Wizo UK marks 100 years of ‘creating an empire of good’
More than 300 guests gathered at St John's Wood Synagogue for the leading social welfare charity's centenary celebrations
Francine Wolfisz is the Features Editor for Jewish News.
Tributes were paid to Wizo UK for “moving mountains, cultivating the arts and creating an empire of good” in the 100 years since it was founded, guests heard at a celebratory lunch on Wednesday afternoon.
More than 300 supporters gathered at St John’s Wood Synagogue to mark the special anniversary of the Women’s International Zionist Organisation, set up by Marks and Spencer heiress Rebecca Sieff and Vera Weizmann, wife of Chaim Weizmann, who later became the first president of the State of Israel, in 1918.
The social welfare organisation supports more than 800 projects in Israel, including child care centres, vocational schools and youth villages for at-risk teenagers, support for single parent families and elderly, as well as shelters for women and children who have suffered abuse.
Newly-appointed chairman Ronit Ribak Madari described the charity as “a unique and vital organisation” and revealed she has been involved with Wizo since her youth.
“As an Israeli, I already knew of the amazing work that Wizo did in my home country,” she said. “I had attended a Wizo school. Wizo was a household word where I grew up in Rosh Ha’ayin.”
She added: “I am proud to join a long and celebrated list of Wizo UK leaders, strong and hardworking British Zionist women who spearheaded this movement through its golden past. I am proud of the women who saw the need, who rolled up their sleeves and got the job done.”
Keynote speaker Rivka Lazovsky, chairperson of World Wizo, also paid tribute to the “visionary” founders who “dared to not just dream, but turn those dreams into reality.”
Speaking about how the organisation has “provided the very foundations on which generations of Israelis are raised and flourish”, Lazovsky highlighted the example of Eliahu Sharvit, a student helped by Wizo, who was recently named as the recipient of a prestigious education award.
“Eliyahu is an example of how every one of our students can overcome every challenge, every difficulty with Wizo’s support, guidance and education.”
She added: “Thank you for 100 years of giving dreams, hopes, education and guidance to hundreds of thousands of Israelis.
“Thank you for your vision and devotion, thank you for taking part in the miracle building and supporting our beloved state of Israel.”
The event also featured Antiques Roadshow expert John Benjamin regaling stories from his time on the popular BBC show.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
