21 Club Hosts Women’s Luncheon to Benefit American Friends of Rabin Center

Do you remember that classic scene from All About Eve when smartly dressed Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and her nemesis Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) meet at 21’s as Eve tries to blackmail Margo’s friend (Celeste Holm) in the ladies’ room? Well, if  you don’t recall the scene or have never seen the movie, no worries; this time around the meeting in the ladies’ room and the adjourning dining area had nothing to with corruption, blackmail or deceit.

This gathering at Club 21 of concerned women and friends was a luncheon to benefit American Friends of the Rabin Center to raise awareness and support for breast cancer early detection and development of new technologies and equipment.  “Our goal is for awareness of the need for better equipment for breast cancer and earlier detection,” says Executive Director, Joshua Eli Plaut, PhD.

American Friends of the Rabin Medical Center works with the particular needs of Israeli women in order to bring a decline in their currently higher rate of breast cancer, especially among women under the age of 50. Proceeds from this luncheon benefit the Rabin Fellows Medical Exchange Program and the partial funding of a Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography and research to fight breast cancer at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center—home to the Davidoff Cancer Center—a world class facility whose sole focus is on the treatment and prevention of cancer.

Pre-luncheon activities included a silent auction with from Eric Javits, Dr. Z Paul Lorenc, Executive Chef Chris Coleman from Petaluma, Edward Tricomi from Warren Tricomi of the Plaza Hotel and more. While guests feasted on divine snapper with a tomato and cream gravy coupled with roasted asparagus and pepper salad,  actress Tovah Feldshuh introduced guest speaker author, playwright and screenwriter Delia Ephron. Ephron spoke about her life and how it important it is for women to find and follow their bliss and be in touch with that positive inner voice that always directs you toward your passion. Ephron also spoke about her new novel, The Lion Is In, which explores three women at various crossroads in their lives and their journey to self-acceptance funneled through the lens of a road trip through rural North Carolina.

American Friends of Rabin Medical Center is committed to helping Israel’s Rabin Medical Center of Petah Tikvah fulfill its mission; sustain and expand its facilities with the most advanced technology and equipment by encouraging individual, family, corporate and institutional commitment to the hospital; publicly promoting the hospital; educating the public; encouraging visitation; creating joint ventures with other medical establishments; and by raising funds through a variety of programmatic efforts throughout the United States.

—Staff