After their resettlement in England in 1656 the majority of Jews established themselves and their communal institutions in the East End of London. From the mid- 18th century they began to spread into the West End - the wealthy to Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Mayfair and v ' Marylebone followed by the craftsmen, and then by the main group of poor immigrants who arrived from Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century and settled at Soho and Fitzrovia The Jewish population of the West End peaked in the 1930's at about 25 000 by which time the centre of Anglo-Jewish " institutions had moved from theiEast End to the West End:
A group of former West Enders, working in association with the London Museum of Jewish Life, have recorded evocative memories of the social life they enjoyed during their formative years in the 1920's and 1930's in this unique cosmopolitan centre of entertainment, culture, parks, squares, institutional headquarters; shops and restaurants. They emphasise the solidarity and strong community spirit that developed among them the warmth of family life, and the lifelong friendships they forged.
Dr Gerry Black has set their recollections in the perspective of the broader history of West End Jewry, and has traced the development of the synagogues, schools, shops, clubs, charities, friendly societies and other Jewish institutions in the area which catered so fully for their needs.
Dr. Gerry Black is a Member of the Council of the Jewish Historical Eociety of England and a Trustee of the London Museum of Jewish Life. He is the author of Lender to the Lords,“ Giver to the Poor; a biography of the philanthropist Samuel Lewis, and is currently writing a history of the Jews Free school Spitalfields.
After their resettlement in England in 1656 the majority of Jews established themselves and their communal institutions in the East End of London. From the mid- 18th century they began to spread into the West End - the wealthy to Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Mayfair and v ' Marylebone followed by the craftsmen, and then by the main group of poor immigrants who arrived from Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century and settled at Soho and Fitzrovia The Jewish population of the West End peaked in the 1930's at about 25 000 by which time the centre of Anglo-Jewish " institutions had moved from theiEast End to the West End:
A group of former West Enders, working in association with the London Museum of Jewish Life, have recorded evocative memories of the social life they enjoyed during their formative years in the 1920's and 1930's in this unique cosmopolitan centre of entertainment, culture, parks, squares, institutional headquarters; shops and restaurants. They emphasise the solidarity and strong community spirit that developed among them the warmth of family life, and the lifelong friendships they forged.
Dr Gerry Black has set their recollections in the perspective of the broader history of West End Jewry, and has traced the development of the synagogues, schools, shops, clubs, charities, friendly societies and other Jewish institutions in the area which catered so fully for their needs.
Dr. Gerry Black is a Member of the Council of the Jewish Historical Eociety of England and a Trustee of the London Museum of Jewish Life. He is the author of Lender to the Lords,“ Giver to the Poor; a biography of the philanthropist Samuel Lewis, and is currently writing a history of the Jews Free school Spitalfields.
