Description:This document shows an example of different religious communities connecting with one another to find support in a moment of crisis. Here, we find Birmingham Christadelphians coming to the aid of the Jewish Refugee crisis in 1940 by funding a new hostel in Edgbaston.
The Christadelphian church in Birmingham opened a hostel for Jewish refugee boys on April 21, 1940. It was called 'Elpis Lodge', 117 Gough Rd, Edgbaston. Paid for by the Birmingham and Coventry Christadelphians, its aim was to take about 20 boys age 14-15 1/2, "to be trained in useful occupations, and educated and cared for in an atmosphere of Orthodox jewry by the warden and his wife, Dr and Mrs Hirsch." Management handed over to Bham Jewry, but funds for maintenence provided by Christadelphians. Source: The Christadelphian, 1940, p258
In 1945, feeling that the need had 'diminished' the Christadelphians withdrew financial support, but gave the building to the Refugee Children's Movement. Reports that 48 boys were 'properly trained in a trade or employment best suited to them, ...instructed in the English language,...introdued to the cultural life of this country and educated in the religion of their parents'. The Christadelphian, 1945, p129
Note: Many thanks to Anna Brown, Birmingham University for this information.