[The Jewish Weekly UK, March 17, 2019] A packed house of some 350 guests thronged Mill Hill Synagogue on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 to enjoy an evening of stimulating dialogue between Ambassador Mark Regev and Nick Ferrari.
LBC [radio] host Nick Ferrari and Israel’s Ambassador to the UK Mark Regev exchanged erudite views on matters ranging from Corbyn, Brexit, Trump, Hamas and what makes Israel so special. In the ambassador’s words: “It was a pleasure answering questions before so many supporters of the Malki Foundation. By empowering families of Israeli children with severe disabilities, you are supporting the health and happiness of those most in need of it.”
Nick Ferrari revealed that he plans to visit Israel for the first time this coming September.
“What a delight”, said Mr Ferrari, “to have the privilege of interviewing Israel’s Ambassador Mark in front of an audience so engaged, informed and involved from the first moment. For me, it was also eye-opening to become aware of what the Malki Foundation is striving to achieve. That such good can come from such unimaginable tragedy is truly life-affirming”.
The successful charitable event resulted from a collaboration between Malki Foundation UK, a charity registered in the UK, and Israel Engagement Programme at Mill Hill United Synagogue. It was one of the best-attended events Mill Hill Synagogue has hosted recently.
All proceeds will go to help advance the non-sectarian work of the Malki Foundation in supporting families in Israel – Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze – caring in their home for a child with special needs.
In addressing the audience, Malki Foundation UK’s Chairman of the Board, Geoff Hartnell, said there is currently a waiting list of more than fifty children from every part of Israel society. “Tonight’s event”, he said, “amounts to a very fine kick-start to the charity’s UK Million Shekel Campaign. We look forward to a steadily growing awareness in the UK of our activities in Israel.”
Founded in 2001, the Malki Foundation supports Israeli families who care at home for a child with severe disabilities. It honours the memory of Malka Chana Roth whose life ended at the age of fifteen when she was one of many child victims of a 2001 terror attack in central Jerusalem.
Malki’s parents, Frimet and Arnold Roth, founded the charity with a small group of friends in the weeks after their tragic loss. They remember her as beautiful inside and out and very close to her parents and siblings. Malki was especially attached to the youngest of her sisters, Haya, who suffers from lifelong, complex disabilities.
Arnold Roth, Malki’s father and chairperson of the foundation, spoke to the audience via video from Jerusalem.
All proceeds of the evening are dedicated to the Malki Foundation’s Million Shekel Campaign.
Here are some pictures from the event:
