UJIA has 7,000 good reasons for its fundraising campaign celebrating Israel’s 70th birthday.

It is endeavouring to raise £700,000 to provide educational opportunities for 7,000 more children and teenagers in Israel and the UK. It already works with 25,000 mainly young people.

UJIA this year decided to run an appeal for Yom Ha’atzmaut rather than at Pesach. “We all felt that on such a special anniversary, we wanted to make a big impact — and at the same time encourage our supporters to start to give on Israel’s Independence Day,” explained fundraising director Jacalyn Sank Da Costa

As well as celebratory business breakfasts in London and Manchester and support for communal celebrations in Glasgow and Leeds, UJIA has produced four bracelets respectively carrying the Hebrew words for “love”, “peace”, “dream” and “friends”.

These are being sold nationally through schools and shops, as well as online — 375 were sold in the first 24 hours and pre-orders exceeded 2,400.

“We are so excited about how popular the bracelets are,” Ms Sank Da Costa said. “It’s great to be connecting with so many people.”

UJIA is also a co-host of the Israel at 70 event at the Royal Albert Hall next month and is recruiting 70 entrants for the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run in June.

Chief executive Michael Wegier added: “We’re looking forward to engaging with thousands in our community to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut 70 and the money we raise through the ‘7,000 reasons’ campaign will help to change lives in Israel and build a strong British Jewry with a lifelong commitment to Israel.”