UK Ambassador Honours Lema'an Achai



Friday morning's official visit to Lema'an Achai and Beit Shemesh by British Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould and British MP Richard Ottaway was a great success!

The Ambassador and Member of Parliament were accompanied by Mrs Nikki Ottaway (Richard's wife and a Court Magistrate) and Nathalie Tamam, Political Director of Conservative Friends of Israel.

The distinguished visitors came to Lema'an Achai in Ramat Beit Shemesh, in order to spotlight the community-based charitable social services organization, as an example for the British Government to take note of - and as an example of the positive impact of British Olim on Israeli society.

The UK Government has promoted a concept of "Big Society", which is to say that the grass-roots are being called upon to take on complementary and supplementary roles to Government services, including in the charitable sector.

Conservative Member of Parliament, and Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, Mr Richard Ottaway described Lema'an Achai as "a shining example, here in Israel, of the principles of Big Society, now a central policy of the Conservative Party, and of David Cameron's Government".

The visit wrapped-up with scones with jam & cream, served up with English tea - kindly provided by local Brit and caterer, Mrs Miriam Kaplan.

Here's some snaps of the visit, including of the VIPs visit to Bet Shemesh Municipality and the Eshkol Community Center. "Official" photos should be coming soon....

From Left to Right: Amb. Matthew Gould, Mayor Moshe Abutbol, MP Richard Ottaway and Mrs Nikki Ottaway outside Bet Shemesh Municipality

Ceremony presenting Moshe Braun's artworks to the VIPs

Amb Matthew Gould, MP Richard Ottaway and Mrs Ottaway at Lema'an Achai

VIPs and Me!

Comments

  1. Uri27 November 2011 at 12:35

    Lema'an Achai makes me very proud - of being British and of being a resident of Beit Shemesh!

    ReplyDelete

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