Frances Segelman to create sculpture of Holocaust survivor Ben Helfgott
Former Olympic weightlifting champion will be immortalised in clay during a live event on 7 June, following in the footsteps of Her Majesty the Queen
Holocaust survivor Ben Helfgott will follow in the footsteps of the Queen, survivor Arek Hersh and Joan Collins next week in being the subject of a sculpture by Frances Segelman.
The 87-year-old – who went on to compete in weightlifting at the Olympics within a few years of liberation and has dedicated himself to passing on the lessons of the Shoah – will be immortalised in clay during a live event on 7 June.
The sculpture will be sent for bronzing and it is hoped the artwork donated by Frances Segelman will then be presented to a leading museum.
Helfgott is the President of Yad Vashem UK Foundation, which is organising the event, and was a member of David Cameron’s Holocaust commission.
Simon Bentley, chair of Yad Vashem UK, said: “It is a great privilege for us to be holding an event to honour our honorary president – an inspiration for us all.”
Listen to the Jewish Views podcast!
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
