News
HRH attends a fund-raising dinner for World Jewish Relief
19th November 2007
The Prince of Wales attended a fund-raising dinner in aid of World Jewish Relief tonight at the Conservatory in Chelsea, London.
This is the second time His Royal Highness has attended World Jewish Relief's annual dinner since his visit to Poland in 2002 where he was moved by the plight of elderly members of the Jewish community whom he met in Kazimierz, many of whom had survived the Holocaust.
On his return to the UK, he contacted World Jewish Relief and the Krakow Jewish Community Centre was born with His Royal Highness as Patron. The centre, when it is completed next year, will provide services for Jews in the city.
The Prince made a speech at the dinner and praised the passion and generosity of the Jewish community and their contribution to British society.
He also praised the work of World Jewish Relief, which is the main overseas aid arm of the UK Jewish community.
The charity provides basic welfare support in the form of food, medication and fuel as well as sustaining and renewing Jewish life in communities across the world.
At a reception later in the evening, The Prince met The Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks and members of Krakow's Jewish community.
Student leader Danielle Malec, 29, said The Prince joked that he hoped the project was still on budget.
She said: "We are looking forward to having some more space for our library. When the centre is finished we will have somewhere all the people of the community, young and old, can come together."
Nigel Layton, Chairman of World Jewish Relief, said: "It's fantastic to have The Prince as a supporter.
"He wrote the first cheque for the project and has led the way in fundraising."
World Jewish Relief was founded in 1933 and helped 10,000 Jewish children escape from the Nazis.
Click here to read more about The Prince's personal faith and his work to encourage inter-faith dialogue.