PRESS UPDATE : THE JEWISH NEWS .. MAY 17TH 2024 ..

 

From left: Tikva UK CEO Karen Bodenstein, the Duchess of York, the comedian Modi, Dame Joan Collins and Arabella Spiro. Picture: Blake Ezra Photography

Tikva UK rises to extreme challenges of war on two fronts

The charity that rescues children from neglect and abuse in Odesa, Ukraine, celebrates another year of extraordinary achievement with a dinner that raised £1.4m...

By JN REPORTER

The Jewish charity that rescues children from neglect and abuse in Odesa, Ukraine, this week celebrated another year of extraordinary achievement as it deals with two wars threatening its work in two years.

Tikva, founded by the city’s chief rabbi, Shlomo Baksht, relocated the 4,500 people in its care in Odesa to Romania following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine in February 2022.

The Jewish charity that rescues children from neglect and abuse in Odesa, Ukraine, this week celebrated another year of extraordinary achievement as it deals with two wars threatening its work in two years.

Tikva, founded by the city’s chief rabbi, Shlomo Baksht, relocated the 4,500 people in its care in Odesa to Romania following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine in February 2022.

Tikva provides education, opportunities, love and life-long care for 250 orphaned youngsters as well as helping 660 displaced community members. It is also caring for Israelis affected by the 7 October attacks by Hamas terrorists.

At its annual fundraising dinner on Monday one of those youngsters, 23-year-old Yuliia Roiter, spoke of the ‘Tikva family’ that saved her.

Addressing the 270 guests, who included Sarah, Duchess of York, and Dame Joan Collins, Yuliia’s voice broke as she related how she was taken to a state orphanage as a baby after being rejected by her mother, who had turned to prostitution.

A few years later she was rescued from the orphanage by Tikva. “I arrived as a toddler and grew up in a warm and loving home,” she said with gratitude. “I love my teachers and they love me.” Roiter is at the moment finishing her studies to qualify as a teacher herself.

The Duchess of York spoke about her visit to Tikva in Bucharest a few weeks ago. She first visited in 2013.

Tears for those receiving support were followed immediately by peals of laughter as Israeli-American standup Modi leapt on to the stage to perform for the guests. The Tikva UK dinner, at the Nobu Hotel London Portman, raised £1.4m for the charity’s work.

After a year in Neptun, on the Black Sea, it needed to move to more suitable premises, and found a property on the outskirts of Bucharest, from which it now continues its services.