The role of World Jewish Relief in bringing 732 child Holocaust survivors to the UK was recalled at its dinner at London’s Guildhall on Monday, which raised more than £1 million.
Having reminded the 470 guests about the efforts of the charity — which was then known as the Central British Fund — WJR chair Dan Rosenfield welcomed three of those rescued to the stage.
Sir Ben Helfgott, Harry Spiro and Harry Olmer received a standing ovation as Mr Rosenfield detailed their achievements, hailing the trio as “an inspiration to every single one of us”.
On wider issues, he said that despite the challenging environment faced by British Jews, it was imperative to “look out, not in. It is what World Jewish Relief has done for 87 years.
“Look out beyond our own families and communities to those in the wider Jewish world less fortunate than us. Look out beyond our own to those struggling in the face of disaster.”
It was time “to eradicate Jewish poverty for good. To ensure that Jewish aid supports those most vulnerable in the world. And to show the world that the Jewish voice is a global voice — rooted in the obligation to look out beyond our own, to take action and to welcome the stranger.”
The guest speaker was Rory Stewart, Independent candidate for London Mayor, who drew on his experience as International Development Secretary to stress the importance of philanthropy.
He praised WJR as a “model of how to do international development, whether the work you’re doing with people suffering from dementia in remote parts of the former Soviet Union, the creativity of engaging with people with disabilities in countries like Rwanda, or the work you’re doing with Syrian refugees in Britain”.
WJR was a story “of kind, human individuals who take risk, who are generous and who make things possible that would never otherwise be possible”.
A video was shown featuring WJR supporter Dan Newton, whose grandfather Harry Newton (originally Hans Nebel) came to the UK on the Kindertransport. Mr Newton had taken part in the charity’s Berlin to London bike ride in 2018 and visited Lviv to see some of the people the money raised would help.
Among those he met was Simyon, 91, whose son had died from radiation poisoning after working at Chernobyl following the disaster. Simyon’s wife had died recently and he slept in her coat to keep warm during the bitterly cold winters.
Rosa, 80, had become a prisoner in her own apartment after a stroke. Clara, 85, who had grown up in orphanage, spoke to him candidly about the difficulties she had experienced down the years.
Mr Newton was visibly moved by the encounters and applauded WJR for supporting the three through medical treatment and visits from psychologists and homecare workers. Without the charity, they would have no one to help them.
Dinner guests included Dame Louise Ellman and Melinda Simmons, the UK ambassador to Ukraine.
