Obituary: Michael Burman former chair of Masorti Judaism

The former chair of Masorti Judaism, Michael Burman, who has died aged 81, was a man who spread his intellectual net widely across the progressive Jewish community and beyond, to incorporate the secular environment, too. He served for two years from 2006 as chair of the movement in its earlier incarnation as the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues (AMS). To this role Burman brought his extensive knowledge as an experienced educator.

Armed with a master’s degree in Jewish history and culture, he assumed numerous roles within the community particularly in education and other intercommunal activities. He was a trustee of Lauderdale House and Akiva School. He was also the director of administration at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, St John’s Wood (LJS) until 2011.

Masorti Judaism paid the following tribute: “We are particularly grateful to Michael for serving as chair of Masorti Judaism (then AMS) for two years, until July, 2008. During a pivotal period in our movement’s history, he provided wise, steady leadership, making many important decisions, including recruiting Jeremy Kelly as treasurer, who later succeeded him as chair.’’

Jeremy Kelly remembers Burman as “a lovely man, fellow philatelist and a community professional over many years. He was active in the early years of Masorti and was a mensch to go with it.”

Ivor Jacobs, son of the late Rabbi Louis Jacobs – the founder of the New London Synagogue, the original hub of British Masorti Judaism – extolled Burman as a “wonderful man... a family man but not just to his family but to all his friends. Michael was a great all-rounder and so able to fit in with so many bringing warmth, humour and wisdom with both his outlook on Judaism and on leadership.

“Michael’s leadership came at a formative moment in our history. In July 2006, the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues was incorporated as a registered company, and six months later became a registered charity. In the very first report submitted to the Charity Commission, the chair is listed as Michael Burman.

“Much has changed since those early days, but the Assembly’s stated purpose then, ‘to promote the practice and teaching of non-fundamentalist traditional Judaism’, remains constant, as does our gratitude for the selfless dedication of those who step forward to lead our communities.

“We wish Michael’s family strength and comfort. We remember him with appreciation and gratitude for his significant contribution to Masorti Judaism.”

Supporters of Masorti Judaism are attracted to its dynamic and thoughtful approach to Jewish tradition – deeply rooted in heritage but open to modern scholarship. It balances traditional Jewish teachings against what some might regard as the more radical approach of the now unified Reform and Liberal movements.

Launched in 19th century Germany in response to the radical shifts of Reform, Conservative Judaism, as it was called, found a welcome home in the United States, where it became the largest Jewish denomination in the country by the mid-century.

Michael Burman’s death has come at another pivotal moment for Masorti Judaism UK. After 40 years at the helm, the rabbi of its largest synagogue, New North London, the deeply admired and magnetic Jonathan Wittenberg, who held fast to the values of Rabbi Louis Jacobs’s original teachings, has retired from the pulpit but remains as the movement’s senior rabbi.

The tenets of Masorti Judaism stem from Jacobs’s controversial 1957 book, We Have Reason to Believe, that Jewish texts should be open to modern scholarly analysis and that revelation is an ongoing process. This view was rejected by the Orthodox establishment, which blocked Jacobs from resuming his teaching post at Jews’ College and removed him from his pulpit at New West End Synagogue.

What drew Michael Burman to Masorti Judaism, even to the extent of being personally involved with its conversions? His daughter, Tamar Burman explains: “He was always affiliated to Masorti, even when working for the Liberal Jewish Synagogue. He admired those who chose to convert to Masorti and worked with them. He also wanted to support diversity and integration.”

He became a member of the AMS, later an executive member of Masorti Europe and became involved in interfaith work in St Johns Wood. He was an educational adviser to Masorti, a trustee and committee member.

Tamar’s sister, Rebecca Summer, observed during his shivah: “If you asked my father what his greatest achievement was over the years – what he was most proud of, bearing in mind the long list of schools,communities and charities that he had been involved with, without hesitation, he would have said: his family.”

Tamar said: “He was not a quiet man. He was known for his smile, his humour and his full character; however it was the quiet ways that he helped others – his family and beyond, which had the biggest impact. In his last days of lucidity in hospital, he asked about every one of his children and grandchildren – as a family we have stood strong, hearing of how he helped other people, sometimes hearing particular examples for the first time.”

His interests extended to lecturing at London’s U3A and volunteering at Barnet to take on the role of an appropriate adult to accompany people being interviewed at police stations. He wrote a book (yet to be published) about provincial Jewry in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Michael Burman was born in Birkdale, Southport, the son of Winnie and Leonard Burman. He was educated at the College of St Mark and St John in Chelsea from 1963 to 1966, before gaining a teacher’s certificate with geography at advanced level with merit from Birkbeck College, University of London.

In 1966 he was elected fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, of which he would eventually become its youngest lifetime fellow. He taught geography at JFS until 1970, when he was appointed head of the geography department at Tollington Park School in north London.

He became deputy head teacher of Whitemore High School in Harrow, Middlesex from 1979 to 1995, responsible for staffing, designing the timetable and day-to-day management of the school site, including maintenance and development and media resources.

In 1992 he gained a certificate in counselling and attitudes, at the now defunct Westminster Pastoral Foundation, which focused on supporting young lives. The following year he qualified as a member of Ofsted’s secondary school inspection team.

He joined the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues in London as administrative assistant in 1995.

In 2007, while he was lay head of Masorti, he was appointed director of administration at LJS, which involved working with a large number of volunteers and their associated activities, as well as with media and politicians.

After retiring in 2011, he did a masters in Jewish history at Southampton University at JW3. In 2012 he took a Hebrew University Melton Institute course at the London Jewish Cultural Centre. His interests included theatre, travel, philately and theatre.

Burman lectured at educational and community faith schools conferences and led groups of sixth formers to Israel. He also supervised children who participated in the Jewish Children’s Holiday Fund.

He had been a committee member of his Community Relations Council, and of his local Council of Christians and Jews as well as a Board of Deputies representative.

He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 57 years, their children, Joel and Tamar Burman and Rebecca Summer.

Michael Burman: born September 20, 1944. Died December 10, 2025

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