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. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

medical doctor and politician, who served on

London County Council The 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 ...

. Born in

Whitechapel Whitechapel () is an area in London, England, and is located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is in east London and part of the East End of London, East End. It is the location of Tower Hamlets Town Hall and therefore the borough tow ...

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. The gate gave its name to ''Aldgate High Street'', the first stretch of the A11 road, that takes that name as it passes through the ancient, extramural Portsoken ...

, 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 An election to the County Council of London took place on 8 March 1934. The council was elected by First Past the Post with each elector having two votes in the two-member seats. The Labour Party made large gains from the Municipal Reform Part ...

, he was elected in

Hackney Central Hackney Central is a sub-district of Hackney, London, 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 area ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Homa served as a major in the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) was a specialist corps in the British Army which provided medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. On 15 November 2024, the corps was amalgamated with the Royal Army De ...

. 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 Je ...

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, 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 An election to the London County Council, County Council of County of London, London took place on 7 April 1949. The council was elected by First Past the Post with each elector having three votes in the three-member seats. The Conservative Par ...

. 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 Uni ...

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 district general hospital and teaching hospital located in Hammersmith in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The present hospital was opened in 1973, although it was originally established in 1818, approxim ...

. 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