Jewish Britain

Jewish life on screen: a century of insights and hidden histories

This collection uncovers insights, injustices and hidden histories across a century of Jewish life on British screens. It brings together documentary and first-person accounts of Jewish life in the UK, alongside historical dramas and artists’ work exploring the 20th century Jewish experience. The earliest surviving depictions of Jewish characters in British cinema offer a troubling insight into antisemitic representation, yet prejudice was later tackled head-on, with newsreels documenting the anti-fascist movement of the 1930s.

Drop in on joyous family weddings and community gatherings, and see the ways in which UK Jewry supported Jews young and old, and those fleeing persecution, in a selection of fascinating films from the 1900s to the 1980s. 

This collection is generously supported by the Neil Kreitman Foundation, Shoresh Charitable Trust, John S Cohen Foundation, and Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.
  

53 items in this collection

Some of My Best Friends

Chief Rabbi's Emergency Council

Jewish Pensioners' Controversial Pools Win

Just One Kid

Simcha

Mr. Emmanuel

The Barber of Stamford Hill

Autumn in Delamere

Charming interview with the 21-year-old Lipman, who had just completed her first film role, as she ponders what to do next.

Maureen Lipman

The Vanishing Street

North London Liberal Jewish Group

The Vanishing Street (Material)

100 Year Old Coach Topical Budget 800-1

Marriage of Miss Rose Carmel and Mr. Solly Gershcowit

The Wedding of Thelma and Danny, 11th August 1946

The Marriage of Miss Rossalyn Weinbaum to Mr A. Goide

The Wedding of Mr Laurence Marks to Miss Lily Balon

Jew Süss

General Post

Cast Us Not Out

Motherland

Kidstakes

The Robber and the Jew

A Bad Day for Levinsky

The Antique Vase

The Challenge

Impressions of Disraeli

William Frankel

British Paramount News No 251

The Battle of Cable Street

Fascists Defeated at Cable Street

British Paramount News No 1532

British Paramount News No.588 [Production Material]

Some serious moves can be seen by guests of all ages in his lovely film showing the Bar Mitzah celebrations of Harold Defries in London in 1960.

Harold Defries Bar Mitzvah

Eisner Personal Film - Family Compilation Derby C.1938

Shavuot Celebration at King David Infant School, Cheetham Hill

The Jewish Community in Ulster

Mr. Bernhard Baron

A rare glimpse inside the Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor in the East End during the early 1930s.

Soup Kitchen

Cohen Personal Film: Ed Cohen at Oval Nets, 1939

Chief Rabbi Visits Birmingham

The Big Board at Newquay

Surfing Scenes

Cornwall

Camping in Guernsey 1932

Beach Scenes

The Big House and Camp

Holiday in Catalonia and Beach Scenes

Dinard

Guernsey Again - Trying Our Hand at Farming

Religion and the People

The Wicked One - What Does He Say?

Seder 1963