Every year since 2001, British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel have held a lunch honouring a woman who has made a major contribution to the art world.

This time, in the words of Bfami co-chair Pamela Crystal, “we reached for the stars and hit the jackpot” when Marina Abramovic —“the grandmother of performance art” — agreed to attend.

In 2010, 750,000 people joined queues in New York for the chance to sit opposite her as part of a 700-hour performance at the Museum of Modern Art.

Her Bfami appearance attracted a record lunch crowd of 350 women (and more than a few men) to the Dorchester Hotel.

Ms Abramovic discussed her life and work with Tim Marlow, artistic director of the Royal Academy of Arts, where she will have a solo exhibition in 2020.

She told the JC that she supported Bfami because “every moment when women come together, they create energy and power.

“I believe women have such amazing opportunities to deal with art. It is the best thing that can happen. Women are not afraid of anybody or anything and this collection of women right here shows this.”

An original work donated by the artist and the Lisson Gallery was the first prize in the raffle.

The winning ticket was bought by Roumana Khamisa, who could not believe her good fortune — “I still have goosebumps”.

Some £150,000 was raised from the lunch towards new educational projects in Israel, one of which, Women2Women at the Petach Tikva Museum of Art, will bring together Jewish and Arab artists and craftswomen. Participants will receive training to become business and cultural leaders in their communities.