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.
So saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Plancey. Such a special man who touched so many people’s lives and had a real impact on our Jewish community. Blessed to have been married by him 22 years ago. Wishing his family long life.
We were so sad to hear of cousin Alan’s passing whose life was a true embodiment of chesed and kindness. He gave generously of himself, always finding ways to help others quietly and wholeheartedly. His warmth and gentle presence touched all who knew him.
I will never forget the beautiful Haggadah he gave me for my Bat Mitzvah — a gift that continues to bring meaning to me every Pesach. May his petira be a kapara for klal yistoel and may the family be comforted knowing how special he was.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלים.
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear close friend Rabbi Alan Plancey. A wonderful family man, a beacon of utter integrity, and a true leader. Boruch Dayan Emess.
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Plancey who I have known from his Luton days where I grew up. A lovely man who had true community at his heart and who cared deeply about his faith. He knew my late parents well and was a good friend to them and their family.
Words fail me and my wife. Rabbi Plancey not only buried my parents but married us and sadly, on his own buried our daughter. We owed Alan so much and a more kind genuine person we have never known. He orchestrated our sons Barmitzvah and taught him (albeit he said never again). We were blessed to have him and Miriam in our lives for so long and I do not think the we will ever know of such dedication to one shul. The Steve Perryman of Borehamwood!!! We loved Alan as family, I was blessed to have seen him at Radlett for the inauguration of the current Rabbi and have a picture of him with Rabbi Hughes two of the most realistic Rabbis you will ever find. I will treasure that moment. We wish the family a long and healthy life.
Barukh Dayan ha-Emet!
Whenever we saw Rabvi Plancey he (and Miriam) greeted us with warmth and affection. Always caring for us, our family and our friends.
Many years ago he knocked on the door of our new house (37 years ago!) to introduce himself. He asked if we would be attending shul on Shabbat. I was embarrassed to have to admit that my husband had to work on a Saturday and I was deeply apologetic. He completely understood and said he had to work on a Saturday too, and that was the man he was, non judgemental, so caring and so passionate about his community and all people. He will be so missed. A great void will be felt by us all. Our hearts go out to Miriam and his lovely family.
Dear Miriam and Family,
My deepest condolences to you and the family. Rabbi Plancy was known to so many jewish families in Borehamwood but all over the country. he was a legend in his own rights. I remember him being at the hospital where my grandmother was dying and he came and spoke to us whilst visiting someone else.
I wish you all long life and may his soul rest in eternal peace
We first met Rabbi Plancey and Miriam in 1987 when we moved into Borehamwood.
We have lovely memories of him officiating at all 3 Barmitzvah’s of our sons.
He was a great Rabbi and friend and will be surely missed by all the Borehamwood community.
A wonderful man. The help he gave me when I lost my brother is immense. Also the pleasure of working at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue gave me the opportunity to say hello many times to him. He will be missed. ❤️
I am so upset to hear of Rabbi Planceys passing. I first knew him when he was my teacher at Hasmo. I would then see him frequently at my job in the Beis Din. He was always funny, always knew the right thing to say. He and Miriam became our friends. He was at my wedding, my sons Barmitzvah, my daughters bat Mitzvah and both their engagements and weddings under the chuppah and speaking at the dinner. He was a wonderful advisor and together with Miriam have been there for me in times of trouble as well as celebrating our Simchas. It is a true loss to every aspect of various communities. Sending Miriam and the family love and strength and comfort. Wishing Chayim Aruchim. Baruch Dayan Haemes
ברוך דיין אמת – From first meeting Rabbi Plancey at Kerem School (1976) where he taught the older classes, to being his student learning for my bar mitzvah (1983), attending my first Tikkun Leil in his and Miriam’s home (1985) running the EBOR US Youth Service (1987-88) with Danny Freedman, and laining and dovening alongside him and others to build up the Radlett minyan (1981-1993), Rabbi Plancey was a constant presence in my and my family’s life throughout my youth. Everything that is said about his pastoral skills is אמת לאמתו. I remember vividly how passionately he spoke from the pulpit on his visits to Moscow and Leningrad to visit Soviet refuseniks and how promptly he came to visit my father at home in Radlett after his heart by-pass operation in 1989. Whenever I lain, as I still do, I think of my teacher, R’ Plancey. Wishing Miriam, Susie, Nechama, Meir and Nussi and all the family, חיים ארוכים.
David Gilinsky, and family, Karmiel. And on behalf of Sandra Coorsh (Gilinsky)
Rabbi Alan Plancey was a warm, kind and caring person who gave a huge amount of himself to all members of his community and one can truly say that he was a wonderful Rabbi of the people and for the people. His sermons were full of humour, knowledge and good advice and he gave much of his spare time visiting hospitals, spreading his blessings and helping people through their illnesses and difficult times as well as also helping to make their simchas special times to remember. The community of Elstree and Borehamwood will surely miss him terribly – as we will.
Rabbi Plancey was a good friend of my sister Betty and brother in-law Shmul he came to all their simchas; condolences to all the family
Rabbi Plancey became interim Rabbi at Northwood U.S.during my tenure as Chairman and so I worked with him quite closely on many things to do with the shul. My memories of him were of a very understanding man who always saw the best in people and made shalom wherever this became necessary. Like myself, of Scottish descent – he took a lively part in our Scottish themed evening – wearing trews and (do I recall) playing the bagpipes (or do I imagine that?) Anyway – a great and lovely character who built up a hugely successful community. And pleasing so many people for so long wasn’t an easy job. Farewell Alan – another of that earlier generation now fading away.
Rabbi Plancey was not just a Rabbi, but a dear friend to everyone in the community. We were neighbours, and no problem was ever too small or too big, he was always there for you with his happy, beaming smile and kind words and sage advice. He barmitzvahed both our boys and officiated at our daughter’s wedding.
He will be dearly missed by us all. All our love to the Plancey family and wish them all ‘Long Life.’ May his memory be a blessing…🙏🏻
Rabbi Plancey dedicated much of his life to building Borehamwood & Elstree shul. He and Rebbetzin Miriam played a very large part in making our community what it is today. His interests ranged very much wider, notably in interfaith relations and more recently, as a hard-working elected councillor serving the wider community. We enjoyed a vibrant partnership at the time I chaired the shul and it was a privilege to work together in taking it forward. Wishes of arichat yamim to Rebbetzin Miriam and the whole family and our thoughts are with them.
So sad to hear this news , I knew him , and met him many times , on family occasions , wishing all his family Long Life .
He married my daughter in 2011 and by coincidence it was my grandsons Barmitzvah over the weekend so just wanted to send sincere condolences to the family as I remember fond memories of my daughters wedding and other times he officiated.
A truly wonderful man of the people. He will be greatly missed
Goodbye to my Rabbi, my dear friend and mentor. I will always remember your kindness and warmth to me and my family, over many years, through good times like my son’s brit and barmitzvah, and sad times like my late father’s passing, you were always there for us. I will miss your wisdom, warmth and kindness always. Baruch dayan emet.
Rabbi Plancey and Miriam welcomed us when we joined the community back in 1998 and hosted social evenings for young couples who had just moved to the area. When our son was one and seriously ill in hospital, Rabbi Plancey messaged us every day to see how he was doing, how we were, and to see if we needed anything. We will never forget that kindness.
Wishing Miriam and all the family and long life.
Rabbi Plancey and Miriam have always been a part of our lives. He was there when I was married to Peter, at my late son’s barmitzvah and sadly at his funeral. My daughter Amy’s batmitzvah and then later on flew out to Israel for her wedding. He married Stuart and I and was a source of comfort when he was diagnosed with Lymphoma
He will be a huge loss to us all. We wish long life to his family and Miriam in particular. His memory will go on and on
I was very sad to hear of the passing of Rabbi Alan Plancey.
I remember him from the time I worked at United Synagogue’s head office at Woburn house.
He was always cheerful and kind and I remember the good advice he gave me.
I asked him to be one of the officiants at my son’s wedding at St John’s Wood, many years ago now.
I wish Miriam and all of his family ‘long life’ may he rest in eternal peace. He will be greatly missed.
Rabbi Plansey Z”L remembered for his kindness, patience and incredible humour he was a credit to the Jewish Community and will be missed by so many of us. May his memory be a blessing.
Rabbi Plancey was a true friend to the Yavneh schools over many years. He supported us in so many ways and was always available for advice and chizuk.
Rabbi Plancey supported me personally over the last 40 years. His capacity for community building was an inspiration to me.
יהי זכרו ברוך
Dear Miriam and family
We remember fondly your time and friendship at Northwood shul.
Rabbi Plancey was a lovely man and always an inspiration to ourselves.
We wish you and your family a long life.
Marilyn, Henry and Robert Goldstein
Alan was not only my Rabbi and dear friend for over 30 years, but also everyone’s Rabbi; He truly was a “special man of the people, our people.”
Our family moved from Brighton in the early 1990s.
We joined BES, and soon after, my father unexpectedly died. Alan dropped everything to be with me, guide me, and support me. I had never had this input and care from a Rabbi before, who had only known me for 2 months.
From that moment on, with Miriam and my wife, Kim, they became not just our rabbi and rebetzkin but good friends, with whom we shared many family Simchas togehter, and even Rosh Hashanahs when he was the Rabbi at Northwood.
He, without doubt, and without asking, brought me closer to my religion and Shul.
Alan always had the right words to say at the right time for whatever the occasion was, happy or sad.
I loved our open and honest relationship, and will miss so much the intimate, friendly Friday night service that Alan had at his home with the people he considered his friends, I will miss his Shiurs.
To Miriam, Susy, Nechama, Meir, and Nussi, I send my love and wish you all a long life, free from further sorrow.
You had a husband and father to be so proud of.
Myself, Kim, and my children, Josh, Jade, and Scott, will miss him, his beaming smile, his cheeky laugh, his sense of humour, and his huge presence so much.
I know that in the passage of time, we will only remember the happy times we all shared together.
Thank you Alan for all you did for me, for my family, and for everyone.
You were and will be remembered as a shining example of an honourable, outstanding Jewish man who did so much for so many people. xx
We first met Rabbi Plancey z”l over 40 years ago when we attended a celebration at Borehamwood shul.
Although we did not live in the area he made us very welcome and drew us in to the large group of attendees putting us completely at ease.
Over the ensuing years we encountered him on several occasions; sometimes we were honoured to find ourselves on the same table as him and his charming wife.
Not only did he remember us but always had an interesting lesson or fact to share.
He was a very special man and his loss will be keenly felt,
We wish Miriam and all the mourners “Long Life”.
Rabbi Plancey was more than just a Rabbi. He was our friend, guide and mentor and helped our family when we needed him and celebrated our smachot that made them so special. The end of an era and a person who could never be replaced – Denise and I will miss him greatly. All our love to the Plancey family at this sad time. May his memory be a blessing and guide to us all.