We invite you to share your memories, thoughts and condolences for Rabbi Alan Plancey MBE, who passed away on Sunday 8 June 2025, 12 Sivan 5785 and Rebbetzin Miriam Plancey, who passed away on Friday 13 June 2025, 17 Sivan 5785.
Rabbi and Rebbetzin touched the lives of so many through their kindness and commitment to helping others. Please use this online book of condolences to share your memories and thoughts of them both.
Your messages will be shared with the family and will be a source of comfort to them during this extremely difficult time.
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379 Comments.
Rabbi Plancy was a rabbi who understood the human side of religion, and held the community in his heart and soul. He will be rembered for generations to come, as a Rabbi of his calibre comes along once in a lifetime. He will be sadly missed, and we wish his family health and long life. It was an honour to have known him.
From the very first day when we moved into Borehamwood and he arrived on our doorstep with breakfast on a tray we became close friends and neighbours. He will be so greatly missed by the enormous amount of people whose lives he touched and I together with my family wish all his family long life
Martin and I were married at Barnet Shul by Rabbi Plancey and Rabbo Shaun Robinson back in 2001. As Rabbi Plancey was also chaplain to the Jewish Scouts, we crossed paths many times and he used to pop into my Guide sessions in the Gilah Hall many times, on his way to and from Ma’ariv, in the shul library over the years. We have lost a dear friend as well as a wise counsellor. So sad to know that he has “gone home”.
Sending love to Rebbetzin Miriam and the whole family. BDE
I had the pleasure and honour of knowing Rabbi Plancey for almost forty years.
His warmth, wit and wisdom were always present and he lit up every room he entered.
He was the epitome of what constitutes a Communal Rabbi.
If you were to describe him in a single word, the one that would come to mind is ‘mensch’.
We shall really miss his smile, friendliness, kindness, decency, sense of humour, and generosity of spirit.
Yehi Nishmato Baruch.
May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him, in particular Rebbetzin Miriam, his children, grandchildren and extended family.
With deepest condolences and much sadness,
Rabbi Claude and Stephnie Vecht-Wolf and family.
Rabbi Alan apart from being exceptional leader full with chesed and a very big heart For us he, together with Miriam, were very dear personal friends. We shared so much together as colleagues and as friends.
A very great loss!
The end of an era! We were so saddened to hear of Rabbi Plancey’s passing. We considered him an integral part of our family who saw us through the good times and bad times. He will be sorely missed. Our condolences to Miriam and all the family.
Rabbi Alan Plancey z’l – quite simply a legend!
He had a love of pastoral care. It was at a time when many rabbis concentrated on other specialist areas within the Rabbinical world, he made it his business to work for the betterment of the vulnerable through Norwood and Jewish Care
He was an honorary spiritual care advisor for both organisations.
He was extremely helpful to me when I joined Norwood, I consulted him on a number of occasions. Whilst he was steadfast on maintaining Halacha yet understood that leaniancies should be applied for the vulnerable.
He was one of a Kind, my thoughts are with Rebbetzen Miriam and the family.
It is with great sadness that I heard the sad news.
Rabbi Plancey will always hold a special place in our hearts and minds.
He was a great source of support during my time as Headteacher of Sinai Jewish Primary School and was a welcomed, much loved and respected visitor to the school over many years. The children adored him, his words of wisdom imparted at just the right level with a sense of humour and true warmth.
On a more personal level he officiated at our eldest daughter’s wedding and we met at many simchas as well as sad times over the years.
He was admired and respected across communities and had a way to make everyone feel valued.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Rebbetzin Miriam and all the family
Rabbi Plancey was such a wonderful man and a lovely neighbour! He always stopped to speak to us on the road, and was always there to listen to any stories that my children wanted to tell him. Only recently, he built a special bond with my son and arranged to carry out his Barmitzvah – it was such a special morning and something our family will treasure and be forever grateful to him! Sending heartfelt condolences to Miriam and the rest of his family.
Lucy, Johnny, Jamie and Katie
Rafi and I had the pleasure to join Rabbi Plancey to a wedding in Surrey a few years ago, Rafi was singing and Rabbi was officiating the Chuppah. In the time we had sat in his home prior to the driver arriving through to the time we had in the car and the journey to and from the venue, in that time, we laughed, we listened, we learnt Torah and we did Jewish geography. It was a brief encounter but I knew he was a great man. His home had everything that you can imagine a Torah Mitzvah Home should have, seforim, Judaica but what stood out are the family photos – clearly his pride and joy. May his Neshama make a full and righteous Aliyah. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emet. Wishing all the family and healthy and long life.
We were so sad to read the sad news of the passing of Rabbi Plancey. He and Miriam welcomed us to the small BES (and Radlett in those days!) community when we got married. He was present at our Smachot and with us through more difficult times also. It is the end of an era, but the legacy in the community is evident.
Our thoughts are with Miriam and the family – Chaim Aruchim to all.
Rabbi Plancey ז׳ל, was very close to my father in law Shmuel (Samuel) Borger ז׳ל in Stamford Hill. I remember them laughing together with my dear husband ז׳ל Leonard Borger at their home many a time. Rabbi Plancey was easy to talk to and made you feel comforted. May ה’ give the family peace and strength in the coming days, weeks and months.
We moved into Borehamwood at similar times our children went to nursery together Rabbi Plancey officiated at every event over the last 50 odd years bat mitzvah’s weddings shivas funerals and all Inbetween. He was a friend , mentor and along with Miriam counsellor and my go to people.
I will miss our chats his stories and a Rabbi /friend who was an important part of the past 50 years
My heart goes out to Miriam the children and family.
May he now have the peace he so richly deserves
Rabbi Plancey officiated at my daughter’s wedding in 2019, with his customary wit and charm, taking the trouble and attentiveness to make a particular fuss of my 94 year old mother. Rabbi Plancey also attended, in his mayoral capacity, the local Samaritans AGM a couple of years later, where he gave an engaging talk and set the tone for an entertaining and inclusive event. I did not know him as well as many others did, but anyone who encountered him could not fail to be struck by his embracing and welcoming presence, both in the community that he served with such dedication and distinction for so many years, and generally. A huge personality who will be greatly missed and not forgotten. The community owes him a great debt and our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.
I shall never forget a mensche such as Rabbi Plancey. The support he gave us in August 2006 when my late wife was at the Peace Hospice in Watford. He visited her on her final day and later left to go home.
The staff rang him after she passed and he returned within ten minutes to be with the family.
You never forget something like that.
He was always a mensche.
Dear Miriam and family,
I have so many lovely and funny memories of Rabbi Plancey. Especially since he and my late father were such great/close/special friends. To this day I’m still unsure of the jokes they shared with each other, but I clearly still hear my father laughing so hard sometimes almost to tears. I’m deeply upset that I can’t be there until you are sitting shiva. However I’m wishing you all the strength to get through this sad time.
A good and kind man. A man with vast knowledge of today
Without his and Miriam efforts the community would not be what it is today.
The community of today will continue to remember him.
We remember enjoying hospitality in the home of Rabbi Plancey and Miriam on the many occasions when my husband came as Chazan to lead the davening.
The first time was the opening of the then “new” Shul on the first Rosh Hashana there.
Rabbi Plancey was one of the pioneering Rabbonim who built the Hertfordshire communities
B”DHE
Chaim Aruchim to Miriam and family
The Joseph family are devastated with the loss of our very dear friend Rabbi Plancey. Been with us over 50 years at the families joyous and sad events.
We will miss you very much.
Long Life to family.
Rabbi Plancey will be remembered as the kindest and most genuinely helpful man. His assistance with the repatriation of my Mother when she passed away in America will never be forgotten. He officiated at all our family simchas with great love and affection and with always a smile and a joke. The Harris family will miss him greatly.
A truly remarkable Rabbi and friend to our family for 47 years. He celebrated with us and mourned with us. He will be very much missed for many reasons. BDE
Sheila Wade with Linda and Stephen Kutner
Rabbi Plancey will be so sorely missed. He welcomed us into the Community when we first arrived and proved to be a true communal Rabbi. Baruch Dayan Ha’emet.
Thank you for not just being a great Rabbi but for being a fabulous next door neighbour for 10 years.
The genuine care and kindness you and Miriam gave is and will always be remembered.
Rabbi Plancey was a very unique character who can never be replaced.
Rabbi and Miriam have been part of my personal growth as a Dati Jew, his influence to the Jewish community and especially Borehamwood cannot be underestimated, I remember when we moved around here in 1984 and can remember how we had to go around Elstree trying to make a Friday night minyan to when he retired they community had exploded to over 2000 families. His ability to make everyone feel included is a skill many Rabbi’s still have not learned.
My personal experience of his kindness was shown when I got covid when was in his late 70’s but still came every day to visit Lisbeth and the boys to see how they were coping I will never truly be able to repay both him and the Rebbetzin.
May his sweet soul found it’s true place at the foot of Hashems throne
RIP
Rav
Rabbi Plancey was very much a hero to me. He exuded kindness in everything he did, which came through with his ‘one of a kind’ sense of humour. I had so many wonderful encounters with him and also had the privilege of standing under a chuppah with him. The word ‘legend’ is often overused, but it really applies here. Sending Chayim Aruchim to Miriam and all of the family… I will continue to carry my memories of him as an inspiration.
It is with great sadness that we hear this news.
Rabbi Plancey was always very supportive, kind and couldn’t do enough to support our family through the years. He will be sorely missed.
After officiating at our wedding in 2001, Rabbi and Rebbitzen Plancey arranged Sheva Brachot at their house; inviting 10 other newly married couples, cementing friendships that endure to this day. It was such a lovely gesture and gave us a fantastic start to life in the community.
One of my abiding memories of Rabbi Plancey’s kindness and support was in 2006, following the difficult birth of our eldest and an extended stay in hospital that left Joanna and I utterly exhausted (notwithstanding a new child).
I remember the Bris as a blur. To everyone else it looked like Rabbi Plancey was simply emotionally supporting the father at the bris of his first child, quietly organising everything in the background. What they didn’t see was the he was physically holding me up and subtly whispering the words of the brachot for me to repeat.
And of course, once it was over he and Miriam made sure there were constant food packages being arranged!
We will miss him greatly and our thoughts are with Rebbitzen Miriam and the rest of the family.
Simon, Joanna, Adam, Benjamin and Gideon
“A rabbi that doesn’t close his Gemara to do tzedaka and chesed – even when the Gemara is open in front of him, it’s as if it’s closed. However the converse is also true – a rabbi that does close his Gemara to do tzedaka and chesed, even when it’s closed, it’s as if it’s open!”
These words, attributed Reb Chaim of Brisk, underpin so much of what Rabbi Plancey stood for and how he led as a role model for so many in the rabinate.
It is unique to find a leader who can so naturally advocate for the serious application of Halacha and Torah learning and at the same time be a fountain of kindness to others.
There are ma’asim tovim, acts of kindness, and there is a ba’al chessed, a person who is characterised by kindness. Many people float in and out of chessed and do noble bits here and there. They do ma’asim tovim. There are few, however, that are defined by their kindness and make it part of the air that they breathe. That is what makes a ba’al chessed. Rabbi Plancey Zt’l and his Rebbetzin, Stltv’a, had a finely tuned radar of benevolence constantly in place and were on call to act on it at any moment- real ba’alei chessed.
On a personal level, our family was in awe of the sensitivity and apt words he gave at the levaya for my wife’s grandmother. He stepped in to officiate at the drop of a hat and knew exactly how to comfort. Before she passed away, ongoing visits by him and the rebetzin allowed us to see first hand how a rabbinic couple reaches out in an hour of need.
To quote from his Biblical name sake, Yechezkel,
“I will pasture My flocks and I will make them rest, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost and I will retrieve the one astray; I will bind the broken and I will strengthen the ill..” (Yechezkel 34/15-16)
The prophet Yechezkel here is referring to The Lord and in this regard Moreinu ve’Rabeinu Harav Yechezkel was clearly fashioned in the image of The Lord.
תנצב”ה
It was with great sadness that I heard the sad news.
Wishing the family a long life.
Rabbi Plancey and Rebbetzin Miriam welcomed my family to this community over twenty years ago, and that warmth set the tone for everything that followed.
When I became chair, I heard wonderful stories about the quiet chesed (kindness) he and the Rebbetzin had been doing for years — opening their home, supporting families, making those calls that meant so much to people, right up until recently.
Celebrating his second bar mitzvah with the community last year was special for all of us. Seeing him take his rightful place at the front of the shul, and hearing how much he’d enjoyed the morning, was lovely.
Rabbi Plancey helped build the community we know today through his dedication and kindness.
We owe him so much, and he’ll be greatly missed.
Our thoughts are with Rebbetzin Miriam and the whole family.
Josh, Louise and family