And to mark occasion, world president Helena Glaser travelled from Israel to speak in the organisation's birthplace.

Three hundred delegates from across the country enjoyed the celebrations at South Manchester Synagogue, Bowdon, on Wednesday.

Mrs Glaser, the fifth world president of WIZO, heads 52 federations worldwide. She is responsible for 250,000 members. The latest federation, Slovenia, joined only three weeks ago.

She said: "The international WIZO family keeps on enlarging. Rebecca Sieff, the first world president of WIZO, was a feminist who believed in a cause.

"She paved the way for the first women's conference in Israel. I think she would have been proud of all of you and what you have achieved."

WIZO was prescient when it set up the Margaret Thatcher Day Centre in Sderot 20 years ago. Illustrating the reality of life in Sderot today, she said: "Women have to take a shower fast, as a Kassam missile can land at any time with only 15 seconds warning!"

She spoke of the child who needed to have a leg amputated after being hit by a missile while buying his mother a present. She revealed: "Nobody does a simcha in Sderot. Families from outside are too frightened to attend. This is not a life but people from other nations take it lightly."

She said Israelis were travelling to Sderot today to shop to support the local economy. Although Hamas had recently brokered a truce she observed that some Kassam rockets were still being fired at Sderot.

Mrs Glaser bemoaned the fact that Israel was condemned for ten human rights violations by the Human Rights Convention in Geneva. She had hoped that when the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour visited Sderot she would have spoken passionately about life in the stricken town.

Whilst the former Canadian judge visited the Margaret Thatcher Day Centre in Sderot the 'Red Colour' missile alert sirens rang out.

She witnessed the pathetic sight of toddlers standing with their hands on their heads to protect them from Kassams. She saw a nursery nurse drape herself over the three babies in her care to protect them.

After sharing a life-threatening experience with the residents of Sderot Louise Arbour refused to speak to the world press, as Mrs Glaser had hoped.

But when she saw a Canadian TV crew she decided to speak to her own people. According to Glaser she merely said: "Human rights are being violated on both sides and the civil society has a lot more to do."

Although Rebecca Sieff Day was a happy one, Mrs Glaser spoke of the sombre mood in Israel that day after the remains of soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwater, captured by Hezbollah in the second Lebanon war, arrived home.

The guest speaker was introduced by secretary of wizo.uk Michele Pollock.

Speaking before her address Mrs Glaser told me: "The shortage of young women volunteers is not restricted to WIZO. It is a societal problem.

"In fact WIZO is doing quite well but we still want more new members. Once you get the WIZO bug you are devoted."

Mrs Glaser emigrated to Israel from the US 34 years ago. She said: "I had enough of talk and wanted to do something for the country."

She spoke of "growing with the movement" and achieving things she never would otherwise have done. Being president of WIZO is a voluntary, elected post.

She admits: "I would have been a good businesswoman and made a lot of money. But as my husband says you cannot eat more than three meals a day. As long as you are doing something meaningful it is a blessing. I am in a position to change things."

Chairman of Manchester WIZO Margaret Fink welcomed delegates from Manchester, London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Belfast, Jersey, Bradford, Leeds, Southport and Edinburgh.

She spoke of the 100 projects in Israel supported by WIZO UK. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert sent a video message saying: "WIZO always rises to the challenge."

President of wizo.uk Ruth Sotnick presented the London Rebecca Sieff Award to Naomi Cohen. Another president Gina Monty presented the Regional Rebecca Sieff Award to Alma Morris of Southport WIZO.

Like Rebecca Sieff, Alma attended Manchester High School. She moved from Manchester 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. The Lily Sieff Award for outstanding dedication to WIZO was presented to treasurer Sue Ronson by Myrna Young, vice-president wizo.uk. Mrs Ronson said: "WIZO has given me so much more than I have given."

Chairman of wizo.uk Loraine Warren presented vice-chairman Jill Shaw with the WIZO Woman of Valour pin.

Mrs Warren praised WIZO for rising to the challenge of raising an extra £1million for Israel this year.

To illustrate the scope of WIZO work in Israel she spoke of the progress made by hyperactive school drop-out Kenny in the Helena Kagan Centre.

Thanks to rehabilitation and vocational training, the 17-year- old now has a career in photography. She also alluded to the therapy given to the mother and baby who suffered severe shrapnel injuries in Sderot.

Entertainment was provided by The Sparklers and excerpts from the Merry Wives of WIZO were also performed.