Faiths, Journeys, Jewels: Jacob Jacobs and Birmingham
[Submitted by Dr Andy Green]
Introduction: Rediscovering the Past
From a sign on a wall, it is sometimes possible to uncover a whole history. Buildings that we walk past every day can often hold ...
Fighting Prejudice
In the twentieth century, the 'Birmingham Hebrew Congregation' of Singer's Hill faced a humanitarian crisis- the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany.
In WWII, Hitler's brutal regime would ...
Finding Refuge
It has been estimated that Birmingham received approximately 700 Jewish refugees between 1933 and 1945.There are a number of different archive sources and historical accounts to help us get a better understanding ...
Great Western Arcade
Image of the Great Western Arcade today.
Inside Singer's Hill Synagogue Today
Photograph of Singer's Hill Today (taken by Brigitte Windsor)
This contemporary image of Singer’s Hill shows how little it has changed since the nineteenth century. The synagogue, built in 1856, ...
Isaiah Phillips
Portrait of Rabbi Isaiah Phillips, a minister of the early Birmingham Hebrew Congregation between 1785-1835. Phillips was known to have lived on Hurst Street, part of the early Jewish district of Birmingham. ...
Jacob Jacobs
Image: Jacob Jacobs. Birmingham Faces and Places, Vol 4. Local Studies and History.
Jew's Burial Ground
Map of Birmingham, 1810.
This is part of an early nineteenth century map of Birmingham, a document which helps us to see the development of the Jewish Community. In the very bottom right hand corner ...
John Phillips, philanthropist (born 1836)
Between 1851 and 1871, the number of Jewish families living in Edgbaston had increased from two to a hundred - an indication of the growing prosperity of many Jews.1 John Phillips was one of a number ...
Leon Salberg and The Alexandra
Image:Harry Levine Jewish Community Press Book Cuttings
1937-38.
The Alexandra Theatre remains a well known and popular theatre in Birmingham. Yet not many people are aware that one of its most important ...
Levy Book-1750 (full view)
Complete view of the Levy Book (1750) containing the Jewish lodging house. Notice that we are not given actual 'street names' in this early picture of Birmingham life; we are simply told 'New Street Quarter'. ...
Oscar Deutsch and The Odeon Cinema
In the twentieth century, Jews prided themselves on being both 'Jewish' and 'English'. Leaders of the Hebrew Congregation of Birmingham such as Oscar Deutsch also saw the importance of balancing responsibility ...
Portrait of Rev. Cohen
A portrait of Cohen, minister of Singer's Hill 1913-1949.
Post Office Directry of Trades
Refugees in Birmingham
Image: a photograph of Jewish Refugees in Birmingham. (Harry Levine, Press Cuttings, 1941 part 1).
Behind pictures such as these lies a complicated story. At least 6 million Jews were murdered under ...
Refugees in Birmingham
Image: Harry Levine, Newspaper Cuttings, sept-dec 1942 part 2.
This image features a group of Jewish Refugees in Birmingham, including a young child. Such children were at risk during WWII.
After ...
Singer's Hill Window "Moses"
Image: Singer's Hill Window (photo by Brigitte Windsor)
In 1956, a scheme was launched to create new stained glass windows for Singer's Hill Jewish synagogue, marking one hundred years of worship in ...