His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales Addresses WJR Annual Dinner

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KEY FACTS

The dinner raised over £1.5 million – the most the WJR Annual Dinner has ever raised.

Second time His Royal Highness has attended WJR’s annual dinner

The World Jewish Relief annual dinner, held at The Conservatory in Chelsea on Monday 19 November, was attended by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. The dinner raised over £1.5 million – the most the WJR Annual Dinner has ever raised.

As Patron of World Jewish Relief’s Krakow Community Centre Project, The Prince attended the dinner to show his support for the Jewish Community and the work of World Jewish Relief (WJR). At the dinner The Prince spoke about the passion and generosity of the Jewish community and their contribution to British society.

This is the second time His Royal Highness has attended WJR’s annual dinner following his visit to Krakow in 2002 where he was moved by the living circumstances of the remaining elderly members of the Jewish community whom he met whilst in Kazimierz. 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.

Nigel Layton, Chairman of World Jewish Relief said:

“I am so very proud that our Community Centre in Krakow, the brainchild of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, is now nearing completion. Whilst we await its completion, we have already begun to invest in programmes for young and old alike. Krakow soon will become known throughout the Jewish world not just for its tragic Jewish past but also for its vibrant Jewish present.”

Now entering its 75th year, WJR is still the only UK Jewish agency able to help secure the continuity of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union and other areas of the world where communities are in desperate need. WJR is also flying the Jewish humanitarian flag worldwide. At times of major international disaster WJR is UK Jewry’s response mechanism.

Mr Layton continued:

“As Jews we recognise that we have a duty, not only to our fellow Jews, but also to the wider world. The generosity of our community to assist others at times of catastrophe not only shows that we care but that we do something about it.”

He concluded in thanking His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for his generous support. He said:

"It was a remarkable occasion in 2003 for WJR when we welcomed you to our 70th anniversary dinner and to launch the appeal for our Community Centre in Krakow of which you agreed to become patron. We were privileged beyond words that you had chosen to grace us with your presence. To return so soon is testimony not only to your obvious love of Jewish food but also to your incredible commitment to our exceptional and remarkable organisation. This demonstrates your affinity with the Jewish values of humanitarian and developmental assistance to those in need which we all hold so dear. You, Sir, are a true friend and supporter, not only of WJR, but of our entire Jewish Community".