Yakov Litzman, Israel’s Minister of Health saw community charities in action while on a visit to the UK this week.

He said he came away with a “good feeling” when he visited Kisharon College and Adult Day Centre in Stamford Hill. The college is a joint project between Kisharon and Hackney Community College and he met Hackney’s curriculum co-ordinator, Gillian Adamson, Kisharon chief executive Dr Beverley Jacobson and chairman, Philip Goldberg.

His visit included a music therapy session as part of the college’s provision of services for adults with learning disabilities, aged between 16 and 25. He also visited the men’s and women’s sections of the day centre and chatted to staff and members.

The delegation included Joseph Mendlovic, head of the director general’s Bureaux at Israel's Ministry of Health who joined in a discussion on Kisharon’s adult employment scheme with its manager Shlomo Weltman.

Dr Jacobson said she was "delighted to show the Israeli Minister of Health the best of what our community has to offer".

Mr Litzman urged Kisharon “To keep up the good work – what you are doing for people with learning disabilities it is making a loud impression on heaven.”

Commenting on the visit, Mr Goldberg said: “It was a great honour to have been selected by the Israeli government to have its health minister to visit us – this shows how well recognised Kisharon is in the world of learning disabilities.”

While in London Israel’s Minister of Health also visited Chai’s flagship centre in Hendon.

During a tour of the building, led by Chai chief executive Lisa Steele, Mr Litzman had the opportunity to see the broad range of services that Chai provides, not only to the cancer patient, but also to their families and friends, to help them cope with the impact of a cancer diagnosis.

Following the tour a lively discussion ensued with the chairman of Chai’s Medical Advisory Board, Dr Adrian Tookman, lead consultant physician in palliative medicine at the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and medical director of Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead; and Chai trustee Philip Weinstein.

Following the visit, Mr Litzman said: “I’m speechless, what I have seen here is a very brilliant thing. We have nothing like this is Israel, It is an amazing facility.”