May 24, 2004 - May 30, 2004
Kesher Program Welcomes MK Gila Finkelstein

MK Gila Finkelstein, representing the National Religious Party was awarded by Mizrachi UK the Jerusalem Prize for outstanding achievement in the religious Zionist community. In particular her work in the fields of religious Zionist education, women’s rights and poverty were recognized as highly significant by the British Mizrachi community in London.

At the request of the Mizrachi Federation Gila spent the week of Shavuot touring some of the most prominent Zionist religious communities in London. On Shavuot itself Gila was hosted by the Chigwell and Hainault Community led by the eminent Rabbi Baruch Davis. On the following Shabbat she was hosted by both the Edgware United Synagogue and the Edgware Adath Yisroel synagogues attending there both a Shabbat Seudat Shlishit and a Sunday morning breakfast brunch. Both events were attended by well over one hundred people. Gila captivated her audience by describing the work she undertakes as a religious woman in the Knesset and illustrated her points with true stories from all walks of Israeli life. In many instances people listening were moved to tears as they heard of the momentous challenged presented to Jewish life in Eretz Israel by the ongoing security situation, the economy and continuing discrimination as well as the stories of hope that they inspire.

Gila was attended in London by her husband, Yehuda and her son Eitan and was hosted in by Rabbi and Rebbetzen Davis, Mr and Mrs Jonathan Taylor and Mr and Mrs Yisrael Ovitz. In addition to the Mizrachi Federation, Gila was also hosted for one day by the British Emunah Executive Committee.