Esta Azouz’s life story in brief, prior to her aliyah to Israel

On the first night of Pesach, 1902, a third child, Esta, was born into the Schleifer family, the only Jewish family then living in Bury, Lancashire. She was the first Jewish girl to have been born in Bury where she lived until her marriage to Raphael Azouz at the age of 18.

After four years in Glasgow, the couple moved to West London with their young son, Mark.

Life had not treated Esta gently. She lost her mother at the age of six, and she and her three brothers were "dragged up" by an unkind stepmother. Mark, a pilot in the RAF, was killed at Arnhem in 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which Esta and her young daughter Celia personally received from King George VI at Buckingham Palace. Celia died aged 39, leaving three children.

Prior to her aliyah to Israel, Esta had a formidable record of 65 years of voluntary work to her credit, dating back to 1935 when she founded the first Sephardi Ladies' Guild in England at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Holland Park, London. She remained their chairperson for over 30 years. In 1944 Esta became active on the Friendship Committee of Youth Aliya, in 1949 the Anti-Tuberculosis League of Israel was formed, and Esta became an active member. In 1950 she introduced an Israel Aid Committee into her synagogue, organizing annual and emergency appeals in aid of the JPA, JNF and Magen David Adom. In 1954 she became chairperson of the London Synagogues Ladies' Guilds affiliated to the Anti-Tuberculosis League of Israel, remaining their chairperson for 18 years. She organised regular fundraising activities which paid for the building and equipping of the Netanya Chest Clinic which was opened in 1966.

In 1989, following the death of her husband for 68 years, Raphael, the previous year, Esta made aliyah to join her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Israel. From her Raanana home Esta maintained regular contact with her Ladies' Guild in London.

Adapted from an appreciation of Esta that was written for her 100^th birthday.