Orthodox Judaism

The Orthodox Community in the UK
The first Jews to settle in England probably arrived here with William the Conqueror in 1066. Sizeable Jewish communities existed in London, York and several other centres for the next three hundred years. All of these Jews believed in the core beliefs that became known as Orthodox Judaism. In fact, York contained many Rabbis whose commentaries on the Talmud became standard texts still used to this day. Medieval anti-Semitism saw the security of these communities eroded until they were officially expelled in 1290.

Small pockets of Jews who had been forced by the Spanish Inquisition to accept Christianity appeared as merchants in London during the 16th century and secretly set up synagogues but it was under Cromwell in 1656 that Jews were officially welcomed back to these shores.

By the nineteenth century the Jewish community was almost wholly Orthodox but was anxious, like their German cousins to have their Orthodoxy secondary to their efforts to gain acceptance as members of general society.

The Jew might well be a Jew at home but in the street he was not expected to stand out from his fellow countrymen. This ambiguity is well illustrated by a letter written to the "Jewish Chronicle" in 1857 by the then Chief Rabbi, Nathan Adler defending the idea of setting up the countries first Jewish School,

"There are gentlemen who tremble at the idea of an exclusive Jewish School and think it injurious to our present or future social position."

Today, there are literally are over twenty Jewish schools in Manchester alone and Anglo-Jewry does not see their success as inhibiting in any way Orthodox Jew's abilities to play a full and positive role within general society.

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