenchman’s Creek Mini-ALEF.

A member of the Hebrew University’s board of governors, Annette Pakula also serves on the executive committee and national board of AFHU. She recently provided funding for significant equipment in the new Hebrew University Center for Computational Medicine. In 2023, she was presented with an honorary fellowship at the 86th Hebrew University Board of Governors meeting in Jerusalem.

The evening’s special guest was Ambassador (Ret.) Yossi Gal, Hebrew University’s vice president for advancement and external relations, who discussed the situation in Israel and its impact on the university.