Henry Isidore Tankel

Henry Isidore Tankel OBE FRCS MD (1926-2010) was a Glasgow based Zionist activist. He was the only son of Hyman William Tankel (born 07-Sep-1898), diamond trader and founder in 1913 of HW Tankel (Scotland) Limited.

According to an obituary notice published by SCOJEC:

Henry Tankel was one of the outstanding Jewish communal leaders of his generation. Even as a young man, he was identified by Chaim Bermant as a role model through his youth work for Glasgow Bnei Akiva. He developed his communal career with the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, serving as its President from 1974 until 1977, chaired many communal organisations including the Glasgow Jewish Housing Association, the Queens Park Synagogue, and the Glasgow Board of Jewish Education, and was a member of the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust

In his professional life he was a distinguished surgeon, and was also involved in extensive committee work on behalf of his surgical and medical colleagues. He was Chair of the Scottish Joint Consultants Committee, a member of the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council, and served as a Non-Executive Director of the Southern General Hospital NHS Trust. He was awarded an OBE in 1992 in recognition of his contribution to the medical profession.

He led the group set up to conduct religious dialogue with the Church of Scotland, and, in 1984, became the first Jew to address its General Assembly. His close relationship with the local Catholic Church led to a visit to the Vatican and a meeting with the Pope. He believed in the importance of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities from the start, and his determined fund-raising, with the late Dr Jack Miller, ensured SCoJeC’s viability in its early years. He continued to take a close interest, and until very recently continued to attend joint meetings between SCoJeC and the Church of Scotland.

He was married to Judith Woolfson, who died in 2006, and together they made a formidable communal team. They both actively supported SCoJeC in its successful campaign to have provision for divorcing Jewish couples written into Scottish Family Law. Henry will be remembered for the considered judgement, valuable advice, and wise counsel that he brought to his extensive community activism, and for his care, sensitivity and determination to succeed.

TANKEL — HENRY, OBE, MD, FRCS. Beloved husband of the late Judith, passed away peacefully, on 19th June 2010. Much loved and deeply mourned by his children, Jeremy, Alan, Belinda and Laura, their families, his cherished partner Ida Caplan, his family and his very many friends. The funeral was held at Cathcart Cemetery, on Monday 21st June.

The Jewish Chronicle reported:

Henry Tankel: Glasgow’s leading communal and medical figure. BORN GLASGOW, JUNE 14, 1926. DIED GLASGOW, JUNE 19, 2010, AGED 84.

AN OUTSTANDING figure in the Glasgow Jewish community, surgeon Henry Tankel gave devoted service to Glasgow’s communal, medical and welfare institutions. The son of Lithuanian-born immigrants, he graduated in medicine from Glasgow University in 1948, before doing his national service from 1949-51 in command of a medical reception centre in Malaya and Singapore. After working on a Fulbright Scholarship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York from 1954-55, he trained as a surgeon in Glasgow Western Infirmary. From 1962 until retiring in 1991 he was consultant surgeon at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. His medical committee posts, local and national, included chairing the Glasgow Hospital Medical Services Committee (1974-79) and Scottish Joint Consultants Committee (1989-92). He was the longest serving vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow, and served on the Board of Science and Education (1978-81), Scottish Committee for Hospital Medical Services (1978-91), National Panel of Specialists (1978-82 and 1987-91) and Scottish Health Service Advisory Council (198993). He was appointed OBE in 1992.His care of patients was tireless and he upheld the highest professional ideals. Patients and relatives attested to his kindness.

Henry’s enormous contribution to the Glasgow and Scottish communities over six decades until a few weeks before his death was based on deep faith and knowledge of Judaism, his love of Israel, which he first visited in 1949, and his care for the needy. At 18 he was a co-founder of Bnei Akiva in Glasgow. As long-serving chairman of Queens Park Synagogue, he represented the shul on the Board of Deputies, where he served on the britmilah committee. He was president of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council from 1974-77 and, from 1978-85, president of the United Synagogues of Scotland, forerunner of the Scottish Council of Synagogues, becoming Beth Din representative of the council. From 1985-90 he chaired the Glasgow Board of Jewish Education.

He married Judith Woolfson in 1956 and, until her tragic death in 2006, the couple were renowned as community leaders both in Glasgow and nationally. Their contribution to interfaith relations was immense, especially their work with the Council of Christians and Jews to improve understanding and harmony. He led the group whose dialogue with the Church of Scotland resulted in the historic invitation for him to address the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1984. He then became chairman of the West of Scotland Branch of CCJ. The close Tankel relationship with the local Catholic church led to a visit to the Vatican for an audience with Pope John Paul II.

He chaired the Glasgow Jewish Housing Association, one of the largest in Scotland, remaining on its management when it became Arklet HA until a few months before his death. He was also a member of the Scottish charity, Positive Action in Housing. With the late Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg he organised fundraising for Sha’arei Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem for nearly 30 years. When Queens Park Synagogue closed in 2001, he co-founded and chaired its charitable trust. His wealth of experience made him a valued elder statesman to his succes-sors in office. His detailed knowledge of local requirements helped trustees of the various community trusts plan their disbursements.

His integrity, humanity, courtesy, faith, knowledge and the ability to face problems made him a much loved and respected man. Unassuming and sensitive to views which he might not share, he was hugely influential. He is survived by his devoted companion of his last three years, Ida Caplan; and by two sons, Jeremy and Alan; two daughters, Belinda and Laura; and seven grandchildren.

Affiliations

Entry in Who's Who in Scotland, 2003:

Tankel, Henry I., OBE, MD, FRCSEdin, FRCSGlas. Chairman, Glasgow Jewish Housing Association, 1996-2001; Surgeon, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, 1962-91; b. 14.1.26, Glasgow; m., Judith Woolfson: 2 s.; 2 d. Educ. High School of Glasgow; Glasgow University. Fulbright Scholar, 1954-55; President, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, 1974-77; Chairman, Glasgow Hospital Medical Services Committee, 1974-79, Board of Science and Education, 1978-81: President, United Synagogues of Scotland, 1978-85; Treasurer, Scottish Committee for Hospital Medical Services, 1978-91: Member, National Panel of Specialists, 1978-82 and 1987- 91; invited to address General Assembly of Church of Scotland, 1984; Chairman, Scottish Joint Consultants Committee, 1989-92; Member, Scottish Health Service Advisory Council, 1989-93; Non-Executive Director, Southern General Hospital NHS Trust, 1993-97: Chairman, Glasgow Board of Jewish Education, 1985-90. Recreations: walking; making model boats. Address: (h.) 26 Dalziel Drive, Glasgow G41 4PU; T.-0141-423 5830.

• member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
• Trustee Glasgow Jewish Community Trust

Company roles

• Positive Action in Housing Limited - director
• Kol-Care Limited - director - Appointed on 27 May 1998 Resigned on 18 June 2010
• Housing Diversity - director

Family

Only son of Hyman William Tankel (born 07-Sep-1898), diamond trader and founder in 1913 of HW Tankel (Scotland) Limited. David Tankel | Tony Tankel