Israel’s First Lady presides over MDA UK’s inaugural Bridge to Israel Awards
Awards, partnered by Jewish News, honours those who work to build UK-Israel ties
Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog was guest of honour at MDA UK’s inaugural Bridge to Israel Awards at JW3 on Monday evening – a celebration of community resilience achievement in the aftermath of 7 October 2023.
Launched as part of the charity’s Towards Machratayim initiative, the Hebrew for ‘the day after tomorrow’, the awards marked the work and impact of those striving to build ties between the UK and Israel.
The first award was given to Nivi Feldman for her tireless campaigning work leading the UK Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Media partnered by Jewish News, and hosted by GB News presenter Josh Howie, the event saw a further 13 awards made, the majority decided by a judging panel chaired by Robert Rinder.
Packing out the auditorium were more than 200 guests and dignitaries, including Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, president of the Jordanian National Red Crescent Society, Dr Mohammed Al Hadid, MDA Europe president Michel Ktorza and MDA Europe director Ilan Klein.
Michal Herzog dedicated a new mobile ambulance, donated by MDA UK vice president and supporter Barry Segal, which will now be an education roadshow museum traveling across the country to explain the work the charity’s volunteers carry out daily.
In her keynote address, First Lady Michal Herzog said the gathering provided a “brilliant opportunity” to “say simply ‘thank you’ to the people in this hall and the organisations you represent who have actively chosen to be on the giving end. You have actively chosen to dedicate your time, your attention, your skills, your funds, your energy and your heart to promote, to create, to give, to build a bridge, to heal.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Kate Goldberg, a stalwart supporter of the Goldberg Family Charitable Trust, the Sybil Shine Memorial Trust, independent charity Gateways and Jami’s Head Room. She also served for seventeen years as chief executive of the Wohl Legacy — the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Philanthropic Foundation.
The Community Organising Award, whose nominees and winners were voted for by readers of Jewish News, was presented to the members of the Borehamwood Vigil, founded in the days following the events of 7th October. Every Friday for two years, the group assembled in Borehamwood Boulevard, holding shoes, posters and orange balloons to represent those murdered and taken hostage.
Co-founder Lara Lipsey told Jewish News: “Never in a million years did I think we’d be standing here having won an award. It’s not about awards. It’s about bringing people together in a safe space, somewhere that became like therapy, somewhere to hug each other, somewhere to cry, somewhere to stand strong, but also a place to be proud, proud to be supporting Israel, proud to stand up for what we believe in.”
Co-founder Eddie Hammerman added: “There were some really dark times and it (the vigil) was born out of the feeling that I wanted to stand with people that felt the same as me in a world at the time that didn’t feel the same. I think we’ve just had a really powerful moment tonight where I’m just able to reflect that on that.”
Among them at the vigil, week after week, were Michael and Lisa Marlowe — parents of Jake Marlowe, murdered at the Nova festival while rescuing fellow festival-goers.
The couple presented the Jake Marlowe Award for Young Impact to Libi Fileman, currently the Birthright growth manager, who leads recruitment for their trips and plays a key role in connecting young Jews to Israel as a gateway to a deeper Jewish identity. In Yorkshire, she also works to create accessible grassroots events for young Jewish people and encourage the celebration of Israeli and Jewish culture.
The Corporate Philanthropy Award was presented to XTX Markets, a London-based algorithmic trading firm founded in 2015 by Alex Gerko, and one of the UK’s largest corporate philanthropists. In the immediate days following the 7 October attacks XTX donated £1million to MDA UK.
Recognised with an award for Individual Philanthropy was Judy Saphra, MDA UK’s vice president, who said the evening was about saving lives and noted “award ceremonies like this are a great way to get the next generations involved.”
Joint winners of the Campaigning Award, the Glasgow and Northern Ireland Friends of Israel groups, were recognised for their coordination of friends and allies across different UK nations, having travelled to London for the ceremony.
MDA UK made its Partnership Award to the British Red Cross, who as a fellow member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement have offered friendship and fundraising support, in particular since the 7th October attacks.
The team behind We Will Dance Again – Lucie Kon, Leo Pearlman and Sheldon Lazarus – received the Culture and The Arts Award for bringing to light the truth of the horrific events of 7 October in Israel and partnering with MDA UK to offer advance screenings here in the UK.
Campus Award was given to Miles D’Amone-Mackay, a British-Italian undergraduate student at King’s College London. While not himself Jewish, Miles is a CAMERA fellow and has played his part in documenting the concerning rise in campus antisemitism.
Hen Mazzig received the Online Impact award; the Israeli writer, journalist and broadcaster of Iraqi and Tunisian Mizrahi heritage, now based in London, is a prominent commentator on Jewish identity and the Middle East.
Jo Woolfe also received a Special Mention for her efforts to bring the Nova Festival Exhibition to London this May, following huge success at cities across Europe and North America.
His Excellency Dr Mohammed Al Hadid awarded Professor Eilat Shinar the Red Shield Award for Humanitarian Services for her work spearheading MDA’s Marcus National Blood Services Centre in Ramla, while MDA’s Europe Director Ilan Klein accepted the International Award on behalf of MDA Director General Eli Bin and the entire organisation for their work as a lifeline for Israeli citizens during conflict and emergency.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis presented the Award for Allies in Faith to Pastor John Hemus and his congregation at the Apostolic Church of Liverpool, for their efforts to build bridges with Israel.
Commenting on the evening, Daniel Burger, chief executive, MDA UK, said the organisation “wanted the Awards to be about hope, and about finding the way towards healing even in the hardest of times. That Michal, who launched this campaign with us in November was able to return to help recognise and celebrate our winners was even more fitting. This ceremony has epitomised what an amazing community we have and the breadth of support and love for Israel there is across many faiths and parts of the UK.”
The event was sponsored by The Bernard Lewis Charitable Trust and Cardonet.
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