An exhibition of portraits of the author and journalist Chaim Bermant by his widow Judy Bermant will be held at the Ben Uri Gallery to mark the 10th anniversary of his death. Described by Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jakobovits as ‘Anglo-Jewry’s voice of conscience’ and by Rabbi Tony Bayfield as ‘a bit of a miracle’ Bermant instead preferred to describe himself as a ‘licensed heretic’.

The exhibition will comprise over 40 portraits of Bermant ranging from the very first drawing his wife made of him before they were married to a bronze portrait bust. Judy Bermant is well known for her portrait drawings and has commented ‘Chaim was my favourite model because he was always there working or relaxing. He didn’t like sitting still for too long which is why most of my portraits tend to show him either watching TV or sleeping. He used to say that I had a mesmeric effect on him and only needed to pick up a pencil and fix him with my gaze for him to fall asleep.’

Chaim Icyk Bermant was born in Breslev, Poland and grew up in Barovke, Latvia where his father was Rabbi. In 1938 his father acquired a new position in Glasgow thanks to the intervention of relatives already living there. Perhaps best known for his column in the Jewish Chronicle, Bermant wrote for many other publications including the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, the Independent, Punch and the Oldie. He was also the author of a number of novels as well as the authorised biography of Lord Jacobovits.

Judy Bermant was born Judy Weil in London in 1939. She studied at St Martin’s School of Art and later printmaking with Peter Freeth RA at the Camden Institute. She married Chaim Bermant in 1962. She has exhibited widely in London and has had exhibitions at the Ben Uri Gallery in 1981 and 1990.

On 20th January 2008, the tenth anniversary of the sudden death, the public are invited to join his family, friends and colleagues at Ben Uri Gallery to read excerpts from his writings and discuss his legacy. Speakers will include former Jewish Chronicle editors Geoffrey Paul and Ned Temko. The Jewish Chronicle together with the Jewish Book Council have organised a new award in his memory and the first Chaim Bermant Prizes for Journalism will be awarded in February 2008 at Jewish Book Week.