v Jewish Care made history by holding its biggest ever event on Monday, with more than 900 people attending its first charity lunch since the pandemic first struck. 

The Topland Group business lunch raised over £400,000, more than double the £170,000 donated at last year’s virtual event with Emily Maitlis and Helena Morrissey.

Attendance also exceeded Jewish Care’s 2019 event, which drew over 800 people and raised more than £320,000. 

The charity was forced to postpone the fundraising lunch in 2020, due to the pandemic. 

Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert and her great-grandson Dov Forman were given a standing ovation as they received the charity’s Topland award, which recognises unsung heroes. 

The duo, whose book Lily’s Promise was published last year with a foreword from the Prince of Wales, have amassed almost two million followers on TikTok with their bite-sized video testimonies.

Ms Ebert attracted media coverage last year when it emerged she had recovered from Covid-19, then aged 97.

She received a BEM in 2016 for her services to Holocaust education. 

Addressing the event, Ms Ebert said: “Thank you so much for inviting me to be here with you. I am so honoured and touched to receive this award along with my great-grandson. 

“When I was in hell in Auschwitz, I promised myself: ‘If I survive against all odds, I will do all I can to tell my story for myself and for those who did not survive.’”

She was 20 when she was deported to Auschwitz in July 1944 where her mother Nina, brother Bela and sister Berta were immediately murdered. She and two sisters, Renee and Piri, survived. 

Her great-grandson told guests: “It is now more important than ever that we listen to incredible survivors like my great-grandmother. We must remember their stories and we must take the time to remember those who are no longer able to speak for themselves. 

“Lily knew that if she survived Auschwitz, she would tell the world about what happened to her and her family. She knew that one day in her future, she would be called on to become a witness, and I know that one day in my future, I will carry on her legacy. I will be her witness to the next generation. And today, if you listen to my great-grandmother, and read her story in our book, Lily’s Promise, we are inviting you to become her witnesses too. 

“I would like to thank Jewish Care for this award, and I feel incredibly privileged to share a stage and this award with my incredible great-grandmother.”

Speaking to the JC at the lunch, Mr Forman spoke of her ties to Jewish Care as a founding member of its Holocaust Survivors Centre in north London.

“They’ve been incredible. They’ve been there throughout the Covid pandemic even though it was online. Now they’ve reopened but for many years they’ve been there to help support them in any way they needed not only just organising events but also they’ve helped them with counseling and they’ve provided a place where they can go and feel safe. So it was very important for us to try and give back, speak at the event, but also we’re incredibly honoured to have received this award,” he added.

Guests also heard from guest speaker Andrew Neil who spoke about his television career and discussed threats to democracies around the world and the Ukraine crisis. 

They also received a copy of Lily’s Promise. 

A raffle was later drawn, with a Fiat 500 among the prizes, and the lunch featured a three-course menu of salmon tartare, a chicken dish and an assortment of mini cakes.

Among those attending was 26-year-old Jake Jacobs, who has a grandmother staying in a Jewish Care facility. 

“First event since the pandemic and it’s obviously nice to be seeing people again,” he told the JC.

He favoured physical events over online fundraisers. “On Zoom, sometimes you can’t feel it as much, whereas being in the same room is actually really really useful,” he added. 

Speaking after the event, Jewish Care chief executive, Daniel Carmel- Brown, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be back with our generous supporters at the largest Topland Group business lunch to date, and certainly the largest in-person event we have held since the pandemic, with over 900 people in the room. Jewish Care was honoured to give this year’s award to Lily Ebert and Dov Forman who have dedicated so much to Holocaust education, something that is so important not just to our community, but to the world. We also, of course, extend huge thanks to Andrew Neil for such an interesting keynote address."