In keeping with his modest and unassuming demeanor, Yossi Schleider is reluctant to be the subject of any publicity about his award of the British Empire Medal, this in recognition of outstanding services to the Jewish community in North London.

Alex Strom, who put forward Mr Scheider’s name for the award, praised his “extremely strong sense of communal achrayus (responsibility) that drives him to become involved in a host of community projects” of which one in particular is currently at the forefront.

Bayis Sheli, a long term home for disabled children not only from London but from Gateshead and Manchester as well, has for a long time been the dream of a group of Stamford Hill families. Work on the £6.5 million project is practically finished. A well-attended reception this week revealed that the final phase has been reached, with only another £500,000 still to go. For some of the children, Bayis Sheli will be a long term home, while for others it will act as a short term residence while their families enjoy a period of respite.

Since he left Yeshiva over 40 years ago, Mr. Schleider has been involved in more projects than he wants to talk about or cares to remember but among them are the mental health charity Chizuk of which he is a trustee, the part he played as manager of the £16 million Yesodey Hatorah Grammar School project and the deep interest he has always shown in Aguda activities, from Pirchim to the Aguda convention. It goes without saying that these and many more of Mr. Schleider’s tsedoko endeavours are all undertaken on a purely voluntary basis, involving hour upon hour of intense unwavering commitment.

“I take pleasure in thinking about other people out there,” was all Yossi Schleider would say about his honour, and that is completely characteristic.

(Dina Rosell – Jewish Tribune, UK)