25 October 2017

East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue (ELELS) held a special celebratory service to mark the 90th birthday of life president Peter Benscher.

The service was led by Rabbi Richard Jacobi, Student Rabbi Daniela Touati and Rabbi Harry Jacobi, vice president of Liberal Judaism and a long-time friend of Peter’s.

Harry delivered a personal address to Peter, who was later presented with a birthday cake made by ELELS joint vice chair Alice Wilcock.

Peter spent more than half a century serving Woodford Liberal Synagogue, which united with Bet Tikvah to form ELELS in January. Along with his late wife Betty, he was honoured for this incredible work with a Liberal Judaism Chair’s Award in 2016.

Peter is pictured above (second from right) along with his son, and Liberal Judaism chair, Simon Benscher, Rabbi Richard Jacobi, Student Rabbi Daniela Touati and Rabbi Harry Jacobi.