A Holocaust education fund has been established in memory of a Hampstead Garden Suburb father-of-three who died suddenly in December at the age of 44.

The Stuart Epstein JRoots Fund was launched on Monday by Mr Epstein’s widow Daliah and four Holocaust survivors at the first JRoots fundraising dinner, held in central London and attended by 400 people. Its purpose is to finance visits by young Jews to Poland and other key Jewish heritage sites across Europe and north Africa.

Shortly before his death, Mr Epstein raised £20,000 for JRoots, having been inspired by participating in one of its six-day Poland tours guided by Auschwitz survivor Leslie Kleinman.

Mrs Epstein said launching the fund was “a bitter-sweet pleasure. After experiencing the history of the Holocaust in such a real way, Stuart wanted to give back for what he believed JRoots had done for him and so many others in opening eyes to our Jewish heritage, Jewish history and Jewish responsibility.”

It is anticipated the primary beneficiaries will be pupils of JFS and members of United Synagogue youth arm Tribe, both of which have connections to the Epstein family.

The dinner raised £250,000.