History of Youth Aliyah – Child Rescue

Youth Aliyah was originally conceived as a rescue operation to save Jewish children in Nazi Germany. Our beginnings go back to the early 1930s, when the children had to be saved from pending physical and psychological danger. Unfortunately, there still exists a need to rescue and aid children in danger from all over the world.

The British Committee was founded in 1944 as an independent fundraising organization under the joint chairmanship of Vera Weizmann and Dr Israel Feldman. London and regional groups raised substantial sums through social and cultural functions. Youth Aliyah – Child Rescue became a well-established part of the national fundraising efforts, initially for Palestine, and then Israel. Individual contributions as well as legacies added considerable amounts to the organisation’s resources for specific programmes and expanding framework.

Throughout the years, the British Committee has taken on the responsibility for the caring and developing five Youth Villages. Members consider themselves senior partners who are committed to Youth Aliyah’s educational ethos. Today, funds raised finance building projects, general maintenance and vital refurbishments. In addition, a proportion of the available budget is  for scholarships, cultural enrichment activities and the acquisition of up-to-date educational equipment.