MDA UK looks to ‘the day after tomorrow’ as it launches its five-year plan

Russell Jacobs, Chair of MDA UK, echoed these sentiments: “For all of us who believe in hope, in healing, and in a future worth living for, Machratayim, the day after tomorrow, must be our focus”.

The evening included a lively conversation between TV personality Rob Rinder and Israeli vlogger Nas Daily, while centering around strengthening ties between the UK and Israel.

Nas Daily and Rob Rinder in conversation at the MDA UK dinner (Photo: MDA UK)[Missing Credit]

The inaugural MDA UK Bridge to Israel Awards will be held in April 2026, to recognise those who devote themselves to sustaining and improving UK-Israel relations.

The first such award was made last night, presented by former hostage Dr Shoshan Haran. The recipient was Nivi Feldman, who has spent the last two years relentlessly making the needs of the hostage families visible to the UK Jewish community.

Burger said about Feldman: “She carries no formal title, nor is she part of the Anglo-Jewry establishment, but she has had more impact than almost anyone in her amazing contribution which we are proud to recognise in this award”.

Another part of the five-year vision is the “30 by 30” project, which twins 30 MDA projects in Israel with communities across the UK. At a time “when many in Israel feel isolated and relationships have been broken”, Burger said, the project will “celebrate our links and continue to build them”.

Israeli vlogger Nas Daily, at the MDA UK dinner[Missing Credit]

The first five partnerships were announced, including the pairing of the MDA station at Mas’ade, which serves Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights, with the Hendon community.

The night also featured guest speeches from Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog and paramedic Fadi Dekaidek, who is the head of MDA’s East Jerusalem region.

In her speech, Herzog described MDA as “an organisation built on caring and connection, which brings together people of every background and walk of life to respond to the most immediate needs of society”.

She went on: “I want to thank every staff member, volunteer, friend, and supporter of MDA who make up the vast web of responsiveness and care that is MDA today”.

Burger closed the evening by stating that in “supporting MDA, we are helping the world better understand the truth of what Israel really is: a humanitarian, loving country that serves the world and saves, mends and heals. Because MDA is Israel’s DNA”.