But she also admitted that she had blocked previous attempts to establish the international women's organisation in the country because they had not been "professional".

She said at Liverpool Reform Synagogue: "I insisted that it be done professionally or not at all. Others tried it for three months but it did not work.

"My dream is to start WIZO in Russia. Negotiations are now taking place.

"Aliyah from Russia is not what it used to be. Those who remain want a connection with an Israel women's organisation."

She revealed that WIZO was the only organisation working with the isolated Jewish community of India.

She said: "They want an international connection. We are also starting in Slovenia."

Mrs Glaser told guests about WIZO's work in Israel, particularly with children at risk.

She said: "There are 350,000 children at risk. All our 170 day care centres cater for these children Some of them are from second or third generation problem families.

"Years ago the day centres were more like baby-sitting. Today we provide the tools for later life with early education."

She revealed that after 1pm the kindergartens were used as therapeutic centres where parents gained parenting skills from social workers and psychologists.

The children at risk were also encouraged to help others by assisting handicapped children.

Integration was also important, she said, in order to remove the stigma of handicap.

Second generation Holocaust survivor, Romanian-born Mrs Glaser revealed how she often felt like a "mother" to children who had grown up in WIZO youth villages and schools and had lost contact with their own parents.

She said: "I hope I will continue to touch lives."

She also outlined WIZO's work in the international arena in combating antisemitism and fighting for women's rights.

As a result of their fight for female equality, she said that 90 per cent of Israeli army positions were now open to women.

But she said: "We are bearing a heavy price for that equality. One of our girls was shot down in the Lebanon war."

WIZO, she said, had adopted young women fighters and provided them in courses in communal leadership.

The event, with opener Maureen Beilin, was chaired jointly by Marlene Dover and Barbara Levin.

Liverpool Daughters of Zion holds a 60th anniversary coffee morning with Israelis Tirza Geva and Penina Silverstone on August 27 (11am) at the home of Sonia Strong, 27 Menlove Mansions, Menlove Gardens West.

At a dinner in Manchester the following day, Alma Morris of Southport WIZO received the Regional Rebecca Sieff Award to Alma Morris of Southport Wizo.

Like Rebecca Sieff, Alma attended Manchester High School.

She moved to Southport in 1948 and joined Southport Young Women's Zionists in 1956. She spent two years as co-chairman of her group and has been its chairman for the past 35 years.