History
1933 How it began
The Central British Fund for German Jewry or CBF (now World Jewish Relief) is established after Hitler came to power to rescue Jews from persecution in Germany.
1938 Kindertransport
In response to Kristallnacht, CBF is instrumental in bringing around 10,000 unaccompanied children, mainly Jewish, from Nazi-occupied Europe to the UK.
Read more about our role in the Kindertransport.
1939 Kitchener Camp
The CBF rescue around 4000 Jewish men, many from the Sachsenhausen, Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, by bringing them to the UK and housing them in the former WW1 Kitchener Camp, also known as the Richborough Camp.
Kitchener Camp website
1945 The Boys
The CBF brings 732 child Holocaust survivors to Britain. The first 300 arrive in Windermere in August 1945. They are assisted to settle into the UK and given accommodation, education, skills training and psychological assistance.
Find out more about child Holocaust survivors 'The Boys' here.1945- CBF supports Jewish refugees
From 1945 onwards, CBF is responsible for helping tens of thousands of Jewish refugees with financial and emotional support after they have reached the UK.
1956 Suez Crisis
Following the crisis in Egypt, Jewish Relief Units are sent to rescue 622 families and bring them to safety in the UK.
1968 Czechoslovakia
The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia forces 4,000 Jews to flee the country. CBF assists the mass evacuation.
1984 Ethiopia
During Operation Moses, we provide food and medical help throughout the airlift of thousands from Ethiopia to Israel.
1989 Iron Curtain collapse
After the end of the Soviet Union, two million Jews remain there, including many Holocaust survivors. Our welfare services provide a lifeline to hundreds of thousands.
1992 Balkans War
We support Jewish communities in the Balkans and bring 143 Bosnian families to safety in the UK.
1995 Renaming
CBF renamed World Jewish Relief to reflect the global nature of its work
2004 Tsunami
World Jewish Relief’s largest ever emergency appeal, following the Boxing Day Tsunami in Sri Lanka.
2008 Krakow
The Jewish Community Centre in Krakow, Poland is opened by Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
2010 Haiti
With over 300,000 dead in the earthquake, World Jewish Relief leads the Jewish community’s response to this international disaster.
2011 Former Soviet Union
We set up our first Livelihood Development Programme supporting the next generation of the Jewish community out of poverty and into employment.
Learn more about our Livelihood Programmes.
2014 Ukraine
As war escalates in Ukraine, our emergency support enables the world’s poorest Jewish communities to survive
2015 Prince Charles
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales becomes the Patron of World Jewish Relief.
2015 Refugee Crisis
The Jewish community's support enables us to provide key services in Turkey, Greece and the UK to refugees fleeing war and persecution
Discover more about our ongoing work to help the refugee crisis here.
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