Jewish East End Celebration Society

LATEST NEWS, contact c.bettington@jeecs.org.uk
 
Check out our latest events here: walks and talks
 
Jeecs member Susie Clapham initiates a project to save Bancroft Road Cemetery more
 
An important archive of historic East End photos of Jewish life has come into the possession of Jeecs.  To see examples from the archive click the link: East End archive
 
A reminder about subscriptions
Many subscriptions are now due, so a quick reminder if yours is in this category; please renew now. Individual membership is £25; family membership £40.  As you should have seen in the latest Cable, we have had to end our lower subscription charge for East End residents. But if this creates real difficulties for you please let us know and we will try to help.  Click the link to download your membership renewal/join Jeecs form: renewal form
 
Jack Shaposnik, Reverend Louis Shaposnik's son, next to his father's plaque in Nelson Street synagogue, September 2009A very memorable September 2009 agm and Jewish heritage day event at Nelson Street was crowned with the unveiling of our Great Garden Street synagogue plaque in memory of Reverend Louis Shaposnik.  Great Garden Street synagogue amalgamated with Nelson Street in the 1990s, and the plaque was rescued from a local scrap dealer's yard.  It is now back in its rightful place.  In the photo, left, Reverend Shaposnik's son Jack is standing next to the plaque
 
September 7th 2008 - Jeecs celebrated the new edition of Emanuel Litvinoff's book: Journey Through a Small Planet more
 
September 3rd 2008 - Jeecs honoured Daniel Mendoza (1764-1836), the father of scientific boxing, with the unveiling of a plaque in his memory in the grounds of Queen Mary's college, Mile End near the spot where he was buried more
   
Minnie Lansbury memorial clock before restorationMinnie Lansbury clock after restorationThe Minnie Lansbury Memorial Clock, on the side of the Electric building, Bow Rd, London E3, (photo left) has been restored.  Its unrestored photo is on the right. This  important Jewish landmark was officially unveiled on 16th October 2008, having first been erected in the 1930s to commemorate the life of Minnie Lansbury (born Glassman), a suffragette who died tragically young from pneumonia in 1922 aged 32. Her husband, Edgar, was the son of East End politician & Labour Party leader, George Lansbury,  Edgar later married an actress and their daughter is actress Angela Lansbury.  Tower Hamlets council supplied the remaining money required for the clock's restoration after a campaign launched by JEECS. The main fund raising was carried out by the Heritage of London Trust, and JEECS worked very closely with the Trust. The Trust also supplied some funding to the Congregation of Jacob Synagogue for the repair of its roof.

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The remaining East End synagogues are:

Kehillas Ya'akov (Congregation of Jacob) Synagogue
351-353 Commercial Rd, London E1 2PS.
Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue
41 Fieldgate Street,
London E1.
 
Bevis Marks Synagogue:
Bevis Marks,
London EC3.
Nelson Street Synagogue:
(East London Central Synagogue)
30-40 Nelson Street,
London E1 2DE.
Sandys Row Synagogue
4a Sandys Row
London E1.
 
Settlement Synagogue (SW Essex Reform), 2-8 Beaumont Grove, London E1 4N2

interesting links:

 
The Cable - April 2010'The Cable' is Jeecs informative  magazine & the latest issue (April 2010) is now on sale. 52 pages feature articles on The Jewish Legion, an East End childhood, an East End photo archive, The Belzer shul and more for just £2.00 plus postage.  Available from Sales 
 
All editions of the Cable are available to purchase contact Clive Bettington

East End interviewees wanted for film about Whitechapel Library more

Hughes Mansions Disaster 60th Anniversary Commemoration Event - letter to Guardian Newspaper

Whitechapel Rd corner with Greatorex St, 1953The White Chapel that gave the area its name is now a patch of grass; tower blocks have replaced many of the cramped little houses on the narrow pavements; former synagogues have become leather emporia and furniture stores. Gone is Gardiner's Corner the legendary meeting place for lovers and rallying point for political rallies. But four synagogues and the remnants of a once vibrant Jewish community remain, joined now by the next generation of young Jews living and working in the area.

Plaque on entrance to Bernhard Baron House, Henriques St - formerly the home of the Oxford and St George's Settlement club for young East End Jews

The Jewish East End Celebration Society has been established to identify, document and where possible preserve this heritage for future generations both of Jews and immigrant communities that have arrived in the area today. The Society will not romanticise nor glorify the conditions that faced Jewish refugees at the turn of the twentieth century as the settled in London ’s East End, to escape pogroms and poverty in Eastern Europe. The new Society will rather celebrate the birthplace of the community that burgeoned there, was educated in its schools, streets, libraries and art galleries and whose members have gone on to become some of the most famous, successful and generous British citizens. The cradle of Jewish life in Britain deserves to be celebrated.

'I applaud your initiative. The Heritage of the Jewish East End is worth preserving' Lord Rothschild, March 2003

'It is extremely important that this part of London is recognised and celebrated for its rich and diverse history, and that the Jewish people are acknowledged for their role in creating a thriving and vibrant community.' Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, February 2004

Torah Scrolls - Sandy's Row shul, founded 1854To the left is a view of the Torah Scrolls in Sandy's Row Synagogue, founded 1854 - click the photo to enlarge

 

A' lost' view of Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue - A new building on the West boundary of Fieldgate Street now obscures the view of the East London Mosque's minaret

To the right is Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue with the minaret and dome of the East London Mosque on either side - a view symbolising the changing times in London's East End.

Jeecs is a registered charity no: 1107714