President Shimon Peres, left, with British Ambassador Matthew Gould and his wife Celia in Jerusalem.
Matthew Gould, Ron Prosor issue letter aimed at raising millions which will help victims by setting up eight new social clubs and revamping existing ones.
Britain’s ambassador to Israel and Israel’s ambassador to Britain launched a joint appeal to the Jewish community in the UK on Sunday to help Holocaust survivors in both countries.
Britain’s Matthew Gould and his Israeli counterpart, Ron Prosor, issued a letter aimed at raising £2 million (about NIS 11m.), most of which will help the victims of Nazis persecution living in the Jewish state by setting up eight new social clubs and revamping existing ones.
A tenth of the money will go to the British charity Jewish Care, to help Holocaust survivors in the UK.
“This is a very personal mission for me,” Gould said. “Many of my family died in the Holocaust. I believe that we have a special duty to look after survivors, and to give them the dignity and comfort that they deserve.”
Prosor and Gould said venues for social gatherings help combat the loneliness that plagues many survivors in their old age.
Around 1,500 survivors are expected to frequent the new clubs, which will be set up by the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel, together with the Welfare and Social Services Ministry.
The ambassadors’ appeal has won the support of groups from across the social spectrum of British Jewry, including Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, United Synagogue, the Movement for Reform Judaism, Liberal Judaism, the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues, the Spanish and Portuguese Jews Congregation, and a number of prominent members of the Haredi community.
A website has been set up for the initiative – www.holocaustsurvivorsappeal.org.
