Woodside Park Synagogue

Michael, as he was affectionately known in the kehillah, was born in Tel Aviv on 8th July 1936 of British born parents. His father, Solomon, was born in Brady Street, East London, and his mother, Bella, in Tredegar, South Wales.

 

The reason why Michael first saw the glorious light of day in a Jewish city was because his parents had gone there on aliya in the early thirties and were married in Jerusalem. However, due to the political troubles in Palestine, as it was then, they returned with young Michael to England in 1937.

 

Michael was then brought up in Wales and after the war in 1945, they moved to Stamford Hill. He attended the Egerton Road primary school and then went to Central Foundation Grammar School, Cowper Street, in the City of London from 1947-52. After leaving school, he went to the Faculty for the training of Hebrew Teachers at Jews' College where he obtained teaching diplomas. He taught for eight years at the New Synagogue Hebrew Classes and at other centres.

 

He decided to study Chazanut and was accepted at Jews' College. The course lasted four years and he twice gained the Samuel Alman Prize for Chazanut, a most unusual and remarkable achievement. At the same time he was studying 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.

 

He officiated during this period at many different synagogues gaining much experience. It was during that time that Woodside Park Synagogue suffered a terrible tragedy in the grievous loss of the Chazan and financial representative who were killed in a road accident whilst returning from the funeral of the father of Rabbi Sydney Leperer of the synagogue. Jews's College were asked to supply a Chazan at short notice, one who could also read the Torah. Michael came immediately and officiated Shabbat, 17th November 1956. He became permanent part-time Chazan until 1960.

 

Michael married Phyllis Weisfogel on 20th June 1961 and set up home in Singleton Scarp. After their marriage, Michael and Rev Bernard Koschland had a double induction officiated by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie. Michael and Phyllis have two married daughters, Angela and Rosalind, "six grandchildren Meir, Hadassah, Zvia, Mia, Hillel and Yaacov twenty-three great-grandchildren" -Yaacov, Shlomo Dovid, Sara, Bracha, Yehuda, Yaffa, Elchanan, Chedvah, Tehilla, Noa,  Avishai, Adina, Avigail, Rina, Moshe, Tagel, Odelia, Emunah, Tifferet, Halleli, Maayan, Elozor, Ora.

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He was the Visiting Chaplain to many hospitals and a prison, Wormwood Scrubbs. In 1967, he qualified as a Registered Mohel with the Initiation Society and was one of the best-known mohelim in London. He performed milah in many provincial towns and abroad. Among his most interesting experiences as a mohel was the brit of a grandson in a shelter in Gilo, Jerusalem and twin grandsons in his shool, Woodside Park. He also performed a brit in Eltham Borstal Institution for the governor's son.

 

In 1985, he was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the Jewish Deaf Association. In his efforts to communicate with deaf people, he undertook an intensive study of sign language and having passed the first grade, enjoyed the challenge ahead of him. In 1986, he was awarded the Sir Robert Waley-Cohen Memorial Travelling Scholarship to the USA and Israel. In America, he attended the National Convention for Jewish Deaf and in Israel a conference for the World Organisation of Jewish Deaf. He achieved a great deal as Chaplain and was instrumental in obtaining the authority of the London Beth Din for use of the Loop System on Shabbat. For 15 years, he was Chaplain to Kisharon School for Special Needs Jewish Children and attended on virtually a daily basis.

 

Michael has lectured on very many occasions on the subjects of Chazanut and circumcision and on Jewish life in general. 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.

 

For many years, Michael was vice-president of the Woodside Park Ratepayers' and Residents' Association and 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.

 

He was overwhelmed by the number of Lodges who requested to hear this research Paper. In fact, he delivered it on more than forty occasions in London and in Israel. Michael is the Life-President of the Jewish Old Boys of Central Foundation Grammar School.

 

Perhaps the icing on the cake was the honour bestowed on him of MBE (A member of Her Majesty's Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996. (See photographs above).

 

May our Emeritus Chazan long continue to be amongst us and be a source of help, wisdom and inspiration to us all and may he enjoy his deserved retirement in Netanya, Israel, with Phyllis and his delightful family.

 

To Download the letter received by Reverend Michael Plaskow MBE from Rabbi Natan Morowitz, Rabbi of the Young Israel Shul Netanya who is retiring after 30 years please click here

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Since the above article was published Rev Michael Plaskow now has the titĺe Rabbi

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Phyllis passed away 24th February 2021. 

The Shul held a Memorial Meeting on 28th February to mark her outstanding service to the shul over 40 years.