Survivor thanks Jewish Care for a lifetime of support at £150k dinner
JEWISH CARE’S Holocaust Survivors’ Centre was in the spotlight last week as the charity staged its biggest ever Young Patrons dinner, which raised £150,000.
On the day before his 90th birthday, HSC member Ivor Perl — who lives in Jewish Care’s Selig Court retirement apartments — addressed the 450 guests at The Londoner in Leicester Square.
He stressed the importance of being able to stay connected to others, adding that Jewish Care had been there for him “at every difficult point in my life”.
Mr Perl was 13 when he was liberated from Auschwitz, “where many of my family, including my parents, had perished.
“I was young and scared. I couldn’t speak a word of English, a stranger in a country that was so far away from my home in Hungary. I desperately missed my family.”
He was taken in by the Jewish Welfare Board — the precursor of Jewish Care.
“I don’t know what I would have done without them. They gave me somewhere to live, fed me and taught me a trade.
“I will never forget the kindness they showed me.”
When his beloved wife Rhoda was diagnosed with severe dementia, “Jewish Care again stepped in and cared for her in what was then known as Lady Sarah Cohen House until she sadly passed away”.
They gave me somewhere to live, fed me and taught me a trade
Mr Perl had moved to Selig Court to be closer to the survivors’ centre and “in the hardest of times during the pandemic, they were there for me again.
“Now more than ever, I really believe that we all need love, which myself and others get in abundance from Jewish Care’s staff and volunteers.”
Guests saluted him with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” as he was presented with a cake.
There was also a standing ovation from the record crowd for all the carers and front-line staff at Jewish Care for their efforts throughout the pandemic.
Delighted at the turnout, Young
Jewish Care chair Rob Sher advised newcomers that there were numerous ways to get involved in its work “and we hope that many more will be encouraged to do so.
“It will have a tremendously positive impact on your life and on the lives of the older people that Jewish Care supports.”