A Joy to have at UJIA

With over 110 women attending the Leeds Women's UJIA lunch at the Manny Cussins Banqueting Suite the last minute cancellation of the Guest Speaker would be a hurdle too big to climb for most organisations.

Not for UJIA! BICOM CEO, Lorna Fitzsimons, was taken ill late the previous afternoon and a replacement speaker had to be drafted in at very late notice. Joy Wolfe life president of the Manchester Zionist Council stepped in and gave an authoritative and informative speech covering Israel and the media.

She reiterated that the media is one sided and subjective in general when dealing with Israel, "You don't hear that if you go into an Israeli hospital you will find Jewish. Palestinian and Arab doctors and nurses working side by side and you won't hear about all the Israeli-Palestinian co-operation projects." There are more than 3,000 Darfur refugees living in Israel.

Mrs Wolfe condemned those who boycott Israeli goods. She added, "What they don't realise that mobile phones, computers and pharmaceutical drugs all have elements created in Israel."

Mrs Wolfe paid tribute to the work of UJIA both in the UK and Galil. "UJIA is crucial to the future of Jewish life; we are stakeholders as parents, grandparents and great grandparents"

Mrs Wolfe was introduced by Leeds Women's Chair Norma Collins. She thanked her committee for their tireless efforts on behalf of UJIA.

Richard Manning Leeds Chairman of UK programmes gave the appeal and stressed the point of how important UJIA's investment is to the Leeds Jewish Community.

He commented, "75% of Jewish 16 year olds would be going on an UJIA Israel Experience tour with their youth movement this summer being organised through UJIA".

The opener at the lunch was Samantha Walton and the guest of honour was Linda Lee.