BHUK 10th Anniversary Gala Event

Beit Halochem UK Celebrated its 10th Anniversary in June 2022 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, which saw over 400 donors gathering for an exciting evening. The event was a phenomenal success raising in excess of £1.3 million. The money raised will help to make a tangible difference to the lives of the wounded Israeli Veterans and their families.

The event featured a few speakers, among which was Oren Blitzblau, Israeli veteran and member of Beit Halochem. Oren served as the intelligence officer and was wounded in 2005 during the arrest of terror suspects when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in an outpost in the Gaza Strip. He suffered burns all over his body and severe damage to his internal organs, as well as loss of vision and impaired hearing. During his speech, he said “I won’t forget tonight”. “Although I can’t see you, I can feel your love.” He also thanked Beit Halochem UK for allowing him and others to reach their goals over the decade since its inception.

Reuven Rivlin, Israel’s 10th president, was the guest of honour at the Gala. He spoke of the great work BHUK has done, and in particular the Chairman, Andrew Wolfson, and the CEO, Spencer Gelding, in the past 10 years, raising over £21m. He also talked about the importance of the rehabilitation Beit Halochem in Israel provides to the soldiers, victims of terror and their families.

Other speakers included the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tzipi Hotovely, who spoke of the highlight initiative implemented by BHUK, the Veteran Games; a programme that brings together wounded British and Israeli veterans to celebrate the vital role sports and family play in rehabilitation during a five-day sporting event that takes place in Israel every year.

The Veteran Games Ambassador, Caroline Beazley said during the dinner “It meant so much to me to see my fellow veterans so happy.”

It is the happiness that BHUK is helping the veterans to regain.

Special thanks must go to Orly Wolfson, Natalie Tahan and Susie Kahn joint Chairs of the gala dinner as well as their wonderful committee. They each devoted an enormous amount of time and effort to ensure the evening’s success and their ongoing commitment to the cause is truly appreciated.