Son of Kibbutz Be’eri victims helps Technion UK mark 77 years of bravery and breakthroughs
Daniel Wais' tribute to 7 October victims moves audience as Rob Rinder tells the story of Technion
It was billed as The Storm of the Century: 77 Years of Israel and Our Future, but what unfolded on stage at London’s Shaw Theatre this week was more than a celebration. It was a profound reminder of what belief, bravery, and innovation can build.
Organised by Technion UK, the evening honoured Israel’s world-renowned university with a rich blend of history and music.
Hosted by Rob Rinder who stood behind an empty chair representing the victims and hostages of 7 October, he narrated the unlikely rise of a university that was built on a land swap; but as Rinder said – “we don’t do it easy, but we do it miraculously.”
The Technion now ranks within the top ten of universities globally, driving forward technology that has helped protect Israel and changed lives far beyond its borders.
“The founders of the Technion (Chaim Weizmann, Martin Buber, and Berthold Feiwel) refused to accept the limitations imposed by sceptics,” Rinder told the packed theatre, “They believed technological education was essential to the creation of a future Jewish state.”
Now a powerhouse of medical, technological and scientific advancement, the university has been responsible for pioneering medical cures, cyber security innovations and water purification systems which are used not just in Israel, but across the world.
Israel also provided the musical entertainment for the event with singers Noa Bodner and Israel Ernest, but it was Daniel Wais who tragically lost both his parents when they were murdered at Kibbutz Be’eri on 7 October who dominated the show.
Appearing barefoot with only his guitar, Daniel sang a haunting version of Hurricane, Noa Kirel’s 2023 Eurovision entry, restoring its original title October Rain which was not permitted at the contest.
Note perfect, the heartbreak in Daniel’s voice, which was impossible to ignore and he finished with a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine after sharing a story about singing it with his parents after supper on Saturday evenings.
Peppered with archive film, the event illustrated the scope of the Technion’s achievements from powering Iron Dome technology to leading breakthroughs in cancer research, diagnostics and emergency medicine and in a week when Israel is again being vilified in global discourse, the event was a powerful counter-narrative, reminding those present of the nation’s contributions to humanity.
“Much of the news we consume is curated by others,” Rinder reflected, “But we must never underestimate the limitless power of education and tonight is Technion’s story.”
That story was underscored by Technion UK CEO, Alan Aziz, who in both his welcome and closing remarks acknowledged the pain of the present moment, while reminding the audience that Technion represents “hope, progress, and a determination to do good for everyone.”
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