New York media personalities gathered recently for an intimate dinner fundraiser at the Upper East Side’s Harmonie Club in honor of deceased Mayor Ed Koch to pay tribute to his legacy and raise funds for an Israeli academic center at Jerusalem’s Beit Morasha named in his honor.

The Edward I. Koch Center for Public Policy and Jewish Ethics was founded in 2012 at Beit Morasha’s Beren College to explore, nurture, and promote the connection between Jewish values and public policy through research and public programming.

A panel assembled in Koch’s honor included Michael Goodwin of the New York Post, Marcia Kramer of CBS, Gabe Pressman of NBC and former Koch administration official Peter Solomon. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was NBC’s Chuck Scarborough.

Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat addressed the gathering as did Koch’s sister, Pat Koch Thaler.

“My brother was so proud of The Edward I. Koch Center,” she said. “Ed appreciated that the Center melds Jewish traditions and teachings with ethical practices in public and political life, and reflects so much of what Ed valued.”

The organization’s Heritage Award for Distinguished Service to the State of Israel and the Jewish People was accepted by Ilia Salita and Sana Britavsky of the Genesis Philanthropy Group.

“The Edward I. Koch Center for Public Policy and Jewish Ethics is rooted in the interplay between public policy and Jewish ethics and teaches that you can – and should – be a talented, progressive, tough public servant, but always maintain a strong foundation of values and ethics,” said Beit Morasha’s Founder and President Professor Benjamin Ish-Shalom.