The great, the good, the rich and the famous were out in full force in Jerusalem on Tuesday night to help President Shimon Peres celebrate his 90th birthday, an event that also marked the start of the fifth annual presidential conference, Facing Tomorrow.
The reception that preceded the main gala saw journalists from print and screen mingled with politicians and donors, diplomats and Jewish leaders from abroad.
The gala includes a performance by Barbara Streisand and Eyal Golan and was attended by Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and - of course - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, along with Robert De Niro, Prince Albert of Monaco and other heads of state from all around the world.
The organizers had clearly worked hard to create an impressive spectacle for the president. A warm and admiring opening speech by Tony Blair was followed by a swarm of children taking to the stage to wish Peres happy birthday in song.
"We in Britain have our queen, and you have your Shimon," the former British prime minister said. "Peres worked tirelessly for Israel's security because he knew that was what Israel needed."
"Tonight we do not celebrate Peres's age, we celebrate his character," Blair continued. "To the youngest 90-year-old I know, yom huledet sameach (happy birthday)."
Popular Mizrahi singer Golan stuck to Hebrew favorites, including a moving rendition of Yerushalayim shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold.)
The singer followed a series of video greetings, including messages from Mikhail Gorbachev, who originally had been listed as a guest at the conference, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and even U2 lead singer Bono, who praised Peres as an inspiration.
Netanyahu, clearly in his element among such an illustrious crowd, made his opening remarks in English, but then switched to his native Hebrew to say "mazal tov, dear Shimon."
As he promised at the start, he summed up his comments by saying in English: "When Shimon was born, the Jewish people were defenseless... We were almost destroyed. And then we built a state and an army."
"Peace favors the strong," the prime minister said, a statement that was met by rapturous applause. "Shimon Peres has devoted his life to build Israel and to build peace."
"We meet from time to time," the prime minister told the audience. "He talks about robotics, genetics, brain research, everything. On education, science, everything. Shimon, you prove that you can be curious at every age, and be young at every age."
"How many presidents of state of Israel do we have that turn 90?" Anti Defamation League leader Abraham Foxman told The Jerusalem Post. "There are very few opportunities that you can show your respect and admiration for somebody so vital."
Activist Esther Wachsman, whose son Nachshon was killed at the hands of Palestinian terrorists in 1994, also had praise for the president.
"He has come to Shalva which is my organization, " she told the Post, referring to the Israeli organization for children with special needs. "he's been very, very kind and thoughtful with these children and we appreciate it. My husband and I have met him under different circumstances and he was nothing but charming."