Rabbi Lionel Blue, famous nationally for more than 30 years for his gently iconoclastic contributions to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, has remembered the Bereaved Families Forum in his will.

On the day of a special memorial service to celebrate his life and achievements, it was announced that Lionel Blue left a legacy of £450,000 to the Bereaved Families Forum to expand its courageous and ground-breaking work. Part of the bequest will be used to set up the Lionel Blue Youth Peace Award, which will be awarded for the first time this year to a young Palestinian and a young Israeli, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to peace.

Rabbi Blue, who died in December 2016 aged 86, was a Patron of the Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum.

Mazen Faraj, Co-Director of the Bereaved Families Forum, said: ‘This is amazing news. We have demonstrated that creating dialogue between small groups from the two communities is the best way to replace fear and suspicion with trust and understanding. Thanks to Rabbi Blue’s generosity we will be able to devote more resources to our work of building bridges between Palestinians and Israelis.’

Chani Smith, Hon. Secretary of the FBFF in the UK, said: ‘Lionel Blue spent his life breaking down barriers and promoting dialogue so it’s wonderful that he will be remembered in years to come for his contribution to stopping the shedding of innocent blood in Israel and Palestine.’

You too can support the work of the Bereaved Families Forum by leaving a bequest in your will: find more details here