The importance of ORT’s activities to Jewish communities around the world is as pressing as ever and there is no better illustration than Kazan, Russia, the focus of British ORT’s Gala Dinner celebrating 120 years of ORT, held at the Savoy Hotel in London on September 12. The dinner hosted by Sir Maurice and Lady Hatter and chaired by Suzanne Davis and Mark Mishon raised more than 250,000 for the technology centre to be officially inaugurated in May of 2001. The 7,000 strong Jewish Community in Kazan want to provide the best possible start in life for their children and their ability to do so has received a substantial boost thanks to British ORT and the new ORT technology centre, said Mr Jon Benjamin, chief executive of British ORT. ‘There is much about communal life and the opportunities open to our children in this country that we take for granted,’ he commented. ‘I have visited Kazan and have seen the commitment of the community there to education and their heritage, against significant odds.’