Leonard Victor Snowman

Leonard Victor Snowman (1900-1976) was one of Anglo-Jewry's most esteemed physicians and mohelim who contributed a lifetime of service to the community in many educational fields. Snowman followed in the footsteps of his father, Dr Jacob Snowman, in his zeal for communal work. Jacob had had the honour of being mohel to the Royal family and Leonard was accorded a like distinction. He served the Initiation Society as medical officer for some 45 years and trained large numbers of future mohelim in their sacred calling. He was surgeon-mohel to the London Jewish Hospital and Bearsted Memorial Hospital from 1931 to 1970 and also served for many years as honorary medical officer to Jews' College. Allied to medical expertise was a profound love and knowledge of Hebrew literature and Dr Snowman wrote extensively on the subject in the Jewish Chronicle and other journals. He translated and published several Hebrew poets into English, specialising in Bialik and Tchernichovsky. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Hampstead Synagogue, where he was a regular worshipper, he wrote a Hebrew ode. Dr. Snowman was president of the Union of Hebrew and Religion Classes, one of the forerunners of the London Board of Jewish Religious Education, and was for many years chairman of the education committee of the LBJRE.