This is a guest post by Nir Cohen
The estimates for the number of Israelis living in the UK vary and there is no official set number. It is estimated that numbers are between 50-70,000 though and this is substantial. Unfortunately, there is a significant gap between Israeli and UK Jews, mainly due to culture and perspectives.
The ZF (Zionist Federation) as a federation reaches out to all major communities and groups in the UKand one group the ZF are reaching out to is the Israeli community, so it can help bridge the gap and make them more involved in the UK Jewish community. This is in tune with mainstream Jewish, Zionist values, as the Jewish people are a nation and therefore we need to work together. This would be beneficial to both the Jewish and Israeli communities in the UK. For Israelis it would help them maintain their Jewish, Israeli and Zionist identity. if you Having the Israelis in the UK being more active players would strengthen UK Jewry.
One specific target audience of Israelis are students and Young Professionals and it was for this purpose that the Israeli Salon was set up by myself as the ZF’s Shaliach. Israeli Salon created a platform for this group of Israelis, as well as Hebrew speakers, to get together in a Hebrew speaking environment, whilst enjoying Israeli culture and food. The group meets regularly and do all kinds of work such as lectures, discussions, socials, Friday night dinners and Jewish holidays and much more.
The people in the Israeli Salon are highly qualified and therefore have a lot to offer the Jewish community and the wider British public. In the group there are journalists, academics, members of NGOs and education personnel, amongst others. Thus, when we were contacted by Good Deed Day inIsrael, we immediately decided to help.
Good Deed Day is part of an NGO called Ruach Tovah (Good Spirit). It was launched in 2007. It is a project that brings out hundreds of thousands of people for one day dedicated to volunteering in the community and is held across the whole of Israel. Due to the success of it in Israel the organisers wanted to take the project worldwide. With the help of the Israeli Salon and the ZF they were able to take it to London.
Over 20 members of the Israeli Salon helped out at the Children’s Department at Hillingdon Hospital. The group helped paint, decorate and refurbish the children’s playrooms that were in a bad state. In doing so, the group were able to put a smile on the face of children and families who are staying at the hospital. The department’s staff who do an amazing job were extremely grateful for all the hard work of the group.
The day showed an Israel not defined by conflict, but the true Israel where its personnel in the spirit of Tikkun Olam (healing the world) are doing their best to help people who need it both in Israel and across the world.
I am very much pleased that the ZF chose to work with the Israeli community in the UK and hope those connections will deepen.
