Jewish Care

More than 180 guests attended Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors Centre gala dinner at the Carlton Tower Ballroom in Knightsbridge, with a special guest performance from opera singer Natasha Marsh.

Natasha Marsh, Lord Levy and Judith Hassan O.B.E

The evening raised a fantastic £105,000 on the night, with funds due to increase. Hailed a great success, the funds raised will help maintain the vital services available at the Holocaust Survivors Centre in Hendon.

Natasha Marsh performed a selection of songs including:’ You’ll Never Walk Alone’, Queen’s ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and a moving song from the film ‘Shindler’s List’.

Theatrical group, Suitcase, gave a thought-provoking and inspired performance capturing the scenes and stories of the first arrival of the Kinderstransport at Liverpool Street Station 70 years ago.

There was a special presentation to Jewish Care’s Director of Services for Holocaust Survivors and Refugees, Judith Hassan O.B.E, who has spent the last 30 years supporting and developing pioneering therapeutic services for Holocaust survivors and refugees. The busy social programme offered at the centre has evolved in partnership with its members and includes activities such as art, Yiddish conversation, T’ai Chi and theatre outings.

Presenting the award to Judith, Lord Levy - President of Jewish Care - commented on Judith’s achievements by saying: “Judith’s tireless passion and commitment to this area of work have rightly earned her and the Centre national praise, and I am delighted to be given the honour of presenting her with a Jewish Care long service award for her dedication.”

On receiving her award, Judith Hassan said: “I could not have reached this stage in my work without the amazing support of Jewish Care and the commitment of my outstanding team of professionals and volunteers, as well as the tireless work of the Friends’ Committee. I owe them all a deep debt of gratitude.”

An emotional appeal was made on the night by Friends of the HSC committee chair, Stephen Spitz.

He said: “As a parent of teenage children, I am so aware of the importance of ensuring that future generations must never forget what some of our parents and grandparents went through at the hands of the Nazis only 70 years ago.

The Holocaust Survivors Centre, for most of the survivors, is the only place they have to go to. I am passionate about keeping this centre going to give these amazing people the dignity and respect they deserve after their ordeal – something no person should ever have to suffer, and indeed something which we cannot understand and comprehend.”