Grandfather Isaac Icht

ISRAELI Isaac Icht was looking for information on his late grandfather in Manchester, but discovered revelations much closer to home.

Isaac, who lives in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, appealed to Jewish Telegraph readers on a visit to Manchester last year for memories of his late grandfather, who was also called Isaac Icht.

Isaac believed that his grandfather came from either Kishishev (now Chisnau in Moldova) or Kiev, in the Ukraine.

His grandfather had moved to Manchester in 1924 and was head cantor at the North Manchester Hebrew Congregation.

Isaac lived with his wife at 161a Great Clowes Street.

When Isaac junior returned to Israel, a visit to see his auntie Haviva proved to be more than worthwhile.

He said: "I went to see my auntie, who lives on Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim, near Jerusalem.

"The family had always been very secretive about my grandfather, although I did know that he was a very wealthy, proud man.

"In fact, he was one of the wealthiest around in Manchester at that time."

Auntie Haviva gave Isaac a copy of his grandfather's birth certificate and a copy of a newspaper article which revealed more about his family.

He said: "Although my grandfather wanted to go to Palestine - as it was - he never made it, but my father's brothers and sisters did, with the exception of my uncle Menachem."

Menachem anglicised his name to Monty Hicks and became an eminent professor.

Anyone with more information, contact Isaac on 07812 703229.