British Ambassador launches Holocaust survivors club in Haifa

Britain’s Ambassador to Israel has officially launched the latest in a series of social clubs for Holocaust survivors, thanks to funding from the UK Jewish community.

Matthew Gould officially opened the 13^th of 20 Café Britannia Clubs in Haifa last week – providing a hub for sports lectures and musical events for 100 survivors each week. The club was made possible thanks to a grant from the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Charitable Trust.

Speaking in Hebrew, Gould said: “My family is the reason I am here. My grandfather is from Warsaw and my grandmother was from Lodz. Their families were in the Holocaust. When we came to Israel Celia and I wanted to do something special for Holocaust survivors. This project is extremely important to us. We believe that after the Holocaust, you the survivors have the right to live in comfort and dignity.”

The Café Britannia clubs are operated by the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Survivors and the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services and are supported by the Jewish Community in the UK.