Tim Boxer At Hebrew U Gala

Anything important must fit on one sheet of paper. It’s a principle that Kenneth Abramowitz has fostered in his many years as managing general partner and co-founder at NGN Capital, a healthcare venture capital fund, and before that at the Carlyle Group.

Kenneth and his Israeli born wife Nira were the beneficiaries of the Maimonides Award from the American Friends of the Hebrew University at a recent dinner at the Pierre Hotel.

In presenting the award, Marc O. Mayer observed that the award is named for a great religious philosopher, author of the Mishnah Torah, which runs 14 volumes. “Clearly,” he said, “Maimonides did not hear of Ken’s one-page principle.”

Kenneth recalled growing up in Boston where his father once received an award from the local UJA.

“Pa, did you get any money for this award?”

“No, Kenny, It doesn’t work that way. You get an award for giving money.”

The kid shook his head.

“Today,” Kenneth said, “I finally figured it out.”

Chita Rivera, the 79-year-old actress invested with nine Tony Award nominations and winner of two of them (“The Rink” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman”), presented the Scopus Award to Tina and Michael Lobel. He’s a founder of Shapiro Lobel, specializing in business management for entertainers. He talked at length how much he missed his business partner, Aaron Shapiro, who died last October at age 82.

“Michael,” Chita chirped, “I think I had another birthday while you were speaking.”

Some 237 guests attended the event to support the university’s Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology. Among them were Ingeborg and Ira Rennert; Carmi Gillon, former head of Shin Bet and currently the university’s vice president for external affairs; George A. Schieren, AFHU chairman; Martin E. Karlinsky, AFHU national president; Lawrence J. Zweifach, president of the AFHU greater New York region; Eitan Yefenof, Lautenberg Center director; Israeli Consul General Ido Aharoni; Michael S. Kurtz; and Malcolm Thomson.