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 Plancey accompanied my late husband, Raoul and members of the Borehamwood community to Israel.
They both liked to tell jokes. If it was a good joke they would step back once. But, if it was a very good joke they would step back twice.
My sincerest condolences to Miriam and all the family.
Gloria Mitchell
Rabbi Plancey will always have a special place in our hearts. Having moved to the UK from SA in 1981 we needed to find affordable accommodation in an area with a Jewish community. We looked at a property in Borehamwood and went to visit the shul to assess the community. Rabbi Plancey, a Rabbi larger than life, greeted us with such a warm welcome. We immediately knew Borehamwood was for us.
Rabbi Plancey and Rebbetzin Miriam have seen us through all our life cycle events. They have both been an enormous support to us both as we have no family in the UK. Rabbi Pancey’s humour, twinkle in his eye and his unwavering support will be sorely missed.
We wish Rebbetzin Miriam and the family Long Life, Chaim U’ Rachim, on the sad loss of a wonderful man.
We have very fond memories of Rabbi Plancey, firstly from Gilah Nursery School and then when we became members of BES. He was always very warm and welcoming and had a genuine interest in his community. Our thoughts & prayers are with his beloved Miriam and the entire Plancey family at this very sad time.
Rabbi Plancey went to Israel with my late husband Raoul and members of the of Borehamwood community.
They both liked to tell jokes. If it was a good joke they would step back one step. If it was a very good joke they would step back two steps. It was wonderful having Alan (we called him Alan) with us.
My condolences to Miriam and all the Plancey family. Gloria Mitchell.
We are so sorry to hear of Rabbi Alan Plancey MBE passing. We remember him fondly from Norrice Lea and his sound advice in bringing up our four sons in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s will always be remembered. May his memory be a blessing.
Having met Rabbi Plancey soon after moving into the area we found him to be a wonderful person and with Miriam at his side was always meeting and greeting with a pleasant smile. He officiated at one of our sons Barmitzvah and went on to officiate at our other sons wedding which was 10years to the day that Hashem took him under his wing. Wishing Miriam and the rest of the family A LONG LIFE.
We were saddened to hear of the loss of Rabbi Alan Plancey, the key architect in the building of this remarkable Kehilah.
We moved to the area in 1983 and Rabbi Plancey was ever present, ever involved and ever committed to Jewish life and beyond during all the years that we knew him.
He attended, with great joy, all our smachot and guided us with great care and sensitivity through the difficult times, most recently delivering a beautiful hesped at the shiva for my late father, only a few short weeks ago.
A larger than life character who will be remembered by all those who came into contact with him. His impact was considerable and with Miriam they made a formidable team leading the community from a small backwater to the largest kehilah in the country.
He will not be forgotten…..
Wishing Arichat Yamim to Miriam, Suzy, Meir, Nechama, Nussi and sister Phyllis.
So sad to learn of the news of Rabbi Plancey. A fellow Glaswegian, Rabbi Plancey was a warm and larger than life character whether in the pulpit, council chamber or beside a set of bagpipes. He led both the Jewish and then non Jewish community in Borehamwood & Elstree Community for so many years. My thoughts are with Miriam and all the family.
We were saddened in the Council of Christians and Jews to hear of the Rabbi’s passing. Rabbi Plancey MBE z”l was a consistent advocate for good interfaith relations and a friend to the Christian community. In our organisation, today we have been remembering his warmth and inspiring and engaging speaking style. We are grateful for his service through the Chief Rabbi’s office to interfaith relations in the UK. May his memory be for a blessing.
So sad to hear of the passing of Rabbi Plancey. He was junior rabbi at Norris lee and officiated at my Barmitzvah. He also married me at Dunstan Rd synagogue. He was a a friend of the family for the Tarns and Chesters, he will be greatly missed. Wishing long-life to Miriam and the family
Rabbi Plancey was special in that he made everyone feel welcome, whether you were a non shul goer or a frequent attender. He managed to build a community that was envied by those around the country, that was inclusive and warm. He WAS Borehamwood shul and has left a large void in our community. From Rabbi, councillor and friend, I will always remember him. May his memory be a blessing.
We were saddened to learn of Rabbi Planceyโs passing and our thoughts are with his wife and family to whom we offer our heartfelt condolences. He will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege to have met him.
From the moment we moved into Anthony Road in Borehamwood, when Rabbi Plancey greeted us the first morning on our doorstep with breakfast on a tray and took us across the road for coffee our relationship was formed. Our family and his became our special friends and neighbours. We echo everybody’s wonderful comments and he will be sorely missed but always in our hearts. We send our heartfelt condolences to Miriam and this very special family and wish them all long life.
A remarkable man who became a friend, and confidant and who I will miss greatly.
Wishing the family long lifeโฆ
He was truly wonderful always acknowledged us – bar mitzvah our son and also his wedding just 2 years he will be sorely missed in the community- Sleep well ๐ฅฒ
We moved to Borehamwood as a young married couple in 1986 and Rabbi & Miriam Plancey immediately became surrogate parents to us. The community in those days was much smaller โ the Tikun Leil was held in their lounge and on Simchat Torah, all the young marrieds were invited to lunch at the Planceys home in Anthony Rd. Rabbi Plancey zโl along with all his family created a warmth that attracted many other young families to the area and they laid the foundations for the huge community that it now is.
When our children were born, they were at the door with cooked food, when we had difficult times, they were there with practical help, love and sympathy, when there were smachot we laughed and danced together. Rabbi Plancey zโl has left a huge hole in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the privilege of being part of his kehilla.
Wishing Miriam, Suzy, Meir, Nechama and Nussi, his sister Phyllis and all their families Arichat Yamin.
May his memory be for a blessing as indeed his life was to all who knew him.
We moved to Borehamwood as a young married couple in 1986 and Rabbi & Miriam Plancey immediately became surrogate parents to us. The community in those days was much smaller โ the Tikun Leil was held in their lounge and on Simchat Torah, all the young marrieds were invited to lunch at the Planceys home in Anthony Rd. Rabbi Plancey zโl along with all his family created a warmth that attracted many other young families to the area and they laid the foundations for the huge community that it now is.
When our children were born, they were at the door with cooked food, when we had difficult times, they were there with practical help, love and sympathy, when there were smachot we laughed and danced together. Rabbi Plancey zโl has left a huge hole in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the privilege of being part of his kehilla.
Wishing Miriam, Suzy, Meir, Nechama and Nussi, his sister Phyllis and all their families Arichat Yamin.
May his memory be for a blessing as indeed his life was to all who knew him.
We are so sad to learn of Rabbi Plancey’s passing. He was not just our rabbi; he was a guiding light through the milestones of our lives. From the joyous celebrations of our children’s births, their bar/bat mitzvahs, baby blessings and the sad farewells to our dear parents, he was always there with the right comforting words, blended with both heartfelt wisdom and humour that touched our hearts. He leaves an indelible memory burnt into the story of my family’s life.
Even in retirement, whenever I entered our shul, my eyes instinctively searched for your presence in the Rabbi Emeritus chair. Your absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our community, a testament to the impact you had on each of us.
May your memory continue to inspire us, and may your soul find eternal peace.
I have only fond memories of Rabbi Plancey – both from my occasional visits to BES and as a chorister in several weddings that he conducted (albeit in the ‘old days’ when choirs regularly sang at weddings). Rabbi Plancey always spoke movingly to the bride and groom – and then to their parents, who he remarked “had a wealth of experience to share”. He then went on to implore the parents to “wait until they were asked” for such advice to be imparted. A message all parents would do well to heed!
Rabbi Plancey would not have been able to achieve the enormous accomplishments he did without the stalwart support of his dear wife Miriam, for whom his loss must be so enormous. She is everything a Rebbetzin could be and together they made a wonderful team, a huge example to all those in the Rabbinate.
Rabbi and Rebbetzen Plancy were a wonderful addition to our Northwood Comunity both in a pastoral and spiritual sense.
His immense arms reached out to us all, young and old. His humour, kindness and willingness to do whatever was asked was exemplary. He was immensely kind to my mother after a devastating stroke and as support for my father during the ten years of her sojurn at The Princess Alexandra Nursing Home regularly popping in to see her and help with the kiddush rota. I will always be eternally grateful for this alone.
We remember Rabbi Plancey livening up Pesach at The Normandie Hotel (Bournemouth) including communal Seders.
A great man. Was a pleasure to have got to know him. It turned out the world and Jewish community are small, he knew my in laws and wife very well from his time at Northwood Synagogue.
Rest in peace Rabbi, your memory is a blessing to us all – Zichrono livracha.
Hamakom yinachem etchem b’toch sh’ar avelei tzion v’yerushalayim.
Wishing Rebbetzin Miriam and family a very long life and our thoughts are with you all at this time.
I first met Rabbi Plancey when he was appointed assistant Rabbi at HGS Synangogue when both he and Miriam endeared themselves to the congregation. He was so approachable and hospitable to all, both young and old.
I for one was very sorry when they both moved on.
May his memory be for a blessing
I originally joined Croxdale Synagogue over 40 years ago and although I was not a regular participant Rabbi Plancey always made me and my family welcome and encouraged us to think about our actions in life generally.
ืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืช
Rabbi Plancey ืืฆ”ื along with Miriam were a key part of my life for 40 years. Whilst I may not remember it, he was sandek at my Brit in 1977, not long after he arrived in Borehamwood and went on to see me grow through to Bar Mitzvah, teenage years, marriage and then neighbour living just a few doors down the road. He saw the birth of my 4 children and our family grow until our Aliyah 7.5 years ago.
The relationship the Rabbi built with the community was special. Many memories of being in the Plancey’s home for their open house succah when the community was small enough to allow it, or the tikkun leil. But one particular memory stands out – As a Gabbai of the youth service when I was 16/17 years old, the shul appointed a new Youth Director. The rabbi invited the 3 youth service gabbaim to come and meet him before he started the job. This person commented afterwards at how amazed he was that 3 late teenagers could sit so relaxed and comfortably in their rabbi’s home and how this would never have happened where he came from. I think it summarises the Rabbi and Miriam through their time in the community. Always an open home, would do anything to help anyone they could and even after retirement from BES went onto serve the wider Borehamwood community.
Wishing Miriam, Suzy, Nechama, Meir and Nussi a ืืืื ืืจืืืื.
May the Rabbi’s neshama have an Aliyah
ืืื ืืืจื ืืจืื
We first met Rabbi Plancey in the lead up to our Wedding and by chance, as we were let down by someone else. Well, it was beshert and our privilege that we got him to officiated our wedding. His wise words of advice to us as well as his reassuring fatherly like guidance will be in our memories forever. May his memory be a guide and a blessing to the community.
My wife and I were new members of BES when Rabbi and Rebbertzen Plancey arrived and how exceptionally well they did in building up one of the most vibrant communities in the US. I had the privilege of working with him over some years and he was always supportive and inspirational, all done with a smile. We wish Miriam and the family a long and peaceful life.
I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Rabbi Plancey’s passing. Rabbi Plancey and his family are embedded in my childhood memories.
The Plancey family were always welcoming & warm and were central to the community experience. Despite moving from Elstree in my late teens, it was always a pleasure to sporadically see Rabbi Plancey officiating the weddings of friends and family.
The community will forever be indebted to the Planceys and the positive impact Rabbi Plancey had on the community and further afield will always be appreciated and never forgotten.
Wishing a long life to Nechama, Susie, Meir, Nussi & Miriam.
With love,
Heron.
A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL MENCH is what I can say about Rabbi Plancey. Although only being member of BES for a relatively short time, my memories of him go back many years when I had the privilege of singing as a professional chorister with a number of prestigious US choirs, including at Central (Great Portland Street) and New West End (St. Petersburgh Place) where Rabbi Plancey would often officiate as a visiting Rabbi at weddings and at occasional services. Even though the choir was often hidden away in the gallery and could not be seen, he would never fail to mention the choir when thanking people at the end of the chuppah or service.
I vividly remember an occasion at New West End Shul on Burns Night when he and the resident chazzan, Jeremy Lawson who was also from Glasgow, brought their bagpipes to give us hilarious renditions of Scottish tunes, both having been plied liberally with whisky . He never failed to greet me by my first name when meeting me in the street or at shul and would enquire how my family was.
I am proud to say that I was instrumental in appointing Rabbi Plancey to the community in 1977. It was one of my best decisions for our community. Rabbi Plancey has been a whole hearted communal rabbi and is mainly responsible the thriving community that we are today. We are both proud to have had him as a rabbi and a friend, and we are very sad that he has passed away.