ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht
1 min read
An appeal was made for additional funds for security and trauma counselling at the Emunah gala dinner during a week where two of their children's homes in Israel were on lockdown following nearby terror attacks.
More than £250,000 was raised for the charity, which cares for vulnerable and at-risk children in Israel, at the British Emunah dinner at the Roundhouse in north-west London.
Attending the event was Shlomo Kessel, head of the children's home in Afula, one of the homes that was on lockdown. He said: "The most difficult part is the reaction of the children. They are traumatised. It means counsellors need to work longer hours, some need to be there overnight."
Home Secretary Theresa May addressed the 450 guests and praised Emunah, describing it as "an amazing charity". She drew parallels between the charity's beginnings in 1933, when a group of women helped Jewish children who had escaped the Nazis, and the current refugee crisis.
Mrs May called the recent spate of terror attacks on Israel's streets "shocking and sickening". Later she told the JC: "Nobody wants to see a situation where small children are in lockdown."
Member of the Knesset Yair Lapid asked the guests to counter the misleading representation of Israel in British media. The Yesh Atid party chairperson was being interviewed onstage by Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.
Making the appeal, Sky TV's Samantha Simmonds introduced Emunah's campaign film Every Child Counts, and entertainment was provided by the Emunah Super Group singers and electric string quartet Escala.
Among the guests were British Emunah honorary president Valerie Mirvis and Emunah honorary life president Lady Elaine Sacks