Michael William Brunert

Community leader who spearheaded the Britain in Europe Movement

MICHAEL BRUNERT , who has died aged 78, after suffering a serious stroke last year, was a community leader in Manchester, and latterly in Modi’in, Israel. Michael believed passionately in modern Orthodoxy, campaigning for many years to develop its outward-facing nature and steadfast, but not uncritical, support for Israel. He worked closely with its Ministers, in Manchester and nationally, to develop and expand it in the 1980’s and ‘90’s.

Michael was born in Manchester, to Lily, née Apfelbaum and Ernest Brunert, a journalist who arrived as a refugee from Vienna in the late 1930s. His contribution to Jewish communal development was inspired by his maternal grandfather, Isidore Apfelbaum, who helped rescue hundreds of Jewish refugees from the Nazis after 1933 in Germany and Austria, enabling them to flee Europe and settle in the north west of England.

After growing up in Prestwich and attending Manchester Grammar School, Michael studied Law and French at Manchester University, during which time he was active in the Jewish Students Society and IUJF - the national Inter-University Jewish Federation, through which he met Ruth Nathan, from Birmingham. In October 1964 they were married in Singers Hill Synagogue in Birmingham and settled in the Cheadle area of south Manchester. He started practice as a solicitor, but devoted time and energy to both political and communal activities.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s he became the North West region chair for the Britain in Europe movement, which was pressing for the UK to join the EU. He was then one of the leaders of the campaign to remain in the European Community in the national referendum held in 1975, working with leading politicians, George Brown, Edward Heath and Roy Jenkins from each of the major parties.

He became President of the Yeshurun Hebrew Congregation in Gatley in 1983-85, and again in 1998-2000. Michael believed in building institutions which aimed at communal stability. He created the pioneering Roland Benson library at Yeshurun Synagogue. His strong support of youth activities led to his instrumental role in appointing a Youth Minister, and he helped establish the South Manchester Teenage Centre, as well as COSMOS, bringing the Orthodox Congregations in South Manchester under one umbrella to make better use of resources.

He was one of few provincial leaders to serve on the Board of Jews College during the 1990’s. He brought it to the wider attention of provincial communities, working with its principal Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

After moving to Israel in 2000, he and Ruth helped develop the modern Orthodox Beit Knesset Hameginim in Modi’in, improving its organisation and enriching its cultural programme. His gregarious nature and passionate loyalty led to many long and fruitful friendships throughout the UK, Europe and Israel. He is survived by Ruth, their children Jonathan, Simon, Jane and Claire, ten grandchildren, and his sister Norma Yantin,

Michael William Brunert: born December 23, 1939. Died May 24, 2018