Manchester UJIA raises over £800,000 at Annual Dinner

Manchester UJIA welcomed 350 guests to their Northern Region Annual Dinner 2010 on Monday 7 December 2009, held at Hilton Hotel.

The event which launches a new campaign year for the charity raised an impressive £800,000, a 10% increase on the previous year. This followed an appeal by Manchester Chairman, Keith Black.

Guests enjoyed an insightful talk from Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Israel's Representative to the UN (2002-2008), who was introduced by Mr Joel Rosenblatt.

UJIA Chairman, Mick Davis, also presented the inaugural Lord Steinberg Award for Services to Israel and the Jewish People to its first recipient, in the presence of Lady Beryl Steinberg and her family, to Colonel Richard Kemp CBE.

This presented the opportunity to pay respect to Lord Steinberg. Speaking fondly of Lord Steinberg, Mick Davis said, "he cared passionately for Israel and the Jewish people and his deeds matched his words!" With this in mind, it was most fitting for this award to carry Lord Steinberg's name, and that its inaugural recipient is indeed a true friend and supporter of Israel, who has championed the cause of truth and justice. Colonel Richard Kemp CBE served in the British Army from 1977-2006. He was the Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, an infantry battalion Commanding Officer, worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee and COBRA and completed 14 operational tours of duty around the globe.

Most recently and to his great credit, Colonel Kemp has publicly spoken out against allegations that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead a year ago, and in October of this year he drew on his many years' military experience in his testimony to the UN Human Rights Council in response to the introduction of the Goldstone Report, which once again singled out Israel for censure and rebuke.

Manchester Director, Ilana Ray commented, "We have had wonderful feedback from the evening, including one donor who described it as the best presented in years - which is a positive start to the campaign year. The evening showcased UJIA's work investing in our community and the work we are doing transforming the Galil in northern Israel."

For more information on Manchester UJIA or to make a donation please contact Michelle Conrad