Melvin Berwald
United Kingdom Volunteer Advisory Council Member

I was born and have spent most of my life in Britain – a country of decency, fairness, and opportunity.

But as the son of a Holocaust survivor, I grew up understanding how important it is that the Jewish people have a homeland of their own. I have always wanted to have a real connection with Israel, and to do something to help those in Israel who are less fortunate than I have been.

About forty years ago, as a young lawyer, I joined what was then the Joint Israel Appeal’s Lawyers and Accountants Committee, which ran its own events and functions to raise money for some of the vital projects helping disadvantaged people in Israel and in the UK. I later became chair of this committee and I saw how important this work was first hand when my own children went on Israel tours and came back with a lifelong love for Israel. UJIA, United Jewish Israel Appeal —the amalgamation about twenty-five years ago of JIA and Jewish Continuity— still sees Israel Tour as our flagship project, run in conjunction with the Jewish Agency for Israel, to create a lifelong relationship between young British Jews and the people and State of Israel.

My own children went on Israel tours and came back with a lifelong love for Israel.

I also was asked to be the UK leader of a partnership between the British Jewish community and communities on Israel’s northern border – then referred to as the Confrontation Line. Now, sadly, every border is a confrontation line. As I write this piece, many hundreds of rockets have been fired in the last few days toward our communities, especially toward those brave people living within a few miles of Gaza. Their resilience is a source of great pride and admiration.

For the last seven years, I have been privileged to be a trustee of UJIA, with particular responsibility for planned giving, which involves helping generous people, who wish to support UJIA after their own lifetimes, to continue to help Israel and equally to continue to be a source of pride to their own families, even after their deaths.

At UJIA, we greatly value the support and sponsorship of Israel Bonds.

Through my work with UJIA, I came across Israel Bonds. UJIA and Israel Bonds are totally separate but at UJIA, we greatly value the support and sponsorship of Israel Bonds. I was very pleased to be invited to join the Advisory Board of Israel Bonds.

Israel Bonds allows people to connect and bond with the State of Israel. I understood that if ever the time came when Israel was less easily able to access world markets (our history tells us to never say never!), there would be a group of supporters of Israel hopefully able to invest at that time.

Three years ago, my wife and I made aliyah, and now live much of our time in Israel. With children and grandchildren in Britain and in Israel, I am proud that Israel Bonds will be investing in Israel during their lifetimes, and that UJIA will be investing in their lifelong connection to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Their work is so important for the future of our families and communities in both countries.