Introduction
Aims for Learning
A Living Faith
Introduction
Birmingham is a place in which many journeys meet, where past
and present are linked by contrasts of culture, shifting mosaics
of people, merging and conflicting social movements and powerful
dialogues between different faiths. Interconnected, ongoing experiences
of ‘migration and settlement’ are a vital part of our
social history: yet the story of many of Birmingham’s earliest
faith communities are often overlooked.
An integral part of our diverse history, the presence of a Jewish
community in Birmingham stretches back hundreds of years. It is
possible that the first Jews to visit Birmingham may well have witnessed
its earliest development as a small medieval market town. However,
the oldest archives we have point to the early to mid 18th century
as the crucial moment when small gatherings of Jewish families and
individuals began to permanently settle.
From this point on, Jews from diverse backgrounds and situations
would arrive in Birmingham in steadily increasing numbers to establish
their own communities. In many cases, these early settlers had to
face the enormously difficult struggle of finding ways of integrating
themselves into an unfamiliar urban landscape that was often hostile
to the idea of the ‘Jew’, whilst at the same time endeavouring
to preserve their religious identity and kinship of faith. This
learning unit tries to tell part of that story.
The photographs on this page are of the windows of Singer's Hill
synagogue, one of Birmingham's most important 19th century
religious buildings. Each window can be 'opened' to learn more about
the histories of the community it represents, showing how issues
of 'migration and settlement' have affected Birmingham from its
earliest beginnings until today. Faith has always played an important
role in this process and increasing our knowledge of religious history
in Birmingham can be an important way of fostering an atmosphere
of tolerance that remains vital for social progress.
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Aims for Learning
In 2003, Birmingham Central Library acquired the archive of the
Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, historically based at Singer’s
Hill synagogue. Alongside other collections and materials, the archive
of this community will provide the main focus for the following
introductory study. The section headings on the right provide introductions
to key aspects of Jewish social history in Birmingham. If you
are interested in finding out more about the specific nature of
Jewish religious worship, links to this information are provided
in resources. The learning aim here is to explore:
- When and where Jewish communities began in Birmingham;
living
and working conditions.
- How they developed and integrated into the life of the town;
the
social barriers confronted.
- 20th century experiences of Jewish refugees in Birmingham;
fights
against discrimination.
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A Living Faith
Today, the Jewish faith still continues to live, grow and change
in our city. There are now a number of different synagogues (see
resources)
in Birmingham holding shared beliefs, yet all with their own distinct
interpretation of what it means to be Jewish. Each of these communities
has their own story to tell, which in the future could provide alternative
accounts than the one introduced here. This learning unit is written
in the hope that it will lead to more explorations, research, and
public awareness of the significant contributions of Jewish people
to Birmingham’s diverse civic life. It is indebted to the
works of two Jewish historians, Harry Levine and Zoe Josephs. Many
thanks are due to the Birmingham Hebrew Congregation at Singer’s
Hill synagogue.
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Author: Dr Andrew Green
Main image: Photograph by Brigitte Winsor
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Establishing a
Jewish Community
Integration and Conflicts
Fighting Prejudice
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