21 August 2017

Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS) member and Holocaust survivor Ruth Shire read from the Torah for the first time, at the age of 96, in front of a packed BPS sanctuary.

In a moving D’var Torah, in front of a packed synagogue, Ruth explained how she had not had the chance to learn Hebrew growing up in Nazi Germany.

The service was led by Ruth’s son and daughter-in-law, Rabbis Michael Shire and Marcia Plumb, along with Birmingham’s Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi. Ruth’s grandchildren read her a specially written blessing on the Bimah.

Ruth – pictured with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and wider family – has been a member of BPS for around 70 years.

Rabbi Margaret Jacobi: “This was a very special and truly memorable Shabbat, and the whole community came out to celebrate with Ruth.”