New York and America’s real estate, financial, pharmaceutical and medical industries joined together on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City for the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center (AFRMC) 18th Annual Gala, to celebrate His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR Realty.

Master of Ceremonies Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson of 60 Minutes – CBS News opened the evening, welcoming guests and friends of the honorees. Following a surprise dedication to Wendy and Stephen Siegel of a new Outpatient Clinic for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of the New York Tri-State Region of CBRE, took to the stage to present the honorees with the Yitzhak Rabin Excellence in Leadership Award: Scott Rechler for Exemplary Civic and Corporate Responsibility and Cardinal Dolan for Outstanding Religious Leadership.

Mr. Rechler boasted his support for the Israeli community, calling Israel “the sixth borough of New York City,” and Cardinal Dolan spoke on the importance of tolerance in society. His Eminence also spoke on the Rabin Medical Exchange Fellowship program and his role in bringing top Israeli doctors to Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. The evening ended with a special performance of songs (including “It’s Quiet Uptown” and “Dear Theodosia” from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton by original cast members Sydney James Harcourt and Carleigh Bettiol.

As a bridge to peace, American Friends of Rabin Medical Center helps to fund Israel’s premier hospital Rabin Medical Center, which bears Yitzhak Rabin’s name and honors the late Prime Minister’s vision of peace and regional economic prosperity. The hospital is Israel’s largest medical institution and a shining example of peaceful coexistence, serving one million patients annually and treating with the same compassionate care Israeli Jews, Christians and Muslims.