My friend Simon Benscher, who has died aged 69 of sepsis, was an important figure in the Liberal Judaism group (now part of Progressive Judaism) in the UK, and an exemplary civil society leader.
A former chair of the organisation, his unstinting passion was building connections with more than 40 Liberal Jewish communities and members across the UK, contributing to the development of Progressive Judaism in the country.
Simon played a vital role in strategic discussions between Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism in the 2010s, when I was then chair of LJ, that led to an alliance in 2014. He took over from me a year later as chair, and, with characteristic resolve and down-to-earth conviction, became an ardent advocate for the formation of one united progressive Judaism movement for the UK.
This goal was achieved in April 2023
.Born in London, Simon was the son of shopkeepers Betty (nee Levy) and Peter Benscher. He went to Sir John Cass primary school (now the Aldgate school), then the secondary school of the same name, (now Stepney All Saints). He attended Woodford Liberal (now part of East London and Essex Liberal) synagogue with his family from the age of nine, and became bar mitzvah and was confirmed there.
While still at school, he started working in his parents’ shop and business, City Lock and Safe. He joined it after leaving school and took it on with his brother, Paul, after his parents retired, while giving his free time to serving the synagogue and Liberal Judaism movement.
He was chair of council of his synagogue on two separate occasions in the 1990s, and in the mid-2000s was given the honorary role of life president. In 2009 he joined the Liberal Judaism board of national officers, becoming deputy chair from 2011.
Through our shared vision of progressive Judaism, we formed a close bond at the outset. This deepened as our movement adopted a national strategy and became legally incorporated in 2012.
Simon stood down as LJ chair in 2020. He continued to visit different Liberal communities, sharing his passion for embedding Judaism in the contemporary world.
In 1976 he married Lois Adams. She survives him, as does his son, Marc, and brother, Paul.