British Friends of Yad Vashem
The National Yad Vashem Charitable Trust (now the British Friends of Yad Vashem) was formed in 1976 on the initiative of the director of Yad Vashem. The mission of British Friends of Yad Vashem is to represent Yad Vashem in Jerusalem by assisting in the fulfillment of their responsibilities:
- To ensure that the tragedy of the Holocaust is never forgotten
- To honor the memory of those who perished
- To impart the legacy of the Holocaust to shape a more humane future.
British Friends of Yad Vashem believes in the importance of educating, imparting and bequeathing to future generations the legacy of the Holocaust. By doing so, we can move from the horror of yesterday to the promise of tomorrow. It is surely our responsibility that Yad Vashem Jerusalem should not only be the Key to our Roots and Gate to our Memory but hopefully achieve its objectives of illuminating the Path to a More Humane Future.
Today British Friends of Yad Vashem works in the following areas:
1. Fundraising – for both Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the British Friends of Yad Vashem.
2. Informal Education – To act as a conduit between resources available at Yad Vashem and Educational/Holocaust organisations in the UK.
3. Commemoration – Yom Hashoah, Ceremony of Awards to Righteous Among the Nations, etc.
4. Missions – One day visits to Auschwitz and other Holocaust sites
5. “Guardian of the Memory” – to promote the 11th hour initiative.
The English Desk, Jerusalem
The English Desk at Yad Vashem's International Relations Division in Jerusalem is responsible for Yad Vashem contacts in all English speaking countries throughout the world, excluding the US. The primary responsibilities of the English Desk is in promoting the development of Yad Vashem and its activities in Jerusalem, and liaising with its friend societies around the world in order to promote Yad Vashem. Currently Yad Vashem has societies in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
To contact the English Desk in Jerusalem:
David Metzler, Director
david.metzler@yadvashem.org.il
Masha Wolman, Assistant
masha.wolman@yadvashem.org.il
The English Desk, International Relations Division
P.O.B. 3477, Jerusalem 91034, Israel
Tel: +972 2 644 3293
Fax: +972 2 644 3429
