A letter, sent by Sir Winston Churchill on the occasion of the opening of the Churchill auditorium on the Technion campus in 1958, has inspired the British Technion Society, together with the Churchill family, to launch a £1.5 million renovation campaign for the auditorium. The President of the Technion will fly to the UK on September 6th to launch the campaign, together with the Churchill family, at a reception hosted by the Israeli ambassador, His Excellency Zvi Heifetz.
At the reception, supporters of the Technion Institute will convene to hear about the Technion’s long-standing relationship with the Churchill family, and the letter the former Prime Minister wrote to the Technion in 1958, where he spoke of his admiration for the maturing of the State of Israel and the importance of developing the nation’s technical expertise.
Over the last 50 years, the Churchill Auditorium, named in Sir Winston Churchill’s honour, has become the central focus for campus life. It serves as the main lecture hall for activities ranging from international conferences, visiting foreign heads of state, exhibitions and high profile academic ceremonies. Now, after years of heavy use the auditorium requires serious renovation, the majority of which will be carried out to the ceiling, lighting, stage and seating area.
The fundraising campaign continues a historic connection between the Technion and the Churchill name. This has included the establishment of the Sir Winston Churchill Award in 1986 which is conferred upon a person who has shown a sustained commitment to securing Israel’s future, and the creation of The Churchill Family Chair for Education in Science and Technology, which provides vital funds to the Technion. Sir Winston Churchill’s grandson, Mr. Winston S. Churchill, has served as Vice-President of the British Technon Society since 1976.
The fundraising initiative will include a letter writing campaign, followed by the Winston Churchill award dinner in 2008, where a high-profile individual will receive the coveted Churchill award. Previous recipients have included King Hussein of Jordan and President Gorbachev.
Yitzchak Apeloig, President of the Technion University said: “The long tradition of the British Technion Society's role as the custodian of the wonderful Churchill Auditorium cements the historic connection of the Technion with the illustrious Churchill name. The building is a tribute and fitting monument to Sir Winston Churchill who appreciated the pivotal role of the Technion in building the State of Israel.
“The British Technion Society has justifiably taken pride over the decades in its vital contribution to this important campus edifice which has assumed such a key role in the life of the Technion. It stands as an outstanding achievement and a monument to the dedication of the British Technion Society through the years."
Lois Peltz, co-chair of BTS commented: “We are grateful to the Churchill family for their continued support in this fundraising campaign as well as for their work over the years. It was the British Technion Society, together with the British Jewish community, who funded the original construction of the Auditorium, and I am delighted that it will again be the British community who will ensure that the Auditorium remains the central point for student activity on the Technion campus.”
Mr. Winston S. Churchill, Honorary Vice-President of BTS, commented: “Winston Churchill, one of the key supporters of the Balfour Declaration, counted himself a Zionist and was throughout his life a staunch friend of the Jewish people. An admirer of Technion and of the fledgling State of Israel, he readily consented to Technion's main auditorium being named after him.
“Today, half a century on, the Auditorium is in need of major refurbishment and upgrading. As one who, for more than 30 years, has been one of its Vice-Presidents, I am delighted that the British Technion Society is taking on the challenge of raising the necessary funds to complete this work.”
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