Dinner to honour Rev Yossi Houri’s 40 years of service to our Kahal.

On 13th December 2009, nearly 100 current and former members of Wembley gathered in the Montefiore Hall to celebrate and honour Rev Yossi Houri’s 40 years of dedicated service to our Kahal, with a reception and dinner. Specially invited guests included Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy and Rabbi Dr Irving Jacobs, who had played important roles in his career, Rabbi Israel Elia, and their wives, and Rev Zvi Amroussi. His son, Yaniv, was also present with his wife, but his other children, Natalie & Gabrielle, who live in Israel, unfortunately could not join us.

The guests were welcomed by Roger Leon, Chairman of the Wembley Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, who acted as MC for the evening. Rev Houri had not wanted to have a dinner in his honour, but the Synagogue Committee overcame his objections. The huge support they received, including from many passed members who had moved away from Wembley and attended the dinner, showed they had made the right decision. Roger Leon expressed his and the congregation’s deepest appreciation to Rev Houri, Yossi as he is affectionately known in the Wembley Community, for his unswerving loyalty and dedication, the excellence of his reading of the Parasha every week, his thoughtful sermons and in particular his warmth, kindness and modesty. Throughout those years, both when Dayan Pinchas Toledano was there as Rabbi and subsequently since he took over on his own, he has always been there to support and advise those who needed it. Many of those present had cause to be grateful to him for his kindness on sad occasions but had also shared many happy moments with him and his wife Claudine. Wembley has been and still is indeed fortunate to have Yossi’s leadership and it is in no small measure due to his work on its behalf, that the Synagogue is still thriving in an area where many Jews no longer live.

Rabbi Dr Levy mentioned numerous episodes, many very amusing, of Rev Houri’s early life, starting when he arrived from Tunisia in September 1965 at a young age, with Zvi Amroussi and Michael Attoun to study at the Judith Lady Montefiore College for four years at Carlton Hill and at Ashworth Road. He then talked about his progress in his religious and professional career and his early days at Wembley. He pointed out that Rev Houri was an excellent example of the important part that could be played by a part-time Rabbi with business experience who was aware of the wider world around. He particularly highlighted Rev Houri’s qualities as a perfectionist and his absolute integrity.

Daniel Ettinghausen, who has moved from Wembley to Maida Vale quite recently and has known Yossi since his early days in Maida Vale, spoke on behalf of the guests. In his speech, Daniel recalled attending Yossi’s and Claudine’s wedding in Tunis together with another Wembley member, Maurice Madjar. One of the highlight of the occasion was driving the bridal car, through the streets of Tunis, with Maurice changing gears as there were too many people sitting in the front. We are all very grateful that the destination was safely reached and all lived to tell the tale. He also mentioned many other moments shared with Yossi during his 40 years at Wembley and thanked him warmly for his friendship and all he has done for the Community.

Rev Houri, in his humorous and warm reply, showed the many facets of his personality. He was not only very amusing, self deprecating and modest, but in his Dvar Torah he displayed a deep knowledge of the subject, making it interesting and thought- provoking, including as he often does, numerical values and meanings. He took us through his arrival in London as a very young boy, his studies at the Montefiore College, and student days at Jews College and University College, from where he graduated in 1972. He came to Wembley in July 1969, following an audition at Lauderdale Road with the Wembley Committee. In those early days services were held in a church hall and a scout hut for the High Holydays, moving to the current synagogue in 1977. He recounted being hosted and made welcome at the homes of local families, many present at the dinner. Sadly the great majority of the early leaders and founders of the Community are no longer with us, but he remembered them with fondness and gratitude. He thanked those who had organised the dinner, the speakers, everyone for attending it, especially those who had come from abroad, and the Congregation for the support they had given him. Very special thanks were due to his wife Claudine and his children.

There then followed a presentation of a gift and flowers to Yossi and his wife on behalf of the Wembley Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue.

It was definitely one of the highlights of the past year for all of us at Wembley, an opportunity to meet with friends and catch up with old ones, and to enjoy a splendid occasion, catered by Mrs Gina Elia. It was our chance to thank Rev Houri for the key role he has played in the history of our Kahal and the example he shows to all of us. May he continue to be our spiritual guide for many years to come.

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