With great sadness, we share the news of the passing of
Sion Mehdi z”l
Honorary Director (Israel) and former Executive Director
Sion was born in Jerusalem in 1932 to Persian parents. From the age of 4, he was raised in London, where he lived until he made Aliyah following his retirement in 1998.
Working with his father, Sion became a preeminent importer of and expert in Oriental carpets. They were the first to be allowed to access carpets stockpiled by the former Soviet Union, regularly travelling into Soviet Russia, as well as China, Turkey, Romania and, of course, Iran.
Throughout his life, Sion was devoted to his communal work. He sat on the Board of Deputies British Jews and was very proud to have served as the Chairman of the Education and Youth Committee for 12 years. He was the Honorary Secretary of the Persian Hebrew Congregation for 39 years and was a youth leader and eventually chairman of the Victoria Boys and Girls Club. His lifelong passion was working with and for Jewish youth.
It was in 1985 that Sion claimed he started his “real” work, when he became Executive Director of Youth Aliyah Child Rescue. It was here that he found his calling, bringing the plight of Israel’s most needy children to the attention of British Jewry.
Throughout his life, Sion spoke of returning to Israel on his retirement. His family jokes that this was, in fact, when he began his “real” work. For over 20 years, Sion kept a rigorous schedule, visiting one of our Youth Villages every single day of the week. There, armed with a newspaper, tea and biscuits, he would welcome children to “The English Club”.
Children from across the world would share their stories and practice their conversational English with Sion, who was truly in his element. From Sion, the children not only learned English, but also a love of puns, puzzles, Israel, and Judaism.
It was the children of our Youth Villages that kept Sion youthful and vibrant in his later years. He loved nothing more than to be surrounded by children and act as their surrogate grandfather. He passed his passion for Youth Aliyah Child Rescue down to his daughter, Daliah, who became CEO in 2016.
Sion passed away peacefully in Israel on 15 April 2024 (7 Nissan 5784) and was buried on the Mount of Olives, as he had always wanted. He is survived by his three children and one grandson.
