UJIA has relaunched the UK branch of Lion of Judah, an international philanthropic network of women who put Jewish values into action.

At an event in central London which raised more than £110,000, guests were addressed by Israeli Lions Ruth Oren and Sigal Bar-on and American Dana Adler, who explained the work of the organisation.

Thirty-seven of the 44 women who attended signed up on the night and will form the cabinet of founder members.

UJIA trustee and Lion of Judah UK chair Karen Goodkind said that in its first year, the group will fund a UJIA-supported mentoring programme in Israel, Youth Futures, for at-risk children aged eight to 18. Founding members will also support a further project of their choice.

The Lions “set the bar high for women’s philanthropy and 17,500 women in the US, Canada, Israel and around the world engage with the challenge”, Ms Goodkind added. “Their philanthropy plays a vital role building and strengthening Jewish identities and aiding the vulnerable in their communities and in Israel.”

New UJIA chair Louise Jacobs said engaging women was vital to ensuring “a strong British Jewry with a strong commitment to Israel”.