Michael was born in 1919 in Bethnal Green to Latvian born father Isaac and London born mother Anne nee Weinstein, and he was one of nine children.

On 27 Mar 1945, Michael was on leave and staying with his oldest sister Lilian and her husband Morris Moscow at 34 Hughes Mansions, Vallance Road, Stepney. On the last day of V2 rockets to land on London, the building was hit at 7.20 am killing 130 people including Michael, his sister and brother in law.