Michael Wegier

Apply for a Blog

May 31, 2019, 5:05 PM

I am a Zachor Jew – How about you?

"שמור וזכור בדיבור אחד" (Observe and Remember in one Commandment). From the ‘Lecha Dodi’ sung at Friday night services in many communities.) A significant (for me) encounter with Israeli headteachers - Shortly before Pesach 2019, I was invited to speak to...

Jan 10, 2019, 12:00 PM

Brian Kerner – The great achiever

Brian Kerner at the UJIA Annual Dinner 2013. Credit: Blake Ezra Photography

Brian Kerner should best be remembered as one of British Jewry’s outstanding leaders, able to use his unique personality to achieve great things for Israel and the community. As chairman of JIA/UJIA (1994-8) he brought together the JIA and Jewish...

Feb 14, 2017, 7:05 PM

Putting the fizz into Jewish-Arab co-existence

Last week I joined 25 rabbis, professionals and funders from our community on a trip to Israel with the Task Force on Issues relating to Arab Citizens of Israel. They spent four days in the Negev exploring the lives...

May 12, 2016, 4:15 PM

UK Jews must reclaim Israel identity

These have been turbulent weeks for the Zionist and Israel engaged community in the UK. Whatever our political views, a large majority of British Jews feel connected to Israel, often very deeply. We express this through our blood ties...

Jan 18, 2016, 3:59 PM

Israel’s Arabs need this investment

Israel’s Declaration of Independence is so many things: a snapshot of a unique moment in the Jewish story, a blueprint for the collective Jewish future, a dream and a reality in equal measure, but it’s also definitely something we...

Nov 10, 2014, 6:42 PM

Education – A matter of national security

It’s not news that there are dreadful gaps in education, employment and income in Israel, in comparison with other OECD countries. But the commonly held view that this is due to the low levels reached in these areas among...

Sep 2, 2014, 12:38 PM

UK Jewish youth made their mark this summer

As this long summer draws to a close, we are still unable to comfortably talk about Operation Protective Edge in the past tense. We weep for the terrible loss of life on both sides even as we stand solidly...

Load more

About Me

Michael grew up in London and has lived and worked in Israel, the USA and the UK. His served as Chief Executive of the UJIA (UK) until 2019. Previous roles include Executive Director of Melitz in Jerusalem and Director of Jewish Education at the Baltimore JCCs. Michael is a graduate of the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows programme, where his research focused on public policy. He holds a Masters degree in Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Michael is now a Consultant specialising in Fundraising, Strategic Planning and Education.