Education charity Aish UK sails past target on annual fundraising weekend

A charity which provides education for Jewish adults has burst through its target with its annual weekend fundraising drive.

Aish UK raises an incredible £2.5 million in 30 hours in their causematch campaign over May 8-9.

A team of 171 fundraising teams, plus generous benefactors who committed to double every donation received, helped Aish UK swiftly reach its target of £2.2 million. But they then went further to raise an extra £300,000 in the bonus round.

A total of 4,520 individual donations were made during the campaign, including a very generous single donations of £30,000 which was also doubled by the matchers.

Aish UK has been connecting young Jews to their culture, heritage and other Jews for almost three decades – but the last two years presented it with new challenges.

So during lockdown Aish UK went online to provide world class education, connecting people to their Judaism virtually.

It is now pledging to redouble its efforts to provide in-person education and experiences, social events and world class trips for young Jews across the UK.

This essential fundraising campaign was spearheaded by Aish UK’s chief executive, Rabbi Naftali Schiff, together with the Aish UK teams in both London and Manchester.

For 30 hours, all 171 teams hit the phones for Aish UK’s biggest fundraiser of the year, with Aish UK pledging to double its efforts in its work within 27 schools, 19 universities and 22 communities nationwide, connecting thousands of young Jews each other – and with their Judaism.

Aish UK chief executive Rabbi Naftali Schiff said; “Over the last three decades tens of thousands of lives in this country have been impacted by the work of Aish UK. As we look to the future, this campaign will enable Aish UK to double down on our efforts to double the in-person Jewish connections we form across schools, campuses and communities nationwide. Thank you to every single person who generously supported this campaign and thereby ensuring Aish UK can continue our work creating connections.”

Rabbi Daniel Rowe, Senior Educator of Aish UK said: “Aish UK isn’t there to build Aish, it’s there to build up everyone else. We are there to be the engine that drives the young Jewish revolution and raising these vital funds gives us the ability to do that.”