Bernard Homa (1900 – September 1991) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

medical doctor and politician, who served on

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

. Born in

Whitechapel Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross. Part of the historic county of Middlesex, the area formed ...

as Bernard Deichowsky, he was educated at the Yeshivah Etz Chaim in

Aldgate Aldgate () was a gate in the former defensive wall around the City of London. It gives its name to Aldgate High Street, the first stretch of the A11 road, which included the site of the former gate. The area of Aldgate, the most common use of ...

, then studied medicine. During this period, he became the chair of the London Mizrachi Students' Society, and he later chaired the Mizrachi Organisation of Great Britain. For 37 years, he served as president of the Machzikei Hadath Synagogue. Homa joined the Labour Party, and at the 1934 London County Council election, he was elected in

Hackney Central Hackney Central is a sub-district of Hackney in the London Borough of Hackney in London, England and is four miles (6.4 km) northeast of Charing Cross. The Hackney Central area is focused on Mare Street and the retail areas to the north o ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Homa served as a major in the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

. After

, Homa became a leading figure in British Judaism. In 1946 he resigned from the

Anglo-Jewish Association The Anglo-Jewish Association (AJA) is a British organisation. It was formed in 1871 for the 'promotion of social, moral, and intellectual progress among the Jews; and the obtaining of protection for those who may suffer in consequence of being Jew ...

in protest at its opposition to Zionism. He became chair of the Central Council for Jewish Religious Education, president of the

Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations The Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations is an umbrella organisation of Haredi Jewish communities in London, and has an estimated membership of over 6,000. It was founded in 1926, with the stated mission "to protect traditional Judaism", and ha ...

, chair of the

Federation of Synagogues The Federation of Synagogues is a British Jewish organisation with headquarters in Hendon, London. It comprises a network of 19 constituent and seven affiliated communities. As well as looking after its member synagogues , the Federation has a be ...

, vice president of the London Board of Shechitah, and president of the Initiation Society. He also served on the Board of Deputies. Homa remained politically active, switching to represent Hackney South from the 1949 London County Council election. At the

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

and 1955 general elections, he stood unsuccessfully in Hendon South. During this period, he continued to work in general practice, and also served on the board of governors of

Charing Cross Hospital Charing Cross Hospital is an acute general teaching hospital located in Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom. The present hospital was opened in 1973, although it was originally established in 1818, approximately five miles east, in central Lond ...

. Homa stood down from the county council in 1955, and thereafter spent more time writing. His works included ''A Fortress in Anglo-Jewry'', ''Orthodoxy in Anglo-Jewry'', and his autobiography, published in 1990, ''Footsteps on the Sands of Time''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Homa, Bernard 1900 births 1991 deaths 20th-century British medical doctors British writers English Orthodox Jews Labour Party (UK) councillors Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Members of London County Council People from Whitechapel