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Cyril, 100, Speaks Five Languages

Article by Avril Kon and Raymond Solk
Cyril Solk ... was named ESRA Outstanding Volunteer in 2007. Photo: Barbara Blum

Cyril is a self-educated man who speaks five languages but can only curse in three of them. The youngest of eight children, his early years were spent catering to his siblings after the tragic death of his mother when he was fourteen years old.

After serving in the British army during World War II, he returned to England, moved to London from his birthplace in Leeds and opened an upscale ladies hair styling salon in one of the city's most fashionable neighborhoods.

In 1970,Cyril and his wife Netta made aliyah to Israel where he proceeded to take a new lease on life first as a caterer, then in the International Department of a bank,utilizing his language skills,and finally as a school teacher, teaching English to Israeli children.

In between, he somehow found time to involve himself in communal affairs. He is a founder and past president of Congregation Torat Hayim. He worked with the Herzliya municipality in obtaining the land for the shul's permanent home and also when a local family wished to donate land in memory of their fallen soldier son, he, along with others, succeeded in having the land turned into a park to be enjoyed by the local residents. He delights in sitting there and enjoys the fruits of his labor by watching the children play on the swings and slides.

In 2007, Cyril received an Outstanding Volunteer Award from ESRA. He has been a member of ESRA ever since the very first meeting with ESRA's Founder and President, Merle Guttmann, 39 years ago. Cyril has been an active volunteer in ESRA helping in several areas: with coffee mornings in Netanya arranged by the late Cecelia Kriss in aid of the blind, with the Golden Friendship Club in Herzliya, with the bridge mornings, very successfully tutoring English to school pupils and with ESRA's home catering for ever so many functions.

Having participated in the marriage of his children and grandchildren, he recently had the pleasure of joining in the bar mitzvah of the first of his great-grandsons.

As he continues to enlighten with his wisdom and knowledge, Cyril has been an inspiration to all he has crossed paths with and at 100 years young, continues to bring love and joy to his family and friends. 

 

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Friday, 29 March 2024

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