Cast Us Not Out

1969
Sound
23m

Documentary insight into the work of the Jewish Welfare Board, helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community

With a frank and unflinching approach to the realities of old age, this powerful documentary highlights the elderly living in pitiful conditions and confronts us with the socioeconomic challenges presented by growing ageing populations. The film was sponsored by the Jewish Welfare Board (now part of Jewish Care), likely for fundraising purposes. Jewish traditions of charity, respect for the elderly and communal pride enable the Board to build new care homes, support housing agencies and offer home visits to bring a better quality of life.

Cast Us Not Out offers an emotionally-arresting portrayal of the lives of the elderly in 1969, effectively appealing to the viewer’s sympathy and clearly explaining the practical steps being taken by the Jewish Welfare Board to improve living conditions. The impact of wars, immigration and the breakdown of traditional family structures in the 20th century led to an increasingly isolated elderly population. This caused greater strain on social services and a higher demand for community-based welfare organisations.

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.