Denis Leventon Cohen

Denis Cohen (born 1924, Hillhead, died 13 January 2009) was a Glasgow born Zionist activist.

Early life

While Abraham Goldberg had stayed only a short time in Dublin before crossing the Irish Sea to Glasgow David Cohen spent no less than 16 years in London before being persuaded by friends to come to Glasgow. Cohen had a scholarly background in Lithuania but arriving in London with his parents, brother and sisters in London in 1896 he had to find work stitching boy's and men's caps. Reaching Glasgow in 1912 Cohen set up his business as D. and H. Cohen, making school-caps, although his son Harry, who joined him in business almost as soon as he was able to operate a sewing machine, was only years old at the time. Harry Cohen was joined in the business by his younger brother Dennis when the company operated from premises in Bedford Lane in the Gorbals dealing with a variety of wholesalers, including Goldbergs. Later, diversifying into schoolwear and building links with Marks and Spencer the company grew rapidly during the 1930s.

He and his twin sister, Libby, grew up with six older siblings. He lost his formal first name, Denis, at the age of two, when his tangle of curls earned him his lifelong nickname, Bonchy. At 17 he joined the Glasgow Young Zionists and never lost his enthusiasm for the Jewish state. At 19 he joined the family business, D & H Cohen, suppliers of clothing to Marks & Spencer for over 50 years. He loved the business, visiting and monitoring the Glasgow factories with meticulous organisation. Concerned for his staff’s welfare as well as their work quality, he enjoyed a high reputation for integrity among employees and businessmen alike. He was managing director from 1946-83, with a long overlap as chairman from 1958-87, when the business was sold. His belief that money earned should be money shared was central to his charitable behaviour. He gave generously but quietly and responsibly to dozens of charities, including the Glasgow Jewish Board of Guardians.

Recruitment to Zionism

Denis “Bonchy” Cohen was named the ‘doyen of Glasgow’s Zionist movement’ by the Jewish Chronicle after his death in 2009. He was the youngest of seven, and a Zionist from his early teens- he joined the Glasgow Young Zionists in 1933 and first chairman of the Joint Palestine Appeal and then Glasgow JIA for 15 years. He lived in London from 1989 and was a member of St John’s Wood Synagogue. He was the managing director and chairman of the family business D&H Cohen, which was one of Marks & Spencer’s main clothing suppliers. The company owes much to the traditional attire of the Scotsman. His father David immigrated to London from Vilna and married a fellow capmaker Betsy Pushkin. 13 years later, they moved to Scotland and began their clothing business.

Denis (centre) and Sheila Cohen (centre left) on their wedding day, alongside Sheila's father Joe Sagman (right) Source

The Blue and White Ball around 1954. From left: Libby Camber, Harold Dykes, Rosemary Dykes, Sheila Cohen, Symie Miller, Bonchy Cohen, Mrs Abrahams, Ruth Ancill, Joe Abrahams, Gerry Masson, Mae Miller, Raymond Carter, Jack Sellyn, Rae Sellyn and Sylvia Karte Source

Visiting "Israel"

Denis Cohen first visited Israel in 1952. In 1958 he became chairman (later joint chairman) of Glasgow JPA (later JIA) and was a highly effective fundraiser for 15 years. When JIA launched Project Renewal in 1978, to rebuild Ashkelon, he joined in wholeheartedly. He was active in similar projects in Dimona and the Galilee in the 1980s and 90s. He made three visits a year to keep track of developments and maintain contacts with the communities. Travelling with his wife, Sheila née Sagman, whom he married in 1943 at Giffnock Synagogue, he met Israel’s leaders. In 2008 he was among 20 UJIA members honoured by Israel’s ambassador, Ron Prosor, for dedicating over 60 years of their lives to supporting Israel.

The development of Zionism in Glasgow showed differences as well as similarities with the development of Zionism in England and the Zionist organisations in Glasgow possessed several Scottish characteristics. There is a myth about the Jews in Glasgow being among the most loyal supporters of Zionism in Britain. Take, for example, the following contemporary statement of Denis Cohen, director of the firm D. & H. Cohen and former chairman of the Glasgow branch of the Joint Israel Appeal (JIA), which together with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) form at present the main Zionist fundraising bodies in Britain.

“For those who have been financially successful in life, giving some money away is no big deal, but to sacrifice when you have little is magnificent. People came to our office at Queen Square (during the Six-Day War in 1967). Old-age pensioners, people with very little, who donated part of their pension. Others brought jewellery - trinkets and pieces of silver. I will never forget those days. I will give you a figure. In 1966 our income had been £41,000 and this rose to £357,000 in 1967. That is what Glasgow Jewry did for Israel. (Every year) the Glasgow target was well surpassed. It always reached its target. Glasgow is an outstanding community. People are warm and generous and understanding - they came from Eastern Europe and because of their history and traditions they were able to convey the importance of Palestine to their children.”

Cohen’s statement is important because it reflects a collective idea. He says that successful businessmen like himself but also ordinary people were involved in fundraising, traditionally the main Zionist activity in Scotland. He also says that fundraisng was so successful because the character of the movement in Glasgow was very Eastern European. The statement also reflects the idea that the older settlers and their descendants, showed much less enthusiasm for the Zionist cause than the immigrants. In reality the development of Glasgow Zionism went through several stages. During the first stage, the older settlers played a significant role in the movement, at this stage more important than immigrant workers and businessmen. The attitude of the older settlers towards the Zionist idea differed slightly from that of the immigrants. This led to conflicts which were connected to the wider confrontation between older settlers and immigrants, the various aspects of which have been described in previous chapters.

Family

He married Sheila Frances Cohen (nee Sagman) in Pollok in 1943.

David Mayer Cohen the prominent Zionist activist is their son.

The Sheila and Denis Cohen Foundation was set up in their names.

He has two children - a son David Cohen and a daughter Lucy Cohen. His son David is the president of the UJIA and member of the Jewish Leadership Council.

Affiliations

Company director

• Combined Capital Limited St Alphage House 2 Fore Street EC2Y 5DH, 04 Jul 1994 24 May 1995
• Methven Associates Limited 3rd Floor Eagle House London SW1Y 6RH
• Onslow Developments Limited 6th Floor London W1A 4SR

Denis Cohen Obituary

• COHEN - DENIS (BONCHY). Peacefully, at home in London, on 13th January, 2009, Bonchy, (formerly of Glasgow), beloved husband of the late Sheila, irreplaceable to his children Lucy and David, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren. Published by Legacy-ia on Aug. 15, 2014.