Chief Rabbi leads tributes to inspirational community champion Leonie Lewis
The Faith Forum for London, the organisation for whom she remained a trustee and council member until her death on Friday, said she had a "unique ability to spread kindness".
The Chief Rabbi has led tributes to “inspirational” communal champion Leonie Lewis following her sudden death.
A statement put out on social media by the director of Faith Forum for London (FFFL), the multi-faith organisation for whom Lewis remained a trustee and council member said she was a “unique human being with an ability to spread love, and kindness.”
Leonie was diagnosed with lymphoma just six weeks ago and buried at Bushey New Cemetery just before Shabbat.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “Leonie gave kind-hearted and selfless service to numerous organisations and was a source of inspiration for many. She loved people and Judaism and personally guided, strengthened and transformed many of our communities.
Mustapha Field OBE, director of the FFFL said her said her passing has “personally affected me.” In a further tribute, the organisation said:” Early this morning, our dear friend, Leonie Lewis passed away.
“Leonie was an inspiration figure who’s presence will be missed.
“She touched the lives of so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.”
As a director of the Jewish Volunteering Network for over 30 years, Lewis was awarded an MBE by the Queen for services to the Jewish community in December 2017.
A member of Pinner Shul went on to become a joint vice president of the United Synagogue.
Earlier as co-chair of the US Women, she pushed through changes to enable women to become chairs in the organisation’s shuls.
After receiving an MBE in 2017 she said: ““It justifies all the hours and commitment I’ve spent at meetings and activities encouraging all who know me to engage and or volunteer with their community. I still have a few friends left!
“The nicest thing is receiving such wonderful messages, letters and calls from so many people. It’s very touching to know that in some small way I really am making a difference.”
Leonie was also an adviser to the Children’s Aid Committee and assessor for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The Jewish Volunteering Network said: “We are devastated to hear of the passing away of Leonie Lewis. In the words of her family, ‘she loved everyone and worked for every good cause’. There is so much to be said about Leonie and we will – right now our thoughts are with her family, Howard, Adam, Ben, Basie, Ruth, Bernard and all the grandchildren.”
Michael Goldstein, president of the United Synagogue, said: We are devastated to hear of the tragic passing of our dear friend, our former colleague, and most recently, our former trustee. Leonie was passionate about everything she did, supporting a wide variety of causes both within and outside of the Jewish community. She was a powerhouse, a tour de force, a connector of people and organisations who used her vast experience to improve our community.
“She was always eager to share her wisdom with others, exemplifying the Jewish concept of lilmod ul’lamed, to learn and to teach. Leonie was my Israel tour leader and I remember even then the care she showed and the passion she had for Israel and the Jewish people. I have had the privilege of knowing Leonie for more than four decades since then, working closely with her as a United Synagogue trustee until she stood down in 2020.”
Outlining some of Leonie’s many achievements, Goldstein added: “Her impact on our organisation was immense. Following a strategic review in the 1990s she was invited to work for the United Synagogue to head up a new programme designed to re-energise the organisation and our communities.
She epitomised what the United Synagogue stands for – reaching out and welcoming all.
“Leonie, of course, excelled in the role and what she created became our community division which continues to provide support to our shuls and beyond, becoming, as she called it, “the engine room of the United Synagogue”. She epitomised what the United Synagogue stands for – reaching out and welcoming all. Leonie was passionate about ensuring women’s voices were heard and listened to in our communities and across our organisation, becoming co-chair of US Women and one of our first female trustees.
“Leonie fought her illness bravely with the support of her loving family. On behalf of the United Synagogue, we wish chayim aruchim, long life, to Howard, Adam, Ben, Bassie, Ruth and Bernard and we’re thinking of her grandchildren too. As her family said so aptly, Leonie loved everyone and worked for every good cause. She was an eishet chayil, a woman, and a wife, of exceptional strength. Baruch Dayan HaEmet, may Leonie’s family be spared further sorrow.”
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