In a departure from the conventional annual fundraising dinners held by philanthropic organizations, Jerusalem’s Israel Museum conducted tours of its exhibits on Saturday evening and drew not just donations to maintain its premises, but also the attention of some high profile Israelis.
According to a report by Haaretz, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould, widow of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, Rona Ramon, economist Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, and daughter of Shas Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Adina Bar Shalom guided tours of the museum for potential donors, rather than attending the typical high-class meal usually offered at fundraising events.
The figures were given options of exhibitions and art works they would like to get to know, and were then taught enough information to present it to attendees of the gala.
Fischer chose an exhibit on the Sephardic Tzedek v’Shalom synagogue of Suriname, which was reconstructed in its entirety at the museum. Fischer was born in Zambia.
Gould discussed the early stories of Christianity, intertwining information about the Caiaphas ossuary located at the museum.
The event included shuk Machaneh Yehuda vendors and dance performers, and raised NIS 1.6 million.