120 over 80: Our oldest and wisest

Jewish Information’ Forty Underneath 40 and Eighteen Underneath 18 lists have a good time these set to form the longer term, however what about those that’ve influenced our group’s current and previous?

In partnership with Jewish Care, we profile 120 people aged 80 and over whose achievements have impressed us for many years.

Why 120? Effectively, to paraphrase the well-known Jewish blessing:

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“Might these in our countdown stay till 120.”

 

Sir Harry Solomon, 83  

Dedicated philanthropist Sir Harry Solomon is a longstanding mensch in the neighborhood. The co-founder of one in every of Britain’s largest meals companies, Hillsdown Holdings, the 83-year-old has for many years served Jewish causes with distinction.

A key determine in Jewish Continuity, he latterly helped arrange the UJIA and presently serves as vice chairman of the Portland Belief, selling peace, stability and financial co-operation between Israelis and Palestinians.

In 2014, the Western Galilee School in Akko named its new enterprise college after him, and the next yr he acquired the Lifetime Achievement Award on the British Israeli Enterprise Awards in recognition of his intensive philanthropic efforts throughout schooling and coexistence initiatives.

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Pleasure Wolfe, 82 

With a lifetime of service to the Jewish and lay group, Pleasure Wolfe is definitely a legendary chief. An unwavering Zionist, the 82-year-old is president of StandWithUs UK and honorary life president of Manchester Zionist Central Council.

Following a distinguished profession as a Justice of the Peace specialising in household legislation and probation, she additionally served as a neighborhood councillor in Maidstone and co-founded the Stockport A number of Sclerosis Society.

Pleasure’s many accolades embody receiving an MBE for companies to the Larger Manchester group in 2009, and being awarded the Golden Golda Award from the World Zionist Organisation in 2019.

Judith Elkan, 90 

Judith Elkan is the founder and chair of Buddies of the Bereaved Households Discussion board (FBFF). The assist group affords ethical and monetary assist to the Bereaved Households Discussion board, comprising about 650 Israeli and Palestinian households who’ve misplaced family members through the decades-long battle and are looking for reconciliation over revenge.

Praised for “persisting with appeal and good manners”, since 2003 Judith has organised quite a few talking excursions, live shows and exhibitions throughout the UK for Israeli and Palestinian members of the Discussion board and fundraised extensively to assist the initiative. Underneath the 90-year-old’s stewardship, the organisation has additionally met with quite a few parliamentarians to unfold the message of peace.

Judith Usiskin, 86 

Because the co-founder and now honorary president of Jewish Girls’s Assist, Judith Usiskin has performed an integral function in supporting Jewish girls dealing with home abuse. For the previous 30 years, Judith has been a driving power in growing the charity, overcoming important resistance to the admission that home abuse existed in the neighborhood.

A social employee by career, it was whereas working for Jewish Care that the 86-year-old realised that many abused Jewish girls had nowhere to show for assist. Her contribution was recognised in 2004 with an MBE for companies to Jewish Girls’s Assist and to the Jewish group.

June Bradbury, 84 

Over the previous decade, June Bradbury has been a beacon of sunshine to the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) group. Praised as a “fixed ray of sunshine”, the 84-year-old just lately helped create a ‘Covid-19 Cellphone Tree’ to help weak members of the group.

June additionally co-founded the synagogue’s progressive Shelanu (Inclusive) companies, which celebrates Shabbat by means of music, multisensory experiences, and prayer. She was additionally concerned in organising the primary ever women-led service at ELELS in 2018. Attended by greater than 50 individuals, it was devoted to late group stalwart Betty Benscher and celebrated different pioneering girls to mark the a centesimal anniversary of ladies’s suffrage.

Kitty Hart-Moxon, 93 

One of many first British survivors to share her testimony, Kitty Hart-Moxon is a pioneer in Holocaust schooling. Polish-born, Kitty and her mom survived the IG Farben industrial concern in Bitterfeld, earlier than being forcibly transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau and latterly onto a demise march into Czechoslovakia.

Her memoir, I Am Alive, was revealed in 1961, at a time when few survivors spoke publicly, and within the Nineteen Eighties she returned to Auschwitz along with her son as a part of a BBC documentary. The 93-year-old is an honorary patron for the Holocaust Academic Belief and helped form its  groundbreaking ‘Classes from Auschwitz’ undertaking. Kitty was awarded an OBE in 2003 for companies to Holocaust schooling.

Leonard Tabiz, 94 

Leonard Tabiz has been an “terribly dedicated and dependable” volunteer serving the group. A social employee by coaching, Len rose to develop into assistant director of social work for Croydon Council.

Since retiring, the 94-year-old has labored with the social companies group at Jewish Care and, for the previous decade, as an everyday volunteer on the Nightingale Home care house in Wandsworth.

Together with his empathetic character, spectacular tutorial data and wealth of life expertise, Len commonly supplies delicate assist for the Males’s Group and the Holocaust Survivors’ group.

Leslie Kleinman, 91 

Leslie Kleinman has moved 1000’s of individuals along with his Holocaust testimony.

Born in Romania, as an adolescent he survived, amongst others, Auschwitz and Flossenbürg focus camps, in addition to two demise marches, earlier than being liberated by American troops.

Working with JRoots and the Holocaust Academic Belief, the 91-year-old now dedicates his time to educating college students and enabling them to see historical past first-hand by displaying the tattoo on his arm from Auschwitz.

In 2018, he accompanied a number of grandchildren of Holocaust survivors on a go to to Poland, sharing his testimony with them over two days. Leslie was awarded a BEM in 2017 for companies to Holocaust schooling.

Lord Leslie Turnberg, 86 

Lord Turnberg is a pre-eminent British doctor and excellent advocate for communal causes. The 86-year-old was professor of medication and a medical college dean on the College of Manchester (1973-1997) and served as president of the Royal School of Physicians (1992–1997). He made important contributions to gastroenterology and tutorial medication and was prescient in selling public well being. Raised to peerage in 2000, Leslie speaks commonly on well being coverage points and the Center East, co-chairs the All-Occasion Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group and took a agency stand towards antisemitism. His modesty, humility and dignity confronting tragic adversity are an instance to all.

Lily Ebert, 97 

Praised as a “stalwart of Holocaust schooling”, Lily has shared her testimony with prime ministers, chancellors and London mayors to impress upon them the significance of teaching the following era. Simply 14 when she was deported to Auschwitz, she later survived slave labour in an ammunition manufacturing unit close to Leipzig.

All the time open to progressive methods of sharing her testimony, in 2018 she sat all day in Liverpool Avenue Station sharing her story with commuters through the HET’s #HearMyStory marketing campaign. All through the Covid-19 lockdown, the 97-year-old has embraced digital applied sciences to attach with individuals internationally. Lily was awarded a BEM in 2016 for contributions to Holocaust schooling.

Louis Rapaport, 87 

Louis Rapaport has been a longstanding chief in Manchester’s Jewish group. An lively member for greater than 60 years, he served as president of the Jewish Consultant Council of Larger Manchester from 2004 to 2007, tackling difficult points together with assaults on Jewish gravestones at Rainsough Jewish cemetery.

Louis has served on the Board of Deputies since 1956 and is an govt member of Manchester Council for Group Relations. A veteran of the Korean Warfare, the 87-year-old additionally stays an lively member and supporter of AJEX. He’s described as “tireless, energetic and enthusiastic,” and acquired a Particular Recognition Award by the Manchester Consultant Council in 2019.

Mala Tribich, 90 

Mala Tribich’s large dedication to Holocaust schooling makes her a number one mild amongst survivors. Born in Poland, Mala survived the Piotrków ghetto, and subsequently Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen focus camps.

Pre-lockdown, the 90-year-old would spend a number of days every week travelling nationwide, notably to small cities who could by no means have heard a Holocaust survivor communicate earlier than.

In 2017, Mala shared her testimony as a part of the Holocaust Academic Belief’s webcast to greater than 500 colleges, reaching 40,000 college students within the largest single Holocaust remembrance occasion on this planet. Final yr, Mala spoke on the nationwide ceremony to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, alongside The Duke of Cambridge, and met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Malcolm Ozin, 86

Malcolm Ozin is president of Jewish Blind & Disabled (JBD), a charity offering safe houses to tons of of disabled Jews. Alongside the late Cecil Rosen, Malcolm established the charity in 1969, utilizing his enterprise acumen to develop a 20-apartment constructing in south London.

Greater than 50 years later, the charity supplies 317 purpose-built warden assisted flats throughout London, Essex and Hertfordshire and has helped 1000’s of individuals to stay independently. Malcolm was awarded an MBE in 2012 for his companies to charity. Highlighted for his “generosity and dedication to take care of all”, the 86-year-old was additionally a longstanding warden of Hendon Reform Synagogue.

Malvyn Benjamin, 84

Malvyn Benjamin’s substantial communal involvement spans greater than 60 years. He has been a Deputy representing Hendon United Synagogue on the Board of Deputies for a exceptional 64 years.

“Barely mollified from his former firebrand days”, the 84-year-old has been concerned in communal affairs since college, the place he chaired the Inter-College Jewish Federation (the precursor of UJS).

A former decide on the World Zionist Supreme Council, Malvyn additionally chaired the Zionist Federation’s Public Affairs Committee and served as vp of British Likud. A proud advocate for Israel, Malvyn regularly seems on tv, radio and in print, together with within the Each day Telegraph and The Instances newspapers.

Manfred Goldberg, 90

For a few years unable to recount his testimony, Manfred Goldberg has for the previous 15 years eloquently shared his testimony with 1000’s of individuals. German-born, Manfred survived the Riga Ghetto, Stutthof focus camp in Poland and a demise march earlier than liberation.

With a novel skill to “grip listeners from begin to end”, Manfred has addressed greater than 30 instructional institutions, quite a few main companies, together with HSBC and RBS, and even Metropolis Corridor. In 2017, he accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on an internationally reported go to to Stutthof, making certain thousands and thousands of viewers heard his story. The 90-year-old was just lately awarded a BEM for companies to Holocaust schooling.

Dr Martin Aaron, 83

Dr Martin Aaron is the co-founder and honorary life president of Jami, the Jewish psychological well being charity.

The 83-year-old has pushed all boundaries to boost consciousness of psychological well being for greater than 30 years, straight influencing authorities by commonly attending the All-Occasion Parliamentary Group for Psychological Well being.

Martin can also be the founder chair of the Nationwide Spirituality and Psychological Well being Discussion board, co-chaired the medical group of the Three Faiths Discussion board, and was an adviser to the Prince’s Belief for 11 years. A former visiting professor at Staffordshire College, he nonetheless reaches a rising tutorial community devoted to psychological well being campaigning.

Dr Martin Stern, 82

Dr Martin Stern has labored tirelessly to teach 1000’s of individuals throughout the nation in regards to the Holocaust. Born within the Netherlands in 1938, he survived Theresienstadt focus camp after being arrested by the Gestapo aged simply 5.

Upon arrival in Britain within the Nineteen Fifties, he educated efficiently as a physician and has devoted his retirement to sharing his testimony.

His distinctive strategy focuses on the psychology of genocide, developed in partnership with teachers at Leicester College. By no means one to decelerate, the 82-year-old has embraced new expertise, sharing his story by way of Zoom all through the pandemic, and was awarded an MBE in 2018.

Mervyn Kersh, 95

Warfare hero Mervyn Kersh has served his nation with distinction each throughout and since his lively service. A sergeant within the Royal Military Ordnance Corps, he landed on Gold Seashore throughout D-Day earlier than advancing by means of central Europe and arriving on the Bergen Belsen focus camp simply after liberation.

As president of each Barnet Normandy Veterans and Southgate and District AJEX, the 95-year-old has educated 1000’s of faculty kids about his highly effective private testimony. In 2015, Mervyn was introduced with the Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest distinction, and earlier this yr acquired a covetedPoints of Gentle Award from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Michael Bogod, 92

Michael Bogod’s exceptional contribution to the Reform motion spans greater than 70 years. The 92-year-old has sat on Cardiff Reform Synagogue’s council since 1950, first as a youth liaison officer and thereafter for almost 40 years as honorary treasurer.

Michael’s dedication to the nationwide Reform motion consists of serving as vice chair of the Reform Synagogues of Nice Britain (RSGB), the place he initiated the Reform Rabbinic Pay Scales, and established the Leo Baeck School.

Michael additionally oversaw the rebuild of Cardiff Reform Synagogue in 1949 and all subsequent main structural developments, together with the aptly named Bogod Corridor. He’s now the council’s first honorary life member.

Sir Michael Heller, 84

Sir Michael Heller is the chairman of property agency London & Related Properties and a extremely beneficiant philanthropist.

A dedicated Zionist, the 84-year-old has donated ambulances and cell intensive care items to Magen David Adom, is a patron of the Jewish Museum and helps the work of Jewish instructional community ORT.

Deeply passionate in regards to the arts, he additionally donates to the Royal Opera Home, the Nationwide Theatre and Hampstead Theatre. Michael previously served as deputy chairman of the Conservative Buddies of Israel and presently sits on the Board of the Centre for Coverage Research, a centre-right assume tank. Knighted in 2013 for charitable companies, he acquired an Algemeiner Honouree in 2019.

Lord Monroe Palmer, 81

For many years, Lord Palmer has passionately advocated for Israel and the Jewish group among the many highest echelons of energy.

A former Treasurer of the Liberal Occasion, the 81-year-old has served as Deputy Speaker within the Home of Lords since 2018 and Deputy Chairman of Committees since 2017.

Monroe is presently honorary president of the Liberal Democrat Buddies of Israel (LDFI), having served as honorary chairman for greater than 20 years, and advises the get together chief on the Center East.

A founding member of the All-Occasion Parliamentary Group on British Jews, the previous Barnet councillor can also be vp of the Jewish Management Council and sits on the Group Safety Belief’s advisory board. He was appointed an OBE within the 1982 New 12 months Honours.

Morella Kayman, 85

Morella Kayman is the co-founder and vp of the Alzheimer’s Society. Pissed off by the dearth of assist obtainable after her husband developed early onset dementia in his 40s, Morella established the Alzheimer’s Illness Society in 1979 alongside a fellow carer.

Later rebranded the Alzheimer’s Society, the charity now employs greater than 100 individuals, operates a £100 million price range and reaches 1000’s of individuals yearly.

Described as an “unimaginable girl who has triumphed within the face of adversity”, the 85-year-old additionally commonly fundraises for and helps Jewish Care. Morella was awarded an MBE in 2012 for companies to healthcare and gained Jewish Care’s Unsung Hero award in 2011.

Naomi Pope, 91

Naomi Pope, who sadly handed away since this listing was compiled, has a exceptional life story – taking her from the Warfare of Independence to turning into a profitable clothier in London.

Born in Burma however stranded in England in 1939, Naomi joined Habonim and, aged simply 17, travelled to France post-war to assist displaced individuals from liberated focus camps.

An avid Zionist, in 1947 she sailed on the ‘Exodus’ and helped discovered Kibbutz Kfar HaNassi in northern Israel. The 91-year-old subsequently joined the Machal unit, carrying ammunition in trenches close to the Syrian border through the Warfare of Independence. Naomi volunteered for a lot of Jewish charities.

Nathan (Natie) Kirsh, 89

Natie Kirsh is without doubt one of the group’s most beneficiant and humble philanthropists.

The 89-year-old spent a lifetime initiating and constructing companies, first milling in Eswatini (previously Swaziland), now in South Africa, UK, Australia and USA. He’s deeply dedicated to philanthropy, viewing this as his privilege in life and is guided by “Give a person a fish, feed him for a day; educate a person to fish, feed him for a lifetime”.

His international Basis funds start-up loans for companies and highschool laptop vocational coaching in Eswatini and Israel. His latest initiative supplies clear water and solar energy to thousands and thousands with Innovation Africa. Nearer to house, Natie has been extremely supportive of the UK Jewish group, particularly throughout Covid-19 with the Jewish Management Council’s emergency attraction. South Hampstead Synagogue, his group, acquired notable assist for his or her new website.

Nettie Keene, 86

Legendary volunteer and fundraiser Nettie Keene has selflessly devoted her time for almost half a century. The 86-year-old has volunteered at Redbridge Jewish Group Centre since 1972, the place she is a day centre co-ordinator and volunteer hairdresser.

Her private contact is “second to none” and Nettie nonetheless sits on the Sunday Socials Committee, makes soup for Women that Lunch and works within the Meals on Wheels workplace. Sadly, over a brief interval Nettie misplaced each her husband and son, Saul, who was aged simply 40.

Confronted with tragic circumstances, she has channelled her ache into forming a fundraising group, which has raised greater than £50,000 for Saint Francis Hospice and Redbridge Jewish Group Centre.

Neville Sassienie, 89

Neville Sassienie is a passionate environmentalist and stalwart of the Reform motion. Praised as a “prophetic voice of environmentalism”, the 89-year-old has efficiently pushed the environmental agenda amongst communal leaders for many years.

The previous chair of The Motion for Reform Judaism, Neville was extremely lively within the Board of Deputies’ Social Motion Group, which targeted on environmental points.

He was additionally instrumental in establishing each Religion for the Local weather, an area for religion communities engaged on local weather change, and Eco Synagogue, which promotes environmental sustainability and engagement throughout the Jewish group. An accountant by commerce, Neville additionally helped discovered Finchley Reform Synagogue in 1974.

Norman Rosenbaum, 86

Norman Rosenbaum is a tireless fundraiser for Magen David Adom (MDA). An “unimaginable inspiration” to his 10 grandchildren, the 86-year-old has secured 12 ambulances to assist Israel’s nationwide emergency service.

Due to his efforts, MDA has responded to a further 70,000 calls utilizing automobiles donated by the retired surgeon and his group at Cockfosters and N Southgate Synagogue.

Just lately, he acquired the inaugural Humanitarian of the 12 months Award from MDA, and acquired a Factors of Gentle Award from Theresa Might in 2018.

Norman is presently fundraising for his thirteenth ambulance: his ‘barmitzvah ambulance’!

Dr Peter Kurer, 89

Dr Peter Kurer has campaigned tirelessly to safe recognition for Quakers who saved Jews from the Holocaust. Peter’s household had been dropped at Manchester in 1938 by way of a mass rescue operation of seven,000 Jews from Germany and Austria, funded by the British Quakers motion.

For eight years, he labored with historians to collate survivors’ anecdotes on the topic, lastly securing recognition from Yad Vashem in 2010.

A pioneering determine in dentistry, the 89-year-old additionally spent greater than a decade in Jerusalem volunteering at a dental clinic for underprivileged kids.

Moreover, Peter chaired the charity liable for the Morris Feinmann Dwelling for the aged, and was awarded a BEM final yr for companies to Holocaust Schooling.

Peter Levy, 81

Peter Levy performed an integral function in remodeling the standing of Reform Judaism. The “strategic funder” behind the Reform Motion’s Sternberg Centre, the 81-year-old labored tirelessly to create extra Jewish instructional establishments, together with Akiva Faculty and most just lately Shofar Daycare Nursery.

Peter additionally served as chairman of the Jewish Chronicle for 5 years, and till just lately as honorary vp of the Institute for Jewish Coverage Analysis, having previously chaired the analysis physique. A previous chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Belief and vp of London Youth, Peter was awarded an OBE in 1991 in recognition of companies to charity. Sadly, Peter handed away after this listing was chosen.

Stephen Rubin, 82

Stephen Rubin is a businessman and main Jewish philanthropist. As chairman of the Pentland Group, which owns manufacturers together with Speedo and Berghaus, the 82-year has led trade efforts to get rid of little one exploitation and sort out local weather change.

Via the Rubin Household Charitable Belief, Stephen has donated giant sums to put and Jewish causes, together with Crimestoppers, artsdepot in North Finchley, and varied sporting initiatives in Israel. He’s additionally president of the Holocaust Academic Belief and vp of the Council of Christians and Jews. In 2002, Stephen was named an OBE for companies to enterprise and human rights, and was inducted into the Worldwide Jewish Sports activities Corridor of Fame six years later.

Renee Salt, 91

Renee Salt has overcome unimaginable heartache to teach 1000’s of individuals nationwide along with her Holocaust testimony. Polish-born Renee survived appalling circumstances within the Zduńska Wola ghetto earlier than being transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and latterly Bergen-Belsen.

For many years unable to relive her experiences, she ultimately labored with the BBC on the documentary, Grandchild of the Holocaust, about herself and her grandson.

The 91-year-old just lately featured within the Nationwide Holocaust Museum’s ‘The Ceaselessly Challenge’,  and the Holocaust Academic Belief’s ‘Belsen75’ initiative. Final yr, she returned to Auschwitz-Birkenau to mark the seventy fifth anniversary of liberation. In 2016, she was awarded a BEM for companies to Holocaust survivors, schooling and consciousness.

 

Our panel of judges

Baroness Ros Altmann CBE, Former UK Minister of State for Pensions.  Rabbi Charley Baginsky,  Interim Director,  Liberal Judaism. Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO Jewish Care,  Justin Cohen, Information Editor, Jewish Information. Russell Conn, President, Jewish Consultant Council of Larger Manchester & Area. Sarah David, Director, Yoni Jesner Basis. Adam Dawson, Chair JAMI. Yocheved Eiger, CEO, Bikur Cholim (the Charedi group’s main psychological well being charity). Dame Louise Ellman. David Ereira, Life President, Norwood & Vice President of S&P Sephardi Group. Ellisa Estrin, Director of Advertising and marketing, Communications & Buyer Engagement, Jewish Care. Shirley Fenster, Instant Previous Co-Chair, Masorti Judaism. Richard Ferrer, Editor, Jewish Information. Andrew Gilbert, Chair, 120 Over 80 panel. Nicky Goldman, Chief Government, JVN (Jewish Volunteering Community). Michael Goldstein, President, United Synagogue. Professor Martin Inexperienced OBE, Chief Government, Care England. Henry Grunwald OBE QC,  President, World Jewish Reduction. Gayle Klein, Trustee, Jewish Care. Helen Lewis, Vice Chair, Leeds Jewish Welfare Board.  Rabbi Mark Goldsmith, Senior Rabbi, Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue. Neil Martin OBE, Chief Government, JLGB. Tracy Ann Oberman, Actress and author. Rachel Riley,  TV presenter. Helen Simmons, CEO Nightingale Hammerson.