The Jewish Chronicle
Obituary: Jack Michaels
Born London, July 21, 1916. Died London, February 19, 2009, aged 92.
April 7, 2009 10:20
Born London, July 21, 1916. Died London, February 19, 2009, aged 92.
April 7, 2009 10:20A devoted member of the East London Synagogue in Stepney, Jack Michaels was thrilled to receive the accolade of becoming the shul’s first life president.
The fourth of five children of Michael and Celia, immigrants from the outskirts of the Latvian capital, Riga, a century ago, Jack was a bright pupil but had to leave the Jews’ Free School at 14 to learn a trade.
He became a barber, serving as a fire watcher in the Second World War. He made a career switch in his 60s, to become a market researcher in the construction industry. He eventually retired at 74.
Like so many of his contemporaries, he was never able to fulfil his potential in the workplace. But that never affected his approach to his work, which was always to give of his best. He took a pride in whatever he did.
However, it was in community work that he excelled. He was a member of the synagogue board of management for decades before serving as warden from 1975-87, when he was appointed life president.
He represented East London on the United Synagogue council and Board of Deputies for many years.
A mainstay of shul life, he would give out mitzvot on Shabbat, help members in the office on Sunday mornings, climb ladders to put up Succah decorations, pack Pesach parcels, chair board meetings, organise fundraising events, attend funerals and shivas, and make impromptu speeches whenever the occasion demanded.
Inspired by his love and compassion for Judaism and his fellow-Jews, his skills and talents were always at the service of his synagogue.
He relinquished his position in 1993 when services at the building in Rectory Square finally came to an end. They had continued in the adjacent communal hall after the historic synagogue was sold in 1988 and became a listed building.
With the congregation merged into Hackney Synagogue and his own move to Ilford, Essex, Jack felt it inappropriate to remain life president when he could no longer contribute as fully as he wished.
He was delighted when his grandson, Marc Michaels, a scribe in the Reform movement, dedicated his book, The East London Synagogue: Outpost of Another World (Kulmus Publishing, 2008), to his wife and him.
He is survived by his wife, Yetta, whom he married in 1940; son, Maurice, rabbi of South West Essex Reform Synagogue; daughter, Hazel; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.