UK Jewish Communities

"​The first mention of Jews in Britain is from 1070. In the late twelfth century, the Jews suffered from anti-Semitic restrictions, blood libels, riots, and massacres. In 1290, the Jews were expelled from Britain. An attempt to legalise Jewish presence in Britain was made in 1753 with the Jewish Naturalisation Act, and in the nineteenth century Jews received equal rights. The community prospered and comprised academics, bankers, scientists, and merchants. Due to the good conditions, the lack of violence towards Jews, and religious tolerance, in the nineteenth century Britain became a target for Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe. In the twentieth century many more Jews fleeing the Nazis arrived in Britain, including the famous kindertransport, the British rescue effort of thousands of children from Nazi-occupied Europe. Learn more about the fifth largest Jewish community in the world through fascinating primary sources from the NLI’s collections. "