The post Letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph by our Chair Melvin Berwald first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

I won’t spoil the museum further by letting you know about the last gallery – I didn’t need another reason to feel immense pride for my country but that is how felt on leaving. Uplifted and proud. I didn’t bring enough tissues with me. I personally, have already arranged to go back with my family, this is history that needs to be remembered.

After a break for lunch, we travelled to Khan Sha’ar Hagai, where we continued exploring Jewish heroism and the amazing story of the building of the Burma Road during Israel’s War for Independence – a road built to bypass the Arabs and get vital supplies to Jerusalem. This was a perfect follow up from the Jewish Fighters of WWII Museum and I highly recommend visiting both on the same day. To think that so many who fought in our War of Independence, had come from war torn countries, had lost many family members, in some cases their entire family, and yet they had such grit and determination, and were brimming with hope and courage. They fought for us, the future that many never got to see but made our lives today possible.

If you missed out on this tiyul, don’t miss out on the next one – be sure to sign up to our mailing list by emailing me olivia@ibca.co.il. If you’re on the fence about joining IBCA, be sure to check out our events page to see our past events and our upcoming events!

The post “Our Jewish Heroes of Yesteryear Who Made Our Today Possible” first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

The post SHURAT HADIN GOES TO WAR AFTER OCTOBER 7TH first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

Sunday 8th September.

We will visit Sderot, the Nova Music Festival Memorial Site and Kibbutz Alumim, one of the settlements close to the Gaza border fence, where heavy fighting took place on 7th October. Some 16/17 Thai workers were killed in Alumim, and a number taken hostage. Unfortunately, the exact numbers are still unclear. It will be an emotional and reflective experience and our goal is to bear witness to what happened on that day. Led by Eric Isaacson, a local resident and tour guide, we will meet those affected. Hopefully by visiting we will be able to reflect on the impact of these events and process our own experiences while showing solidarity and helping those living in the Otef. 

We believe this tour is of the utmost importance.

Tour itinerary
07.30 – 08.00 – There will be several coach stops. Pick up will begin at Ir Yamim (Netanya) and go from there to Herzliya
– Tour round Sderot to include stop at lookout for overview and introduction to Gaza
– Sderot to Tkuma and Nova sites
– Nova to Kibbutz Alumim
– Lunch at, and tour of Kibbutz Alumim
17.30 – 18.00 – Return to Herzliya/Ir Yamim (Netanya)

The cost is NIS 275 per member and NIS 295 per non-member (inclusive of lunch).

NB During these challenging times IBCA reserves the right to make last minute changes to the itinerary or postpone the event if advised by the authorities.

The post טיול עיידות – COME AND BEAR WITNESS first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

Dr Kedar, a well known advocate for Israel and a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, with a unique understanding of how Middle Eastern countries operate, expressed his views on the ongoing war and how he expects other countries to react based on his exceptional understanding of the neighbourhood in which we live. He then answered questions and it was very clear how knowledgeable he, due to the speed of his responses. It was a privilege to listen to him.

The post Breakfast with Dr Mordechai Kedar – “Israel, Islam and the Middle East. Is there any hope for peace?” first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

H.E. Simon Walters

Britain’s Ambassador to Israel

2^nd November 2023

Dear Ambassador Walters

At the outset, on behalf of IBCA, may I express our Association’s heartfelt appreciation for the support given to Israel by the British Government, headed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, at a time when Israel has experienced the barbaric murder of innocent men, women and children – it is much appreciated.

However it is with immense sadness that IBCA, whose membership includes many with close family in the UK, notes the unprecedented rise in antisemitism throughout Britain. That a massacre, carried out by Hamas, on a Jewish Festival Day should spark this reaction is deeply worrying. According to the UK’s Community Security Trust (CST) reports of antisemitic incidents have risen 581% this year compared to the same time last year.

Prior to my coming to live in Israel, I was privileged to head a number of organizations; the last position I held was that of being the chairperson of the Hillel Foundation whose main raison d’etra was supporting Jewish students on campus. 

Yesterday I spoke with Edward Daniel UJS’s Communication and Public Relations’ Officer.  He shared his deep concern today for Jewish students on campuses throughout the UK.  He said  that on October 8^th (the day following the massacre in Israel’s South)  UJS received over 100 calls from Jewish students expressing concerns, anxieties and reports of antisemitic incidents on their campuses;  Jewish students have reported verbal abuse and intimidation and even death threats. In addition I have been privy to a series of motions (all carried) at Cambridge University, Oxford University and UCL (among others) where there is one sentence referring to the massacre of Israeli civilians within numerous pages of abuse against Israel in its fight against Hamas the terrorist organization responsible for the genocide of innocent civilians. The motions passed called for a “mass uprising” and “Intifada until victory”.

It is from universities that tomorrow’s leaders emerge. We in IBCA are deeply worried by the reality of the leadership that might emerge in Britain tomorrow if the current heightened level of antisemitism is not curbed.

Having been involved with IBCA for some 20 plus years this is the first time I have ever felt the necessity to express concern as to the safety and future for Jewish students in the UK.

Sincerely

Brenda

Brenda Katten

Chairperson IBCA

The post A Letter from our Chair Brenda Katten to the British Ambassador to Israel H.E. Simon Walters first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

Our Chair Brenda Katten said that the evening was a truly joyous occasion in which we were able to relive the amazing spectacle of Coronation Day in the beautiful grounds of the Ambassador’s residence. 

Ambassador Wigan gave a speech, in Hebrew, which was (without doubt) the envy of many Brits who have lived here for considerably longer than he has and yet would not be able to stand up and make a speech with such eloquence! 

Thank you for having us!

The post Coronation Celebration! first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

The Anzac Day Dawn Service is a commemoration of the landing of Australian and New Zealand (ANZACs) troops at Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April in 1915. The ceremony is help at dawn as this commemorates the time that the soldiers actually set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. It was named Anzac Day in 1916 and remembers and pays tribute to the tremendous courage and sacrifice of those who died in the war. The ceremony was held at the Commonwealth Graves at Mount Scopus in Jerusalem. This year’s ceremony was particularly poignant as ANZAC Day fell on the same day as Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Memorial Day.

Our Membership Secretary, Andee Goldman, attended the ceremony and laid a wreath on IBCA’s behalf. Andee said “I found the ceremony very emotional. So many fought and died far from their homeland. We shall never forget their bravery or their sacrifice.”

The post ANZAC Day Dawn Service 2023 first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

The post Interview with the New Australian Ambassador to Israel H. E. Dr Ralph King first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.

In the morning we toured the Knesset and had a private audience with Moshe Tur-Paz MK (Yesh Atid) and in the afternoon, we will visited Yad Vashem where two fantastic guides who brought so much humanity and emotional understanding into their descriptions of the horrors’ of the Holocaust. The work they do is beyond important and we were extremely grateful and appreciative to have had the opportunity to listen to them.

The post Lessons from the Past and for the Future first appeared on IBCA Israel, Britain & the Commonwealth Assoc.