The night London saw Venus
In a week filled with meaning, one man and his dog highlighted the importance of the Israel Guide Dog Centre
Venus had quite the week. A first visit to London, people asking for selfies and more offers of treats than it was polite to accept. As guest of honour at the Israel Guide Dog Centre’s annual reception, this sort of welcome is customary — and it wasn’t just for her. Her owner, Erez Barkai, was with her to share his story.
Fittingly, he also shared the stage with powerhouse literary agent Neil Blair, key architect of J.K. Rowling’s global empire and supporter of Israel charities, who told the audience that storytelling remains the most effective tool charities have. “Personal stories stay with people. They make the impact real… more powerful than any brochure or statistics.”
Ronit Knoble hosted the conversation onstage, but ahead of his first visit to the capital Erez spoke to Life magazine about the sight-loss journey that began when he was 17 due to a genetic condition. The decline was slow but relentless, and it took him 15 years before he could say, “That’s it. Now I need help.” He tried using a white cane but found it limiting. “You’re constantly bumping into things just to know where you are,” he said. It was only when someone told him guide dogs were provided at no cost that he approached the Centre. “No, it’s for free. I didn’t know it.”
Before joining IGDC professionally, he spent 23 years in education, performed as a musician on Israeli television and later began studying for the rabbinate. Three years ago, IGDC founder Noach Braun invited him to become Director of Community Relations and Accessibility Coordinator.
Travelling with Venus, he approaches every new city by researching its history and — above all — its terrain. “If I have information about the new place — what it looks like, where the obstacles are, where to turn left or right — it’s more easy.” But what matters most to him are the people. “It doesn’t matter to me how people look. What matters is how the person behaves, what he says, how he shakes my hand.”
During his conversation with Life, Erez also shared something unexpectedly moving — that in his dreams, he still sees clearly. “Even today, when I dream, I see,” he said. “I don’t forget what the world looks like.”
His role became urgent after October 7. “For people with disabilities, the crisis was devastating. They didn’t have the ability to take care of themselves or evacuate their homes alone.” IGDC contacted every guide dog and service dog partner, ensuring safety, food, medicine and support.
From this came Purple Home Front, the national emergency-accessibility initiative he now helps lead, created so, as he put it, every client has “what they need and no one is left behind.”
Erez has had three guide dogs. Lady, his first, retired with his brother-in-law; Jay, his second, returned to his original foster family. “We still see each other. Sometimes I have two dogs at home… even three, if my sister visits with her foster puppy.” Each has been different: “Like people… same shape, different energy.”
It was an important, emotional week for IGDC. Founder Noach Braun flew from Israel for the reception and later joined the Borehamwood vigil attended faithfully by Michael and Lisa Marlowe, whose community raised funds for the three dogs named in honour of their son, Jake murdered on October 7. Michael was at the annual reception; Lisa was in Israel delivering boots for the army. Their commitment and quiet duty does not go unnoticed.
The absence of the late Martin Segal, IGDC’s UK Executive Director, was deeply felt. His widow Rebecca Segal attended the reception, and his legacy endures through Teddy — the dog named in his memory. New Executive Director Karen Brosh, sadly unwell and unable to attend, was warmly acknowledged for her work behind the scenes.
The annual reception was the first for new Executive Director Karen Brosh, who already has big plans for 2026. But her real success was the smile on Rebecca Segal’s face. Her late husband Martin set the bar high, and when Erez with Venus at his side said, “We don’t just raise dogs. We raise standards,” it felt as if Martin was in the room.
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