Click here for a digital publication containing an article which reports on the meeting between Marsha and Yasmin, the girl whose life was saved by Yoni's organ donation.
EVENTS AND LECTURING
The Foundation is committed to spreading the important messages that arise from the story of Yoni's life and the story of Yoni's death.
The inspirational story of Yoni’s life motivates people of all ages to give more of themselves, as Yoni did, while at the same time helping organisations of any kind to either raise funds or awareness for whatever their cause may be.
Speeches cover many issues, including commitment in the sphere of community, youth leadership, Israel, Jewish education, and organ donation.
The unique story of how, in his death,Yoni’s kidney was used to save the life of a little Palestinian girl, moves all who hear it to a better understanding of the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Members of Yoni's family lecture at a range of events and are happy to do so for an agreed donation to the foundation.
Some of these recent events include:
YONI JESNER AWARDS 2012
TORCH OF LIFE EVENT, ONTARIO, CANADA
This is the Conversations Archive section which holds an archive of past Yoni Jesner Conversations which have taken place.
Full details of what the 'Yoni Jesner Conversations' aims to provide can be found by in the Conversations section.
The 'Yoni Jesner Conversations' is a partnership between the Yoni Jesner Foundation and the London School of Jewish Studies.
Francesca
The Yoni Jesner Award Scheme wasn’t just something we did to get a certificate at the end, it’s something we did because we wanted to help make a difference. Our school motto, is from Pirkei Avot and teaches us; im ayn ani li mi li, if I am not for myself, who will be for me? Oochsheani la’atzmi mah ani, if I am only for myself, what am I? im loh achshav aymatai, If not now, then when? We all say sometimes we will do this, and we will do that, but often we never get round to doing anything. The Yoni Jesner Scheme gave us the encouragement to get up, go out and use our time for others and not just ourselves. It’s easy to be self-centred and only think about our own needs, but it’s so important to realise the needs of others and the potential we all
have to do something positive.
Cassandra
For my Yoni Jesner volunteering I chose a number of different projects. Firstly, I helped out at my shul – Ilford Federation Synagogue. I helped with JAC’s, Bridge club and making the Kiddush in shul. I really enjoyed being part of my community because I got to know the people who are there a lot better. I also enjoyed helping at the Big Bagel brunch event for year 7’s in our school. We raised around £500 for World Jewish Relief and a lot of hard work went into making the event successful. Lastly, I volunteered at my baby cousins play group because I really like helping the young children. I enjoyed the whole experience of doing the Yoni Jesner award.
Megan
Tali, Naomi, Fran and I decided to bake cakes and sell them for charity. We did this over the course of two weeks and gave all our profits to World Jewish Relief. It felt really good doing this because I knew it was for charity and although it is very hectic trying to make 50 cupcakes in the space of half an hour, it was very fun. Secondly I helped out at the farm in Cornwall, I visit every year. Every morning I woke up at six o’clock and was out in the stables by six thirty. The first hour or so was very hectic but I knew it was worth it because in Judaism, we are taught that caring for animals is very important and often by being kind and sensitive to animals we learn to be kind and sensitive to other people. I feel I learnt a lot from both these experiences from the feeling you get when you know you’re doing something kind to how to tack up a pony properly.
Jordan
I volunteered at Chigwell and Hainault nursery and I learnt many new things such as how good it is to volunteer and help in the community. I enjoyed helping out because it was fun to read with the children as well as building things with them. It was good to help out and do something good for a change, I never really did any voluntary work before but I now know I want to do more.
Naomi + Tali
Tali and I chose two very different volunteering experiences. The first was at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre, where we socialised with the elderly members of the day centre.
We really enjoyed volunteering at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre as it was a good and new experience that we’d never tried before. I think that the members liked it as well because we were new faces who they could talk to and share their experiences of when they were our age.
The art room was where we enjoyed our time the most whether it was sorting out the equipment, talking to the talented artists or re-decorating the room.
The other thing we did was baking cupcakes then selling them to children at a local primary school. All money we raised went to our chosen charity which was World Jewish Relief we did this with Fran and Megan.
The cupcakes were really fun and messy to make. It was really cute to see the children asking their mums for money.
The members of the public were equally generous in helping us sell out. All in all we really loved participating in this experience and we would encourage anyone who has the chance to go for it and make a difference.
Yoni Jesner Conversations 2003
The first of the Yoni Jesner Conversations was held in November 2003. Joshua Rozenberg chaired the conversation between the Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks, patron of the Foundation, and Natan Sharansky MK, in the presence of the Israeli ambassador, His Excellency Dr Zvi Shtauber. The conversation attracted some 700 people and was a most memorable evening.