Magen David Adom honours volunteers massacred on October 7th
Mike Marlowe, whose son Jake was murdered at the Nova Festival, addressed 125 guests at dinner in London
Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
Thirty three Magen David Adom volunteers who murdered in Hamas’ rampage on southern Israel were remembered at a dinner for key supporters of the charity in the UK.
Pictures of the heroes, many of whom were killed while coming to the aid of the wounded on 7 October, took pride of place at the event whose guests had helped raise £15m in the UK for Israel’s medical emergency service in eight months.
Alon Fridman, deputy director general of MDA in Israel, recalled a medic in Be’eri who spent 10 hours treating victims at the kibbutz clinic before being killed by terrorists. He said she would have survived if she’d just stayed at home which wasn’t reached by the attackers. In a powerful address, Mike Marlowe, who’s son Jake lost his life as he tried to protect others as a security guard at the Nova Festival, spoke of the “courage, bravery and modesty that summed up what MDA is all about”.
Liz Padmore, chair of the British Red Cross whose wartime appeal saw some funds go towards MDA’s lifesaving work, was among the 125 guests at The Berkeley Hotel who heard from MDA UK’s CEO and chair Daniel Burger and Russell Jacobs. The latter stressed the charity’s workforce carried out by volunteers of all faiths saving lives of those of faiths and backgrounds stood as a beacon of hope.
Looking to the future, he added: “What if each signatory of the Abraham Accords becomes eligible to send medics to be trained in Israel. Imagine how many ambassadors for Israel could be created.”
Head of fundraising Josh Diamond said: “As we emerge into a new era for Israel, we are ready to lead the conversations about the State of Israel. To use everything that’s brilliant about MDA, as a narrative, as a vehicle for showcasing to the whole world all that’s best about Israel.”
In one of his first addresses since taking on the role of Board of Deputies President, Phil Rosenberg called for an “optimistic alliance” between Jews, Muslims and others to tackle extremism. Muslims, he said, were often the first victims of Islamist extremism whether in Syria, in Gaza under Hamas or in facing indoctrination at home. He also hailed the heroes’ of MDA that are a living example of the alliance he wanted to see.
Since the start of the war with Hamas, MDA UK has purchased 84 vehicles including 27 ambulances and motorbikes, as well as over 800 training sessions for medics.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
