Emunah turns to online fundraiser
As with other communal charities, Emunah UK’s finances have been “affected hugely” by the coronavirus pandemic. To go some way to remedying this, the charity — which supports 10,000 at-risk and vulnerable families in Israel – hosted an online fundraising event on Monday in lieu of its annual dinner, attended by 320 people.
Though the total raised from the evening will not be announced until the end of the month, a spokesperson for Emunah told the JC that the charity needed at least £500,000 a year to support those families, and that the Virtual Gala was a “big part” of that fundraising effort. The charity has had to make one of its six members of staff redundant due to the effects of the pandemic on funding.
During the event, Rosalyn Liss, Emunah UK chair, said that the charity had been “working under such different and difficult circumstances. Many of our centres and kindergartens had to close over the course of several months, that it now seems as if things are beginning to return to the new normal.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis — who also made a virtual appearance — remarked that it was an “enormous pity” that attendees were unable to meet in person this year. “I always emerge from the Emunah dinner feeling both inspired and proud,” he said. “I feel inspired having heard stories of difficulty, of immense challenge that so many individuals and families face in Israel, and then to hear about the extraordinary way in which Emunah is there for them to provide desperately needed professional and caring assistance. And then, Ifeel proud—proud of the fact that we have an organisation such as Emunah here in the UK, and proud of our community which generously supports everything that Emunah does.”
The charity cited several of its success cases, including Segev, who grew up in a violent home where he was drawn to drink, drugs and crime. After being sent to Emunah’s Children’s Home in Afula, he turned his life around and now works at the home helping others.
Ruth travelled to Israel from Ethiopia aged seven. When she was 12, her father murdered her mother before committing suicide. After Ruth and her brother moved to an Emunah home, she was able to complete her exams and now helps other immigrants. She described the Emunah home as being “the first place they believed in me, the first moment where I began to believe in myself.”