Miriam Sacher Dead at 83

Miriam Sacher, one of the founders of WIZO, the Womens International Zionist Organization and a close associate of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, died at her home here yesterday at the age of 83, Final rites will be held at the Golders Green Crematorium tomorrow afternoon and a memorial service will take place Nov. 12 at London’s West End Synagogue.

Mrs. Sacher was the widow of Harry Sacher a leading British Zionist and editorial writer for the Manchester Guardian when he introduced Dr. Weizmann to the Guardian’s then editor, C.P. Scott, who in turn arranged for Weizmann to meet Foreign Minister Lord Balfour. Her son, Michael Sacher, is a co-president of the Joint Israel Appeal, the only British member of the Jewish Agency Executive and is a member of the Board of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Her other son, Gabriel Sacher, heads the British ORT.

Mrs. Sacher and her three sisters, the late Rebecca Sieff, the late Matilda Marks-Kennedy, and Mrs. Elaine Blonde, founded the Federation of Women Zionists, the parent-organization of WIZO of which Rebecca Sieff was the first president. Her late brothers-in-law. Lord Simon Marks and Israel Sieff, were founders of Marks & Spencer, a leading British department store chain.

Mrs. Sacher lived in Jerusalem in the 1920s and early 1930s when her husband served as Jewish Agency treasurer. She was active in movements to beautify the city. Sacher Park, in Jerusalem, was named in her husband’s memory. She was also active in child care and many WIZO institutions in Israel bear her name.