Chayenu, Organ of Jewish Religious Labour. London, 1946.

Here is an interesting publication from 1946. Britain was literally digging itself out from the rubble of the war, Europe, or what was left of it, was dealing with survivors and displaced persons, and over in Palestine the Jews were dealing with a hostile and confused British government.  This magazine is full of interesting articles … Continue reading Chayenu, Organ of Jewish Religious Labour. London, 1946.

A History of the Central Synagogue, by Rabbi Cyril Shine, London, 1970.

This interesting booklet describes the history of the Central Synagogue, Great Portland Street, in the West End of London, from it's origins in the mid-nineteenth century.  It was published in 1970.

Bei Unz in Veitshepel (This Whitechapel of Ours), A. M. Kaizer, London 1944 (Yiddish)

Arye Myer (Arnold) Kaizer was a writer, humourist, journalist and also an Anglo-Jewish communal leader.  However, the story starts with his father, Rabbi Alter Noah Michalensky, who was born in 1852 in Neschitz, near Kovel. He was the first Chassidic Rebbe to settle in London.  In January 1895 he came to London, bringing his three … Continue reading Bei Unz in Veitshepel (This Whitechapel of Ours), A. M. Kaizer, London 1944 (Yiddish)

Board of Deputies of British Jews, Annual Report, London, 1948.

The Annual Report, actually printed in 1949, starts with a fascinating list of Synagogues and other organizations who were represented on the Board, with the names of the Deputies.  These include 127 London Synagogues, five in Dublin, seven in Glasgow, 11 in Leeds, seven in Liverpool, and 31 in Manchester. I wonder if all of … Continue reading Board of Deputies of British Jews, Annual Report, London, 1948.

The Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Seventy-First Annual Report, London, 1971.

I am sometimes amazed that my youthful personal experiences have become history and part of my Anglo-Judaica collection.  The British Zionist Federation in 1971 was a large organization, involved in many facets of Jewish life in Britain beyond its Zionist scope.  Much of its time in 1971 was taken up in organizing elections for the … Continue reading The Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Seventy-First Annual Report, London, 1971.

Hebrew, The Language of our Prayers. A Sermon preached at the Bayswater Synagogue, by Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler, London 1885.

It is Shabbos (Saturday), Parshas Shekalim, 1885 and Delegate Chief Rabbi Dr. Hermann Adler is in the then fairly new Bayswater Synagogue in the fashionable west of London.  Many middle class and moderately wealthy families that originated in the East End of London have moved here.  No-one can imagine that the Bayswater Synagogue will not … Continue reading Hebrew, The Language of our Prayers. A Sermon preached at the Bayswater Synagogue, by Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler, London 1885.

The Industrious Apprentice. A Sermon preached at the Great Synagogue, by Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler, London 1887.

It is Shabbos (Saturday), December 10th, 1887 and Delegate Chief Rabbi Dr. Hermann Adler is in the then almost 200 year-old Great Synagogue in Dukes Place in the City of London, the Cathedral Synagogue of Anglo Jewry. The original wealthy families have mostly moved away and his large congregation includes many new immigrants from Europe. … Continue reading The Industrious Apprentice. A Sermon preached at the Great Synagogue, by Rev. Dr. Hermann Adler, London 1887.

Willesden Synagogue Review, Chanucah 5707, London 1946.

The Willesden and Brondesbury Synagogue in London seems to have had quite a complicated origin, a near death experience and a miraculous modern rebirth.  Jews started to move into Willesden in Victorian times, but it was still countryside then, and the Willesden Jewish Cemetery opened in 1873.  With the coming of the railways, Willesden became … Continue reading Willesden Synagogue Review, Chanucah 5707, London 1946.

Binyan, Organ of the Senior Section of Habonim, London, April 1945.

I came across this magazine in my search for Anglo-Jewish ephemera. Apart from capturing the moment of a British, Socialist Zionist Youth Movement just before the end of the war, I found it included a letter on page 11 from Ivor Blankfield, my mother's first cousin, then serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.  Siblings … Continue reading Binyan, Organ of the Senior Section of Habonim, London, April 1945.

Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.

The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Shaar Hashamayim, is in Bevis Marks, a street in the City of London.  The community had acquired the land in 1699 to replace the older and now too small synagogue in Creechurch Place which had opened in 1657. The new landmark synagogue, still in continuous use, the United Kingdom's oldest … Continue reading Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.