Open Writing

A very good friend indicated an advert of a Synagogue seeking to employ a Secretary/Administrator. At the time I knew next to nothing of such establishments and certainly nothing as to what was required of a Synagogue Secretary. Nevertheless, having nothing to lose, I sent in my application and was invited to attend for an interview where I met two of the Synagogue's Officers. I can only assume that it was because of an amazing coincidence and by the blessing of the Gods, that one of the gentlemen who met me was a member of the casino, of which the owners had dispensed with my services because of my supposed 'bad luck' influence, where he played Bridge.

I did not know this at the time, and when I told of my work experience, and gave the names of the people for whom I had previously worked, assume that enquiries were made with my former employers who, I would like to think, gave sufficiently good references as to my honesty and administrative ability to warrant the interest of my interviewers, although what may have been told to them may have been coloured by the guilty consciences of my former employers at the way I had lost the job with them!

So, on October 1st 1973 I became a Synagogue Secretary.

For the first week or so I was nearly bored out of my head. I didn't know what I was supposed to do and none of the other staff seemed able or willing to advise. I filled my time looking in files, desk drawers and cupboards at various papers, cashbooks and ledgers, membership records, cemetery records and the like until I realised that, to do the job properly, I would have to be in control myself. And, after a month or so, I developed a routine of involvement in which I ran the office. I tried to run it like a business, to ensure that money was not wasted and to endeavour to live within the income of the establishment, even to the extent of turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and, in the winter, to save on heating expenditure by the closing of windows in empty rooms left open by departed occupants.

I also increased some fees and charges without asking or prior discussion with my superiors, at the time because I did not consider that I needed to do so, in a continued exercise to increase revenue. I was not always successful, receiving some amazing refusals such as "I cannot afford to increase my subscription because I have to go to the Bahamas every winter for my health!" He was paying all of £10 per year and I had asked him to increase to £32.00, which at the time was the standard annual subscription. I also attempted to save on pilfered office and toilet stationery and kitchen supplies, although on this I was not so successful as certain people seemed to indicate it was their untouchable perk.

The Officers of the Synagogue nevertheless I think must have recognised the success of my activities and appreciated my efforts and honesty, to the extent that the then Honorary Treasurer quite willingly signed batches of cheques for me to keep for use in paying Synagogue bills, staff wages and other charges without prior recourse to him. All in all, I must have given a pretty good account of myself during those early months, confirming the wisdom of their choice, since in my original letter of appointment it had been stressed that I would be employed on six months trial, at the end of which time a decision would be made as to my future. However, at the end of only three months I was very pleased to receive the confirmation of my continued employment.

For the next few years, other than at the monthly Synagogue Council meetings, the House Committee meetings, the occasional Cemetery committee meetings and the twice yearly Finance Committee meetings, I was largely left to my own devices to run the premises, only meeting the various committee members at meetings where I took the Minutes. I was also appointed the Synagogue's Secretary for Marriages where I shared the role with the Synagogue's Beadle, particularly dealing with those weddings held during the week or away from our premises, and also acting as the part time Beadle whenever he was away.

When a member of the office staff left for one reason or another, in practically all cases I endeavoured to ensure that that person was not replaced, and that either I took on that role too or shared it out between the remaining staff. Despite the length of my day, often leaving home around 7.00 am and not returning until about 11.30 pm at least once or sometimes twice a week because of the need for me to attend evening meetings, it was a full and exciting life, which I was happy and content to live.

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If you wish to make a donation to the Elsa Benedyk Memorial Fund, set up by her friends and colleagues entirely without Raymon’s knowledge to provide funds to support the children's ward of the Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem to commemorate her life of work with children in her nursery schools, it would be most gratefully received. The amount that you give will not be revealed to Raymon. He is not a trustee of the fund. Your cheque, payable to the Fund, should be sent to the fund's Treasurer Mrs I Dokelman, 14 Charville Court, 30/32 Gayton Road, Harrow, Middx HA1 2HT.