At his final Board meeting, Sol expressed the wish that the Shul members collect funds to purchase a Sefer Torah. All the Sifrei Torah which the shul owned were donated, and some were already quite old. Sol realised that it would be an expression of the coming of age of the Shul to have, at last, a Sefer which was really its very own. He also understood that such an enterprise brings a community together and instils a sense of purpose, pride and co-operation.

So it is with enormous pride, pleasure and emotion that we can say we have completed the task entrusted to us by our beloved Sol.

This is the moving tribute paid to him by Rabbi Singer:

"For the past 15 years, Sol has been the shul. Not only serving on the executive and as President but actually living there. He did go home to sleep - but had he been able to do that in shul he probably would have done so. The daily minyonim were started by him and he waged a constant struggle to keep them going, phoning when necessary and encouraging more people to daven themselves.

He was the warden on the bimah for all these years - It's hard to imagine leyening without him. The very fabric of the building was cared for by Sol - up on the roof to fix leaks or repairing the doors, Succah building - there was nothing he did not do. A self-effacing peacemaker who did everything possible to preserve unity in the community and never claimed any credit for himself. Opening up the shul all these years come rain or shine and attending all the levayas or matzevas, barmitzvahs or chassenahs.

'Uncle' Sol was a member of our family and of many families in the area, it's hard to imagine making a simcha without him or the Yomim Tovim with his seat empty.

We promise you to carry on your work with G-d's help. The Succah will go up and the minyan will continue. More of us are going to come more often to the minyonim you worked so hard for and we shall try to preserve the unity for which you strove. May G-d help us to be worthy followers in your example and to remember and be inspired by all of your good deeds. May your families treasure your memory and be inspired to be better Jews because of you. Now we cannot wait for your phone calls - we are going to have to come ourselves.

At the passing of the Holy Arizal, he was eulogised by his pupil R. Chayim Vital who interpreted this verse in our Sedra to mean that when one passes away who was so good there seems to be no reason for him to deserve death - then you must attribute the reason to the tree of Knowledge that brought G-d's decree of death on mankind. May he remove this punishment from us with the coming of the Moshiach and revival of the dead speedily in our days and in those days the world will be full of Knowledge of the Lord and all the shuls so full that people will have to phone to reserve a place. We have been very privileged to have such a father, grandfather, brother and friend."

This is a poem that Sol enjoyed, written for him a couple of years ago.

Long live King Solomon - Joiner Supreme
Guarder and defender of the Shabbas Queen
Architect and builder of Bury's best built booth
Pourer of oil to make troubled waters smooth
Warden of the Mitzvahs and wisest of all men
'Up with Uncle Sol!' we say again.

Throughout the ages, all over the world
Wherever our banner was unfurled
To form a quorum needed ten
True and faithful Jewish men
Only one man can go it alone
Solomon Weinstock with his telephone!

Teams of workers are the proof
Of water dripping through the roof
Ladders swarming with builders' mates
Preparing exaggerated estimates
One man alone plugged all our holes
Solomon Weinstock in one of his roles.

Mechitzah building is a trade
Of which most joiners are afraid
Not to cut off all the sound
Yet high enough above the ground
One carpenter made our partition
Solomon Weinstock in another edition.

Some caterers could not even speak
Of making a function every week
Chopping herring and laying the table
Whisky and salmon - who is able?
Our chef's cooking never suffers
Sol's super sholosh seudos suppers!

Many a gaoler would come to harm
So many keys with an alarm!
Opening up and closing down
Could make the bravest person frown
Yet, one man opens all the doors
Sol Weinstock - with no applause.

Some members come but once a year
While others are really never here
Weekly attendance is for one in ten
And daily just for minyan men
Only one member lives in shul
Sol Weinstock never goes home at all!

Some come late and others leave early
Some do both and are very surly
Who is friends to everyone
Mother and daughter, father and son?
Only our Sol is always smiling
May he be healthy and never retiring.

-- Binyomin Singer