United Jewish Israel Appeal

The United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) is 'Britain's major fundraising organization for Israel'.Bushinsky, J. et al. (1998), News in Brief, The Jerusalem Post, 12-April-1998 It is the British branch of Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal, one of the three 'national institutions' in Israel. 
Michael Levy who was the chief fundraiser for Tony Blair during his time as Labour Party leader and Prime Minister has been a key figure in the UJIA.Davis, D. (1999), The Man Behind Blair, The Jerusalem Post, 24-September-1999 In 1994 the UJIA offices in London were bombed as well as the Israeli embassy following the signature of a peace agreement between Israel and Jordan.Belfast Telegraph, Bomb attack at British Embassy, Belfast Telegraph, 13-October-2000
==Activities==
===UJIA Blair Scholarships===
In 1998 Tony Blair, then UK Prime Minister, launched a British-Israeli youth exhange program on a visit to Israel which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Israel. The grants were named 'UJIA-Blair Fellowships'.Bushinsky, J. et al. (1998), News in Brief, The Jerusalem Post, 12-April-1998 The program was designed to bring 'British youngsters completing high school to work here [Israel] in development towns, on kibbutzim, and to learn about the IDF and other elements of Israeli society'.Cohen, A.D. (1998), UK Jews establish Blair Fellowships, The Jerusalem Post, 21-April-1998
===1998 Annual Fundraising Dinner===
The UJIA fundraising dinner of 1998 was addressed by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. In the same week of Netanyahu's address he met with then Prime Minister Tony Blair and foreign secretary Robin Cook. The previous week the two countries signed a 'memorandum of understanding' aimed at creating greater military co-operation through 'joint research in defense technologies and information exchanges'.Davis, D. (1998), Britain Signs Military Co-operation Deal, Jerusalem Post, 22-November-1998
===2002 Annual Appeal Auction===
In 2002 the UJIA held a fundraising auction hosted by footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones. A range of football shirts were auctioned off including those of English Premiership footballers Michael Owen and David Beckham. One auction winner paid £40,000 to spend Christmas with Vinnie Jones.Harris, H. (2002), Vinnie's Smokin', Sunday Express, 13-October-2002
===2002 Shaul Mofaz Events===
In 2002 the UJIA held a dinner at the Hilton hotel in Glasgow where the guest speaker was Shaul Mofaz, the former Israeli army chief of staff.Pg. 4, Vandals' blaze bid at Scots synagogue, Evening Times, 26-October-2002 Mofaz also spoke at events in Leeds and Liverpool.Weston, A. (2002), Palestinian City Protest, Liverpool Echo, 29-October-2002 All of these events attracted protests because of Mofaz's role in 'Operation Defensive Shield' where 'Israeli forces invaded the West Bank and occupied and sealed off the Palestinian towns of Jenin and Ramallah'.Yorkshire Evening Post, Israeli chief faces demo over Jenin, Yorkshire Evening Post, 28-October-2002
The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson described Mofaz's visit as a 'shameful stain on the city's reputation' because 'General Mofaz was in charge during some of the most horrendous military attacks on Palestinian civilians; men, women, and children' he denied that Glasgow City Council had any involvement in arranging the event and argued that the sole organisers had been the UJIA.Council had Nothing to do with Mofaz Visit, The Herald, 31-October-2002, p. 17.
===2003 Rudolph Giuliani Visit to Bolton===
In 2003 former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani visitied Bolton in a trip arranged by the UJIA. The main point of his talk was to increase support for the pending invasion of Iraq. In order to do this he warned that he 'shared President George W Bush's concern that Saddam (Hussein) had weapons of mass destruction'.News, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's Bolton appeal, UK Newsquest Regional Press - This is Lancashire, 24-January-2003
===2004 Annual Fundraising Dinner===
In 2004 former U.S. talk show host Jerry Springer was invited by the UJIA to be guest speaker at their annual fundraising dinner. Springer was criticised for being an inappropriate choice of guest speaker.Bates, S. (2005), Scrap Jerry Springer invitation, say rabbis, The Guardian, 21-January-2005
===2005 Gallilee Development Fund===
In 2005 Shimon Peres set up a fund and recruting initiative to attract investors interested in developing Gallilee. The fund was headed by UJIA president Brian Kerner. Peres described 'developing the Galilee and Negev' as 'the most important Zionist goal of the 2000s'.Hayoun, D. (2005), Peres setting up Galilee development fund; Vice Premier Shimon Peres: It will possible to launch tourist projects in the Galilee, as well as establishing and expanding industrial parks, which will provide thousands of jobs for local residents, Globes [online] - Israel's Business Arena, 28-February-2005
=== Foreign Secretary David Miliband Hosting Annual UJIA Patrons Dinner 2008===
In 2008, David Miliband was a guest of honour and host at the Annual UJIA Partons Dinner. The event took place at the Foreign Office where Miliband welcomed 160 UJIA members. Miliband was introduced by UJIA President Trevor Chinn. At the dinner, Chinn 'recalled the time they spent together in Israel visiting Gap Year students' (during Miliband's first year as foreign secretary), he also described Milliband as a "clever and courageous Foreign Secretary.”
Miliband is reported to have said that it was “a privilege to be amongst friends”. In his speach he described the UJIA as “an organisation with an inclusive vision of Zionism” that the 'whole of Britain' can take inspiration from. He described the organiation as not being "scared to put itself in danger and teaches us that it is Israel which breathes new life into Jewish people". 
Miliband also divulged that he had hosted the Foreign Office’s first Chanukah party in December 2007.
In giving thanks, UJIA Chairman Mick Davis spoke of his belief that 'Jewish identity is a healthy way of acknowledging Israel and is a legacy Jewish parents must leave their children'. In concluding he stated that these are needs that must be met “today, tomorrow and forever.” UJIA David Miliband hosts UJIA Patrons Accessed 18th September 2008 The meeting was attended by controversial Labour Party donor David Martin Abrahams.Walker, T. (2008), Miliband's dinner guest list raises some eyebrows; mandrake, The Daily Telegraph, 05-August-2008
===2008 Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX)===
On a visit to Israel in 2008 Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to develop a Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX).Wadlocks, E.Z. (2008), Israeli, UK PMs launch new academic exchange programme, BBC Monitoring Middle East - Political: Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 21-July-2008 UJIA helped to kickstart the initiative with a donation of £200,000.Wadlocks, E.Z. (2008), Israeli, UK PMs launch new academic exchange programme, BBC Monitoring Middle East - Political: Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 21-July-2008 Mike Cushman of the London School of Economics argued that Universities should avoid the scheme, saying:
:'Much of the finance for these partnerships is clearly coming from parts of the private and voluntary sectors that are allied to Israel ... We are urging our colleagues not to touch any of this funding with a bargepole. It is blood money and they should recognise it as such'.Corbyn, Z. (2008), Research intelligence - Promised land proffers cash, Times Higher Education Supplement, 31-July-2008
Cushman's comments were made in the context of the academic boycott of Israel which played a role in the devlopment of the Birax scheme according to Professor David Newman of Ben Gurion University. Newman who had been involved in planning the program from the beginning argued that the program 'has a great deal to do with the boycott' adding: 
:'Because of the ongoing discussion of boycotts the British government decided that the most appropriate response was to strengthen research ties'.Waldoks, E.Z. (2008), Olmert Brown launch new academic exchange program, The Jerusalem Post, 21-July-2008
===2008 United Jewish Israel Appeal dinner addressed by Gordon Brown===
Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed the UJIA 2008 appeal dinner where he delivered a speech on the subject of irresponsibility in the financial system. Brown argued that 'When risk-taking crosses the line between the responsible entrepreneurship we want to celebrate and irresponsible risk-taking then we have to take action to ensure that markets work in the public interest to reflect shared values'London, Britain mulls extending bank guarantee, Agence France Presse, 6-October-2008
Brown also used the dinner as a platform to make clear that his Government 'would oppose any boycott of Israeli goods or Israeli academics'.Home News, Home News, Press Association, 6-October-2008
===Other Events===
The UJIA also hold an 'annual property reception'Coffer, A. (2003), Norris raises fears that Crossrail will 'never happen', EGI Web News, 4-July-2003and an 'annual ladies luncheon'.Kay, R. (2003), Poor Carole just can't keep schtum, Daily Mail, 20-October-2003
==Activities in Schools==
===Activities in Jewish Schools===
===Jewish Activities in Mainstream Schools===
See: Jewish Activities in Mainstream Schools
==People==
===2014===
*Bill Benjamin has been the Chairman of UJIA since the beginning of 2013. Benjamin is also on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC). From 2008-2012, he served as Co-Chairman of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues. Benjamin is founding partner of AREA Property Partners, a global private equity firm specialising in commercial real estate. Prior to AREA, he worked in the real estate finance group of Bankers Trust Company in New York.UJIA UJIA Chairman. Accessed 12 February 2014.
*Michael Wegier has been Chief Executive of UJIA since September 2012. Wegier grew up in London and originally made Aliyah in 1990 and has spend much of the last 23 years living in Israel. Most recently he served as Executive Director of the Melitz Educational Centre in Jerusalem. From 2002-2007, Wegier spent five years seconded from Israel with UJIA.UJIA UJIA Chief Executive. Accessed 12 February 2014.
====UJIA Lay Leaders including Trustees====
*Honorary Presidents Mick Davis | The Lord Levy | Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf
*Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner of Braunstone QC | Gerald M Ronson CBE
*Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO | David M Cohen | Mick Davis | Brian Kerner
*Vice-Chairmen Geoffrey Ognall 
*Regional Chairmen Ashley Gold | Martin Harris | Andrew Joseph | Richard Pinder | David Samson 
*Honorary Treasurer Warren Persky FCA 
*Trustees Keith Black | James Burchell | Alex Dwek | Ian Grabiner | Ruth Green | Karen Harris | Jeremy Isaacs | Louise Jacobs | Stuart Levy | Robert Randall | 
*Also Trustees of UJIA.UJIA UJIA Lay leaders. Accessed 12 February 2014.
===2011===
*Mick Davis UJIA Chairman. Chief Executive of Xstrata plc, a diversified mining and metals company listed on the London Stock Exchange and is in the top 20 of the FTSE100 with a market value of circa $65 billion.
*Douglas Krikler Chief Executive. Joined UJIA in October 2004 as Vice Chairman, and has been Chief Executive since April 2005.UJIA Who we are: Transparency, accessed 20 October 2011 Krikler was listed in 33rd place in the Jewish Chronicle's top 100 'of those who wield the greatest influence on British Jewry' which reports him as 'running a tight ship'.The Jewish Chronicle 'Others on the list: Numbers 31-100' 9th May 2008. Accessed 19th August 2008 
====UJIA Lay Leaders including Trustees====
*Honorary Presidents The Lord Levy Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf
*Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner QC | Gerald M Ronson | Cyril Stein
*Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO | David M Cohen | Brian Kerner
*Vice Presidents Michael Bradfield | Stanley Cohen OBE | Alan Fox | Dov Hamburger | Ronald Preston | Stephen Rubin OBE | Sir Harry Solomon | Anthony Spitz | Michael Ziff
*Chairman Mick Davis*
*Vice-Chairmen Michael Goldstein* | Geoffrey Ognall*
*Regional Chairmen Adam Berkley | Martin Harris | Andrew Joseph | Richard Pinder | David Samson
*Honorary Treasurer Sam Clarke FCA*
*Trustees Keith Black | James Burchell | Karen Harris | Jeremy Isaacs | Louise Jacobs | Stuart Levy | James Libson | Professor Anthony Warrens
: *Also Trustees of UJIA.2011 appointments from: UJIA Lay Leaders, accessed 20 October 2011
===2006===
*Honorary Presidents The Lord Levy | Chief Rabbi Professor Jonathan Sacks | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf
*Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner QC, Sir Jack Lyons | The Lord Mischon QC DL | Gerald M Ronson, Cyril Stein | Fred S Worms OBE
*Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO, Brian Kerner*
*Vice Presidents Stanley Cohen OBE, Alan Fox, Ronald Preston, Stephen Rubin OBE, Sir Harry Solomon, Anthony Spitz
*Chairman David M Cohen*
*Vice Chairmen Michael Bradfield*, Geoffrey Ognall*, Michael Ziff*
*Campaign Chairman Michael Lewis
*Programme Chairman Michael Goldstein
*Renewal Chairman Dr Anthony Warrens
*Communications Chairman Michael Bradfield*
*Training and Development Chairman Jerome Reback
*Honorary Treasurer Peter C Leach FCA*
*Members Melvin Berwald | Sir Victor Blank | Melvin Berwald | Sir Victor Blank | Andrew Brecher | Caroline Buchler | David Buchler | James Burchell | Sam Clarke* | Joy Cohen | Michael Davis | Allan Fisher | David Franklin | Alan Jacobs* | Stefan Kerner | Benjamin Leon* | Natalie Lesser | Michael Lewis* | Steven Martin | Gary Phillips* | Jerome Reback* | Andrew Rubin | Carrie Rubin | William Sharron | Jo Wagerman OBE | Dr Anthony Warrens | Roberta Wolens 
*Chief Executive Douglas Krikler
:* Trustees of the United Jewish Israel AppealUJIA The People, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 5 July 2006, accessed 20 October 2011
===2005===
===Trustees===
Michael L . Davis (appointed 15 September 2005) (Chairman) | Keith Black (appointed 24 November 2005) | Michael Bradfield (resigned 31 December 2005) | David M. Cohen | Sam Clarke FCA | Michael Goldstein FCA | Alan Jacobs | Brian Kerner | Peter Leach FCA (resigned 24 November 2005) | Michael Lewis | Geoffrey Ognall | Gary Philips (resigned 24 November 2005) | Jerome Reback | Carolyn L Rubin (appointed 25 January 2006) | Anthony Warrens | Michael Ziff (resigned 31 December 2005)United Jewish Israel Appeal, Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2005, p. 4.
===2004===
*Honorary Presidents The Lord Levy | Chief Rabbi Professor Jonathan Sacks, |The Rt. Hon. The Lord Woolf 
*Honorary Vice-Presidents The Lord Janner QC, Sir Jack Lyons | The Lord Mischon QC DL | Gerald M Ronson | Cyril Stein | Fred S Worms OBE 
*Presidents Sir Trevor Chinn CVO | Brian Kerner* 
*Vice Presidents Stanley Cohen OBE | Alan Fox | Ronald Preston | Stephen Rubin OBE | Anthony Spitz 
*Chairman David M Cohen* 
*Vice Chairmen Michael Bradfield* | Michael Goldstein | Geoffrey Ognall, | Michael Sinclair | Michael Ziff*
*Campaign Chairman Steven Martin* (until Feb. 2003) 
*Renewal Chairman Michael Goldstein* 
*Communications Chairman Michael Bradfield* 
*Training and Development Chairman Caroline Buchler 
*Honorary Treasurer Peter C Leach FCA* 
*Members Melvin Berwald | Sir Victor Blank | Andrew Brecher | Caroline Buchler | David Buchler | James Burchell | Loretta Cash | Joy Cohen | Uri David | Michael Davis | Allan Fisher | David Franklin | Alan Jacobs | Stefan Kerner, | Michael Lewis | Steven Martin | Gary Phillips* | Jerome Reback | Andrew Rubin, | William Sharron |Sir Harry Solomon | Jo Wagerman OBE |Dr Anthony Warrens 
*Chief Executive Benjamin Leon 
*Finance Director Eldred Kraines CA (SA) 
*Corporate Resources Director Alison Rosen ACA 
:* Trustees of the United Jewish Israel AppealUJIA The People, Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 14 February 2004, accessed 20 October 2011
==Finances==
==Associated organisations, Affiliations, Contact, Notes==
===Associated===
*UJIA Israel (incorporating the British Olim Society) | Keren Hayesod | United Israel Appeal US | United Jewish Appeal | Israel United Appeal | American Friends of the United Jewish Israel Appeal | Jewish Philanthropic Association for Israel and the Middle East (Charity No 256689)
===Companies associated with the UJIA===
Created 1950s
*Association for Jewish Youth Incorporated(The)- 00493669 - Incorporated on 31 March 1951 - 1 Torriano Mews, London, England, NW5 2RZ 
Created 1987
*UJ Events Plus Ltd - 02194244 - Incorporated on 16 November 1987- 1 Torriano Mews, London, NW5 2RZ 
Created 1990s
*Jewish Continuity - 02836858 - Incorporated on 16 July 1993 - 1 Torriano Mews, London, England, NW5 2RZ 
*United Jewish Israel Appeal (formerly Joint Jewish Charitable Trust 16 Dec 1996 - 26 Jun 2000) - Company number 03295115 - Incorporated on 16 December 1996 - 1 Torriano Mews, London, England, NW5 2RZ
Created 2010s
*Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal UK - 10332876 - Incorporated on 17 August 2016 - Third Floor, 20 Old Bailey, London, United Kingdom, EC4M 7AN
===Dissolved===
*Erez Israel (Palestine) Foundation Fund Keren Hayesod Limited(The) - 00173860 - Incorporated on 23 March 1921, Dissolved on 17 May 2016 - 1 Torriano Mews, London, England, NW5 2RZ 
*UJIA Events Ltd- 07465097 - Incorporated on 9 December 2010, Dissolved on 2 January 2018 - 1 Torriano Mews, London, NW5 2RZ 
*UJIA Legacy Services Ltd - 08005139 - Incorporated on 26 March 2012, Dissolved on 11 May 2021- 1 Torriano Mews, London, England, NW5 2RZ 
====Former names====
United Palestine Appeal (created 1944) | Joint Palestine Appeal (created 1947) | Joint Israel Appeal (from 1973-1996) |
===Affiliations===
In November 2003 Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon gave a speech to the United Jewish Israel Appeal. In his speech he declared that he is a 'strong supporter' of Labour Friends of Israel and a good friend of Trevor ChinnHoon, G. (2003) Speech by Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, to the United Jewish Israel Appeal. 13th November 2003. accessed 2nd July 2008.
===Contact===
:UJIA is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 1060078 and in Scotland No. Sc 039181 
:A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 3295115. 
:Registered office: (20/7/2009 - 24/11/2015): 37 Kentish Town Road, London NW1 8NX 
::::::(24/11/2015 - present): 1 Torriano Mews, London, NW5 2RZ
:Web: ujia.org
:Internet Archive holdings of ujia.org 2002-present.
===Notes===
Category:Israel Lobby
Category:Zionist movement UK