Past, present and future: AJEX celebrated at House of Lords event

Centenarian veterans Doris Rose (105), Monty Goldstein (102) and Mervyn Kersh (101) were honoured guests as AJEX welcomed a group of its supporters, peers, military representatives, community leaders and veterans to an event in The House of Lords on Tuesday 21 July hosted by Lord Carlile of Berriew.

The afternoon demonstrated how the charity is building on the legacy of more than 120,000 Jewish servicemen and women who served in the British Armed Forces by supporting today’s veterans, engaging and educating future generations and using that history to challenge antisemitism.

During the event, 101-year-old D-Day veteran and Bergen-Belsen Liberator Mervyn Kersh was honoured with a special presentation in recognition of his decades of support for AJEX.

Hosting the event, Lord Carlile of Berriew, one of AJEX’s honorary patrons, said: “We gathered together with and for Jewish service personnel, current and past, emphasising their loyalty, service and our determination to fight antisemitism in the UK.”

AJEX chief executive Fiona Palmer said: “AJEX honours our veterans, but our work is about far more than remembering the past. By preserving their legacy, supporting those who have served and engaging and educating future generations, we are ensuring that Jewish service and sacrifice continues to inspire pride, strengthen our community and challenge antisemitism.”

AJEX national chair Jon Tyler added: “We are proud of AJEX’s history, but equally excited about its future. It was wonderful to bring together a cross-section of our supporters and friends from across Parliament, the Armed Forces and the wider community as we continue to grow our work and engage new generations.”