A prominent Jewish charitable foundation has marked its 50th anniversary by handing out £20 million to organisations in the UK and Israel.
The Wohl Legacy said it was splitting £6.5 million between welfare groups Jewish Care and Nightingale Hammerson, and TrainE-TraidE, a Jewish employment charity.
Two bodies in Israel - the Jerusalem-based Hadassah Medical Centre and Sheba Medical Centre, in Ramat Gan - are receiving a total of £8.5 million to develop research centres, while £5 million is being shared equally by the Royal Academy of Arts and the National Gallery in London.
The recipients were announced at Wohl Legacy's anniversary celebration at the Royal Academy.
Guest speaker Matthew Gould, British ambassador to Israel, described the late Anglo-Jewish philanthropists Maurice and Vivienne Wohl, who set up the Legacy, as "models for giving that makes a difference".
He said: "The Legacy keeps their vision alive, and I have been grateful for the impact it has had on UK/Israel relations during my time as ambassador."
Professor David Latchman, Maurice Wohl's nephew, who is chair of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, said: "The Jewish sage Hillel taught us not to separate ourselves from our community. These grants not only reflect Maurice and Vivienne's commitment to the communities of arts and medical science, but also to their shared love for the UK and for Israel. They also illustrate how creativity and discovery in the arts and sciences must be sustained and nourished."
Jewish Care plans to use the
£3 million it was receiving to build 32 independent-living apartments on the charity's site in Hendon, north London. Chief executive Simon Morris said the foundation's support ensured the organisation could "lead the way in providing quality care in 21st-century environments".
Nightingale Hammerson will spend its £2 million on renovating the Hammerson House complex in Hampstead to increase capacity for people who suffer from dementia. Harvey Rosenblatt, chairman of Nightingale Hammerson, said he was "enormously grateful".
Wohl Legacy is giving £1.5 million to TrainE-TraidE to create the Wohl Employment and Business Campus, which will include a shared workspace, meeting room, training rooms and offices to be used by an estimated 6,000 people each year in north-west London.
Chief executive Shraga Zaltzman, said: "This project will allow people to start their own businesses and have a work space; it will help people help themselves."
The Royal Academy of Arts and the National Gallery intend to carry out restoration and building work with their share of the grant.
National Gallery director Dr Nicholas Penny said the institution "greatly valued the generous support of Maurice and Vivienne Wohl during their lifetimes. He said they were held in great affection at the gallery."
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