The UK wing of Israel’s oldest university hosted a celebratory event marking Israel’s 75th anniversary on Sunday with an entertaining and poignant ceremony in Central London.

Technion UK, the British representatives of the Haifa university, hosted the "From Israel with Love show" bringing together notable figures such as broadcaster Nick Ferrari, former Eurovision singer Gail Atari and Baroness Deech.

Attendees on the night included several hundred community members and leaders, including and Archbishop Abraham Abraham Evangelou MBE and other religious and non-religious leaders. 

Gali Atari Technion

Gali Atari sings with Harel Glazer, Noa Bodner, and David Djemal at Technion UK's 'From Israel with Love show' on May 14, 2023 (Credit: Adrian Korsner - sound images photography)

The evening’s entertainment was provided by Israeli singer Gali Atari, winner of Eurovision 1979, who while on stage congratulated Israeli singer Noa Kirel on her third-place finish the night before. 

Ferrari, as one of the night’s opening speakers, spoke highly of Israel, which he visited for the first just before the Covid pandemic.

“My visit may have only lasted 48 hours,” Ferrari said, “but it was enough to ignite in me a respect for a country that I had always admired and a reverence that is all the more significant being a non-Jewish supporter of Israel. 

“I found a country, my friends, rooted in the very history of civilisation, nesting alongside a nation on the cutting-edge of invention and industry, as Technion exemplifies. It’s veritable ancient and modern, and the food was pretty good too, 

Technion Ferrari

Nick Ferrari speaks on stage at Technion UK's 'From Israel with Love show', May 14, 2023 (Credit: Adrian Korsner - sound images photography)

“I understand and appreciate the incredible role the Technion continues to play in keeping Israel on the world stage in terms of life-changing inventions, medical advancements and scientific breakthroughs. The incredible list of scientists, doctors, authors, physicists, everybody the country has produced. Per capita, there’s no country on the planet like it. 

“Will I be here to enjoy the next 75 years of Israel? Well, with Israel, nothing it seems is impossible so who knows.” 

Ferrari added, “And let me tell you, try as I might – and I have tried - but I just cannot find any Jewish blood [in me]. But if that does happen it’s on the front page of The Jewish Chronicle AND Jewish News – that’ll be a heck of a news day.” 

Ferrari then introduced a special video message from Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, who addressed the audience of Technion UK directly. 

He said: “We have an opportunity now to pause and reflect with gratitude on the miracle that is our Jewish and democratic state. Of course, this type of celebration comes at a moment of reckoning for the state of Israel and the Jewish people at large.”

Referencing the political turmoil that Israel has experienced in recent months, Herzog said: “Like many democratic societies around the world, both within Israel and between Israel and our global Jewish communities. 

“We have been facing real questions about who we are and what we would wish for our beloved country,” Herzog said. “But we must not forget that asking ourselves questions about our identity and our joint purpose is actually a gift. Having a country to shape together, to share together, to argue over even, was a distant dream not too long ago, and it is a blessing that we should not take for granted.”

Herzog added that it was precisely these turbulent times that highlighted “just how much we have built in this country over these past 75 years, and just how precious it is to so many… It is just that quality of deep caring that has helped our people survive and thrive for millennia. 

“Let us come together at this moment to celebrate everything we have built together, and everything we have yet to build.” 

Baroness Deech, whose late cousin was a professor of desalination at Technion, said the university held “a special place” in her heart, and reflected fondly on attending an event for Israel’s 60th anniversary where she listened to a speech from former prime minister Shimon Peres that had a “profound impact” on her. 

Baroness Deech, once chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), also lauded Israel for its treatment of women, of who are some of the bravest she’s met. 

“Women are leaders there, they’re prominent in high-tech, in the army industry, medicine, as judges, they serve in the army with responsibility unimaginable to our rather soft teenagers here. They carry arms, [and] demonstrate maturity and bravery and are an example to all young women.” 

Finally, Baroness Deech wished Israel “a happy birthday”, and hoped that in 75 years’ time, people will see that Israel went from “strength to strength”. 

“I earnestly pray that it will be so, and judging from past developments, I think it likely. Miracles from Israel, miracles at Technion, keep up the good work.” 

Having flown to London upon the invitation from Technion UK, former chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post and executive director of Honest Reporting, Gil Hoffman, was also in attendance. 

“At a time when Israel adopts policies that brings it bad press, and sometimes very bad press, the technological innovation from the Technion is good news that makes Israel look wonderful around the world.” 

Gill Hoffman Technion

Israeli journalist Gil Hoffman talks to the crowd at Technion UK's Israel anniversary event, May 14, 2023 (Credit: Adrian Korsner - sound images photography)

Hoffman offered his congratulations to Noa Kirel on achieving third place in Eurovision with her hit song “Unicorn”. 

“But what is a unicorn?” Hoffman said. “A unicorn is a privately held startup valued at over $1 billion… and thanks to the Technion, Israel ranks as the fifth largest producers of Unicorns in the entire world.” 

Gali Atari performed three songs for the flag-waving crowd, including her hit “Hallelujah”, as well as Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah. 

She thanked Technion UK for hosting an “amazing evening, and let’s all hope and let’s all pray for a better and brighter future.” 

Gali Atari Technion

Gali Atari performs for the London crowd, May 14, 2023 (Credit: Adrian Korsner - sound images photography)

Further entertainment on the night was provided by Israeli actor and musician Noa Bodner, Israeli actor and singer Harel Glazer, musician Yuval Havkin, and British Israeli actor David Djemal who in addition to singing also pulled off a convincing Theodor Herzl impersonation to the great delight of attendees.

Alan Aziz, CEO of Technion UK and organiser of the night, said: “It was enormously special to be able to commemorate Israel’s 75th anniversary on the exact date since her founding, May 14, and in such special company. I’m thrilled to see in a post-covid world that we are still able to pull off events like this, and I look forward to the future.” 

Established in 1912 under the Ottoman Empire, the Technion is Israel’s oldest university, and contributed significantly to shaping the nation. Amongst the many technologies developed by its pupils is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system and the PillCam, a tiny, wireless capsule-encased camera that hundreds of UK hospitals now use. Four of Israel’s five Nobel prizes are attributed to the Technion.