Reverend Benjamin Henry Ascher

Reverend B. H. Ascher as he was known was the Kabbronim Rabbi (Funeral Rabbi) of the Great Synagogue in London. In 1847 he published his book, "The Book of Life" with prayers and rules for visiting the sick and dying, funerals and mourners.

17 Bury Street (1851 Census)

97 Highbury New Park (1881 Census)

See: https://jewishmiscellanies.com/2020/03/31/sefer-hachaim-the-book-of...

Jewish Chronicle obituary:

We much regret to announce the death of the Rev. B. H. Ascher, who died early on Friday morning last in his 82nd year.

Benjamin Henry Ascher was born in 1812, at Pizern, in the Grand Duchy of Posen. His father was Moses Ascher, a corn-merchant, called locally "the Nobleman." Benjamin and his half-brother Simeon Ascher, (the famous chazan of the Great Synagogue) were the only sons, out of a very numerous family, who devoted themselves to theology. Benjamin Ascher was a student from boyhood. In his youth he studied under the Rabbi of his native town and at a later period he received instruction in Talmudical subjects and Jewish literature from several eminent Rabbis; and from no less than three of them he received a Rabbinical Diploma. . But he by no means confined his studies to Hebrew literature. He thoroughly mastered German and found great pleasure in studying European literature, especially delighting in Lessing and Mendelssohn. He was, in fact, an omnivorous.leader and had a remarkable memory. Nothing, perhaps, gave him greater satisfaction than "capping" a Talmudical quotation, and.often those who knew his accuracy in this respect would test it, more for 1he pleasure of finding their confidence in his memory justified than to have the quotation verified and completed.

Mr B. IH. Ascher arrived in England in 1840, a few years after his brother, Simeon, had achieved almost an European reputation as the chazan of the London Great Shool. Benjamin Ascher found himself in congenial society in London and soon made friends of the few men—such as Michael Josephs, Louis Cohen and Barnard Van Oven-—who could appreciate his scholarship. He rapidly made himself familiar with English and taught in several of the leading families but there was then no communal oftice vacant which could be offered to him except the somewhat lugubrious position of Kabbronim Rabbi of the Great Synagogue to which he was elected in 1843, in succession to Rabbi Shelomo, the father - in - law of his colleague, Mr. I. M. Myers, then filling a similar post at the Hambro Synagogue. The office has become almost obsolete in these days, but fifty years ago its duties consisted of far more than reading the Burial Service. A Kabbronim Rabbi was required to visit the sick and dying, to "learn" at houses of mourning, to deliver sympathetic addresses during Shiva, to be well acquainted with the dinim connected with the Jewish burial rites, &c. In fact, these Shira discourses were the real beginnings of sermons in the vernacular in the Synagogue. He was one of the earliest preachers in London, and several of---his discourses have been published. The charaicteristic feature of his sermons was their emotional style.

When the Jewish Association for the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge was founded he joined the band of Preachers and Expositors, and served on its Committee from its establishment. At a later date he became a member of the Committee of the Society of Hebrew Literature. He attended the Dalston Synagogue and frequently preached_on Festivals and special occasions in the temporary iron structure in Mildmay Park, which preceded the present building in Poet's Road. Mr. Ascher was a member of the Committee of the Soup Kitchen, and helped in other charitable work, particularly in raising funds for the maintenance of the Jewish Wards of the Metropolitan Hospital. At the Festival Dinner of the Hospital his name was frequently coupled with the toast of "The Clergy." Mr. Ascher's anxiety to employ in scholarly work the spare moments not actually spent in the performance of his official duties found appropriate vent in preparing an edition of the Sepher .Hachayim—"The book of life—published in Hebrew and English in 1847. This well-known book reached a fifth edition in 1884. But the work which; perhaps, does more justice to his undoubted erudition is his edition of "Choice of Pearls " with an English translation arid notes. He also published, as long back as 1850 a small Catechism, entitled " Initiation of Youth." In passing we may mention that on the title page of the Book it is recommended as "adapted for the period of Confirmation " (a word now taboo). Another little book was the " Dedication of the House" giving the Service for that occasion.

Harking back to Mr. Ascher's early life, we must not omit to mention that he was on terms of intimacy with and eagerly showed much friendly attention to Jewish scholars who visited London, such as Leopold Dukes, Ehdelmann, Brunn, G.Salomon and others.

In 1853 he received a tempting offer to become Minister, or rather Rabbi, in Australia and was actually elected ; but at the last moment he declined to leave England. He was the earliest Jewish minister regularly engaged in visiting the prisons and asylums, and he threw much real interest into the work of visitation, which was by no means carried out by him in a perfunctory manner. Governors and warders of prisons as well as the medical staff of the asylums appreciated the value of his ministrations and greatly respected him. In fact, two prison wardens in uniform were among the non-Jewish followers to his grave.

He visited Pentonville prison but little more than a fortnight~ago. During the many years of visitation work he was enabled to obtain several relaxations to enable Jewish prisoners to observe their religion. As far back as 40 years ago he communicated on the subject with Sir George Grey. Mainly through his efforts Jewish prisoners were allowed to abstain from labour on Saturday ; and he also took much personal trouble in providing them with Kosher food during Passover. In 1884 he resigned the office of Kabbronim Rabbi of the United Synagogue, and as practical marks of appreciation he was granted by the Council a pension of his full salary, and a testimonial was presented to him, consisting of the title deeds of a-house in Highbury, which he vacated but last month, and removed to 71, Sutherland Avenue, where he died from pneumonia.

In 1840 Mr. Ascher married Hannah, daughter of the late Dr. Messeena, a member of the Lopez-Pereira family, who, with two daughters, survives him an only son, ten years ago.

The funeral was on Sunday at the Willesden Cemetery, the service being read by the Rev. J. Lesser, of the Dalston Synagogue, at which place of worship Mr. Ascher, prior to his removal to Sutherland Avenue, had been a regular worhipper. The funeral was attended by the Treasurers of the Burial Society, Mr.J. Magnus and Mr. S Simons, Mr. P. Ornstien, Secretary of the United Synagogue, and a number of other gentlemen associated with the deceased in public and private life.