British Emunah Director Deborah Nathan is leaving after nine years, to move to Israel for a new position at World Emunah liaising with English-speaking Emunah offices in Canada, South Africa, Australia and the US — and the UK.
Ms Nathan said she is most proud of raising Emunah’s profile. “It’s been a constant challenge because we provide an entire range of social welfare services. I hope I’ve made people a little bit more aware of how we break the cycles of neglect and poverty.”
In her new position, Ms Nathan hopes to “put across to an English audience what’s going on in Israel” and is excited to “be able to be on the ground and see the projects.”
Initially established by Jewish women in Manchester in 1933, Emunah now has over 200 welfare projects and services in Israel of which 37 are supported by British Emunah.
Rocket attacks and incendiary balloons from Gaza contribute to the strain on Emunah’s resources. The organisation runs trauma counselling and therapy centres as well as children’s homes, high schools, nursery day care and community centres.
“We currently have a waiting list for children who need to be placed in counselling in Sderot. We help kids who have been subject to sexual or emotional abuse, kids of families with mental health problems, drugs problems, neglect, whatever the needs of Israeli society are.”
She is particularly passionate about a project in the South of Israel for children who would otherwise be in psychiatric care because of trauma or social problems.
Ms Nathan told the JC that she saw the new job in Israel as her “opportunity in life to reach our lifelong dream.
"My husband and I have been lifelong Zionists. Our kids are now independent adults and we want to be able to fully contribute to Israeli society.”
She will initially work part time as she tries to find her feet in her new home and learn Hebrew. They will join their youngest daughter, Eliana, 20, who made aliyah last year. Their other two children live in the US and the UK, respectively.
Rosalyn Liss, Chairman of British Emunah, added: “We are thrilled for Deborah, both personally and professionally. She is a tremendous asset to Emunah and our Trustees are delighted that we will still be working with her. We wish her every success in her new role.”
Ms Nathan stresses that Emunah “is a wonderful charity in that though it's big and global, we are also small enough to know everyone really well. We know the kids and the staff, it’s really personal for us.”
