ByJay Grenby, Jay Grenby
Bushey Synagogue members are mourning their long-serving senior warden, Laurence Bamberg, who had been in hospital awaiting a heart operation.
However, his heart failed before he could undergo surgery and he died in the early hours of last Friday morning.
Despite the short notice, there was a big turnout at his funeral at Bushey cemetery on the same day.
The 51-year-old had moved to Bushey 10 years ago with his family, having also served as warden — and shofar blower — at St Albans Synagogue.
Former Bushey chair Paul Mendelsohn said Mr Bamberg had worked “tirelessly and selflessly for others, volunteering himself almost as soon as he arrived in the area. His loss will leave a huge void not only for his family but for us all.”
Minister Rabbi Meir Salasnik added: “Laurence was devoted to his family and the community. No mitzvah and no chore was too difficult for him and it was he who ensured our High Holy-Day arrangements on several sites ran well.”