William Frankel
Encyclopedia
William Frankel was the editor of the British weekly newspaper, the Jewish Chronicle, from 1958 until 1977. He is the author of Friday Nights (1973), Israel Observed (1980), Survey of Jewish Affairs (1982–1992), and Tea With Einstein and Other Memories (2006).
of the Artillery Lane synagogue in Spitalfields
, and a stallholder in Petticoat Lane. He attended the Davenant Foundation School
, at that time located in the East End; the Regent Street Polytechnic
; then the University of London
, graduating with honours in law.
, becoming a barrister in 1944 as a member of the Middle Temple
. He also became general secretary of the Mizrachi
Organisation of Great Britain and Ireland, a religious Zionist group. He joined the Jewish Chronicle as general manager in 1955.
In 1968–69, he was visiting professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary
in New York. He acted as special adviser to The Times on Jewish and Israeli affairs, and held a number of public or honorary posts, including president of the Mental Health Review appeals tribunal (1978–89), chairman of the Social Security Appeal Tribunal (1979–l89); an executive of the Wiener library, London's Holocaust archives; president of the New Israel Fund
since 1997; and was awarded an honorary fellowship of Girton College, Cambridge
.
Early life
Frankel was born in London, the son of Isaac Frankel, an Orthodox Jew, the beadleGabbai
A Gabbai is a person who assists in the running of a synagogue and ensures that the needs are met, for example the Jewish prayer services run smoothly, or an assistant to a rabbi...
of the Artillery Lane synagogue in Spitalfields
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
, and a stallholder in Petticoat Lane. He attended the Davenant Foundation School
Davenant Foundation School
Davenant Foundation School is a coeducational, Christian Ecumenical School, founded in 1680, currently located in Loughton, Essex, England. The school is a specialist Sports College.-Foundation in Whitechapel:...
, at that time located in the East End; the Regent Street Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
; then the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, graduating with honours in law.
Career
He went on to read for the barBar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, becoming a barrister in 1944 as a member of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. He also became general secretary of the Mizrachi
Mizrachi (Religious Zionism)
The Mizrachi is the name of the religious Zionist organization founded in 1902 in Vilnius at a world conference of religious Zionists called by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov Reines. Bnei Akiva, which was founded in 1929, is the youth movement associated with Mizrachi...
Organisation of Great Britain and Ireland, a religious Zionist group. He joined the Jewish Chronicle as general manager in 1955.
In 1968–69, he was visiting professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
in New York. He acted as special adviser to The Times on Jewish and Israeli affairs, and held a number of public or honorary posts, including president of the Mental Health Review appeals tribunal (1978–89), chairman of the Social Security Appeal Tribunal (1979–l89); an executive of the Wiener library, London's Holocaust archives; president of the New Israel Fund
New Israel Fund
The New Israel Fund is a U.S. based non-profit organization established in 1979, and describes its objective as social justice and equality for all Israelis.-Ideology:...
since 1997; and was awarded an honorary fellowship of Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
.