Obituary: Sidney Corob - The Jewish Chronicle

Philanthropist Sidney Corob helped a wide range of charities in Britain and Israel, notably in the fields of education, community support and interfaith relations.

The youngest of three children of Wolf and Ray Corob, immigrants from Lithuania, he studied at Etz Chaim ye-shivah in London’s East End. He always retained his love of his Jewish heritage and, especially, Yiddish.

In 1947 he met Elizabeth Springer — family legend has it that their eyes met across a crowded Tube train — and they married in 1949. A devoted wife, mother and business partner for almost 60 years, she encouraged his generous nature and impish sense of humour.

After working for a large insurance firm, Sidney started his property business in 1948. With a combination of skill and intuition, the Corob Group developed into a successful property investment company, at home and abroad, which continues today. In 1984 he floated part of it on the London Stock Exchange as Mayfair and City Properties but continued in his private company, always remaining innovative.

Deeply committed to supporting Jewish and non-Jewish causes, he identified needs, found targeted and effective ways to help, and stayed involved.

He helped individuals pursue their studies at all levels, from school to higher degrees. He endowed one lectureship in Jewish studies at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies and one in contemporary Jewish history at University College London.

With characteristic vision, he recognised early the lack of Jewish facilities for the growing number of elderly. In 1976, together with his wife, he established Westmount, a north west London residential home built to a high standard on a site donated by him.

The hotel-style home provided a sheltered kosher environment for middle-income “reasonably able-bodied” Jews. The Corobs supported the home and Sidney maintained ties with the residents, visiting on Friday evenings and festivals. Westmount closed in 2008 and was donated to Jewish Care.

Passionate about the importance of interfaith relations, Sidney was an energetic vice-president of the Council of Christians and Jews and vice-chair of its executive committee from 1978-95, working closely with prominent Christian clergymen.

He helped fund study tours to Israel, enabling non-Jews of all backgrounds to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Israel’s people, history and problems. In 1987 and 1990 he attended private audiences with the Pope.

A frequent visitor to Israel, he supported projects from a garden walkway round the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in 1972 to scholarships and academic posts at Ben Gurion University of the Negev and the Haifa Technion, on both of which he served as governor.

He wholeheartedly supported Professor Reuven Feuerstein’s pioneering work in Jerusalem on children with profound learning difficulties and its later establishment in Britain in 2001.

As chairman of the British Technion Society from 1983, he obtained consent from the Churchill family to present the Sir Winston Churchill Award.

The first recipient was Lord Sieff in 1987, followed by Lord Wolfson in 1989, Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 and King Hussein of Jordan in 1996. Proceeds from the last event funded a joint Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli water research programme.

He was appointed CBE in 1993 for his services to interfaith relations and charity and received several academic honours. He retired gradually from 1999 with the onset of ill health.

He is survived by his wife, three daughters and six grandchildren.

David Gifford, chief executive of the CCJ, writes: Sidney Corob gave outstanding service and demonstrated his total commitment to interfaith dialogue. At meetings he spoke briefly but always with clarity, conviction and wisdom.

Rev Stanley Brickman, former chazan of Hampstead Synagogue, writes: Sidney Corob loved and lived his religion. His generosity of spirit was matched by charitable deeds, and all was given in a quiet and unassuming manner.