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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 videos in this collection

Some of My Best Friends

  • Westminster
  • 1969

Chief Rabbi's Emergency Council

  • 1947

Jewish Pensioners' Controversial Pools Win

  • Southend-on-Sea
  • 1975

Just One Kid

  • 1974

Simcha

  • 2000

Mr. Emmanuel

  • 1944

The Barber of Stamford Hill

  • 1962

Autumn in Delamere

  • Delamere
  • 1969
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

  • 1968

The Vanishing Street

  • 1962

North London Liberal Jewish Group

  • Finchley
  • 1956

The Vanishing Street (Material)

  • 1959

100 Year Old Coach Topical Budget 800-1

  • 1926

Marriage of Miss Rose Carmel and Mr. Solly Gershcowit

  • Spitalfields
  • 1925

The Wedding of Thelma and Danny, 11th August 1946

  • Cheetham Hill
  • 1946

The Marriage of Miss Rossalyn Weinbaum to Mr A. Goide

  • London
  • 1923

The Wedding of Mr Laurence Marks to Miss Lily Balon

  • Fallowfield
  • 1925

Jew Süss

  • 1935

General Post

  • 1920

Cast Us Not Out

  • 1969

Motherland

  • 1927

Kidstakes

  • 1949

The Robber and the Jew

  • 1908

A Bad Day for Levinsky

  • 1909

The Antique Vase

  • 1913

The Challenge

  • 1967

Impressions of Disraeli

  • 1931

William Frankel

  • 1967

British Paramount News No 251

  • 1933

The Battle of Cable Street

  • London
  • 1936

Fascists Defeated at Cable Street

  • 1936

British Paramount News No 1532

  • 1945

British Paramount News No.588 [Production Material]

  • Victoria Park
  • 1936
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

  • Redbridge
  • 1960

Eisner Personal Film - Family Compilation Derby C.1938

  • Allestree
  • 1938

Shavuot Celebration at King David Infant School, Cheetham Hill

  • Prestwich
  • 1962

The Jewish Community in Ulster

  • Belfast
  • 1966

Mr. Bernhard Baron

  • London
  • 1928
A rare glimpse inside the Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor in the East End during the early 1930s.

Soup Kitchen

  • Spitalfields
  • 1934

Cohen Personal Film: Ed Cohen at Oval Nets, 1939

  • 1939

Chief Rabbi Visits Birmingham

  • Moseley
  • 1967

The Big Board at Newquay

  • Cornwall
  • 1929

Surfing Scenes

  • 1929

Cornwall

  • Cornwall
  • 1930

Camping in Guernsey 1932

  • Guernsey
  • 1932

Beach Scenes

  • 1930

The Big House and Camp

  • 1930

Holiday in Catalonia and Beach Scenes

  • Cornwall
  • 1950

Dinard

  • Guernsey
  • 1930

Guernsey Again - Trying Our Hand at Farming

  • Guernsey
  • 1930

Religion and the People

  • 1940

The Wicked One - What Does He Say?

  • 1934

Seder 1963

  • Higher Broughton
  • 1963