From: The Corners of Scotland Part 8 February 2006 Published by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
Dr. Philip Orkin by Valerie House
A few days before Rosh Hashanah (beginning of September?) a very old friend — in both senses of the word — died.
Phil Orkin, together with his wife Sarah, were the people who led to our first period of living in Scotland. As a student representative to the British Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Aberdeen in 1963 I asked for kosher digs, which turned out to be with Sarah and Phil. With the help of their introductions, we returned to Aberdeen after graduation and marriage as post-graduate students.
At the time they were the leading figures in the Aberdeen Community and opened their home to any Jewish visitors. Phil led the Shabbat morning services, as well as community seders, and they were a fount of Jewish information in Aberdeen.
After we left Aberdeen we kept in touch, and met regularly once they moved to London. When they were in their late 80’s Sarah told me that they visited “the old people” in their community to help out; they didn’t regard themselves as old. Later we attended a Shabbat service and Kiddush to celebrate Phil’s 90th birthday.
When we returned to live in Gairloch after Frank’s retirement Phil asked a cousin of his in Argyll to get in touch with us. The introduction led us to the group that is now JNAH, and, through them we are now once again involved in the small Scottish Jewish communities.
When Martin Orkin wrote to tell us that Phil had died (at 96) we were sad to have lost both our old friends but we were grateful that we had known them and will always value the part they played in our lives, and especially for making a home in Scotland an important part of it.
Martyn Gorman
From: The Corners of Scotland Part 8 February 2006Published by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
Dr. Philip Orkin by Valerie House
A few days before Rosh Hashanah (beginning of September?) a very old friend — in both senses of the word — died.
Phil Orkin, together with his wife Sarah, were the people who led to our first period of living in Scotland. As a student representative to the
British Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Aberdeen in 1963 I asked for kosher digs, which turned out to be with Sarah and Phil. With the help of their introductions, we returned to Aberdeen after graduation and marriage as post-graduate students.
At the time they were the leading figures in the Aberdeen Community and opened their home to any Jewish visitors. Phil led the Shabbat morning services, as well as community seders, and they were a fount of Jewish information in Aberdeen.
After we left Aberdeen we kept in touch, and met regularly once they moved to London. When they were in their late 80’s Sarah told me that they visited “the old people” in their community to help out; they didn’t regard themselves as old. Later we attended a Shabbat service and Kiddush to celebrate Phil’s 90th birthday.
When we returned to live in Gairloch after Frank’s retirement Phil asked a cousin of his in Argyll to get in touch with us. The introduction led us to the group that is now JNAH, and, through them we are now once again involved in the small Scottish Jewish communities.
When Martin Orkin wrote to tell us that Phil had died (at 96) we were sad to have lost both our old friends but we were grateful that we had known them and will always value the part they played in our lives, and especially for making a home in Scotland an important part of it.
VALERIE HOUSE