Rabbi Michael Plaskow LTSC ALCM MBE z”l
Chatan Bereshit

Some thoughts by Dr Mervyn Leviton:

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It is impossible to write briefly about the life of the Rabbi Michael Plaskow MBE. He is certainly no stranger to public and communal life.  If I were to include every facet of his interesting and fascinating life story, it would probably need all the pages of this magazine.  Just switch on your computer, go to Google and insert his name and you’ll see what I mean.

But before I write about Michael’s role and contribution to the Young Israel Synagogue of North Netanya, here are just a few details of his earlier life. He was born in Tel Aviv on 8th July 1936 to British born parents Solomon and Bella who made aliya in the early thirties and were married in Tel Aviv. However, due to the political troubles in Palestine, as it was then, they returned  to Britain with young Michael in 1937.

He grew up first in Wales and then in 1945 the family moved to Stamford Hill. He was educated first at the Egerton Road Primary school and then at the famous Central Foundation Grammar School, Cowper Street, in the City of London from 1947-52. He decided to study Chazanut and was accepted at Jews’ College. He was twice awarded the Samuel Alman Prize for Chazanut. At the same time he studied music at the Curwen College of Music where he gained his LTSC diploma and ALCM (Associate of the London College of Music) diploma in singing and theory of music.

In 1956 the Woodside Park Synagogue suffered a terrible tragedy. Both the Chazan and financial representative were killed in a road accident whilst returning from the funeral of the father of Rabbi Sydney Leperer the Rabbi of the synagogue. Jews’ College was asked to supply a Chazan at short notice, but it had to be someone who could also read the Torah. Michael was the only one who could do both. He officiated on Shabbat 17th November 1956 and remained until his retirement on 1st January 2000 and then moved to Netanya with his lovely wife Phyllis.

During his professional life in England he has been deeply involved in many other aspects of communal life.

• He is a highly experienced and successful Mohel,

• He was the Visiting Chaplain to many hospitals and a prison, Wormwood Scrubbs.

• He was the Honorary Chaplain to the Jewish Deaf Association and was instrumental in obtaining the authority of the London Beth Din for use of the Loop System in synagogues on Shabbat.

• For 15 years, he was Chaplain to Kisharon School for Special Needs Jewish Children and attended on virtually a daily basis.

• He was the Chairman of the Chazanim Association of Great Britain and in that capacity represented all the Chazanim at meetings of the Council of the United Synagogue.

• He was chairman of the public sector for the Metropolitan Police in the borough of Barnet .

• He is a Freeman of the City of London and holds the distinguished rank of Past Junior Grand Deacon in Freemasonry.

• When he held the rank of Acting Grand Chaplain, he was given the honour of being Founding Chaplain at the Consecration of two new lodges – a rare honour.

• In 1996, he was awarded the Norman Spencer Essay Prize for Research into Freemasonry.

• In 1996 he received the honour of  an MBE, member of Her Majesty’s Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

• On his retirement he was appointed Emeritus Chazan of the Woodside Park Synagogue having served the community for 43 years.

Here at the Young Israel Synagogue of North Netanya, he remains a busy public figure but always with time for everyone. He successfully leads the daily Daf Yomi after every weekday Shacharit, is still an outstanding and expert Baal Keriah, a highly competent and knowledgeable Gabbai, and a talented actor in our annual Purim Spiel.

Michael has many qualities but there is one other quality that I, as a close and personal friend of many years, can say without doubt or fear of contradiction. Never in all the time that I have known him, have I ever heard Michael speak badly about any other person. He is truly worthy of every honour that has been and is being bestowed on him.

Today here in Israel, he is surrounded by his close family, his wife Phyllis, his brother Stuart, his two daughters, sons-in-law, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. I am sure that every member of our synagogue joins with me in wishing Mazal Tov to him and to his lovely family.