Jewish People in Norwich

A timeline

Beginnings

1066

The first Jews arrive in England. After the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror invites a group of Jewish merchants from Rouen to England. They first settle in London but later move out to other trade centres.

A map of 13th century Norwich, reconstructed from medieval deeds by J.P. Chaplin. (Image: Norfolk Record Office, MS20672)

1086

A man living in Norfolk with the Jewish name 'Isaac' appears in the Domesday Book, a land survey of England commissioned by William.

1100

Henry I comes to power. During his reign, he grants a royal charter to "Joseph the chief rabbi of London and all his followers", giving Jews a distinct legal status is England.

1150

Thomas of Monmouth, a monk living in Norwich, writes The Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich. The book accuses the Jews of Norwich of ritually murdering a local boy in 1144. This false allegation has a huge influence. Over centuries, many other 'blood libels' are levelled by Christians against Jews throughout Europe.

1159

The Jews of Norwich appear in the official record of tax payments made to the crown. Their annual contribution is recorded as “44 pounds and 6 shillings and 8 pence”.

Image of a page from the Domesday Book, with thanks to Professor John Palmer, George Slater and opendomesday.org.

The early days of Jewish Norwich

1170

The Jewish community in Norwich becomes one of the most important in England. Jews are free to live throughout the city, but, as in other places, they settle close toe Norwich Castle, in an area that becomes known as 'The Jewry'. A synagogue operates on the Haymarket, now the site of the Lamb Inn.

Drawing of Jurnet's House (now part of Wensum Lodge) on King Street. The house was built in the 12th century and was the Norwich home of Isaac Jurnet.

13th century ritual bowl with Hebrew inscription, known as the Bodleian Bowl. Discovered in Norfolk at the end of the 17th century. (Image © Ashmolean Museum)

1190

Anti-Jewish violence spreads across the country, fuelled by the Crusades. Ralph de Diceto, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, documents a massacre of Jews in Norwich: Accordingly on February 6th, all the Jews found in their own houses at Norwich were butchered. Some had taken refuge in the castle.

Medieval exchequer trunk in the Church of Our Lady Saint Mary, South Creake, Norfolk (Image: member of the Norwich Jewish community)

1194

Richard I orders the establishment of an 'Exchequer of the Jews' in Westminster. Its main purpose is to manage and record the taxes and financial affairs of Jews in England.

1197

The well-known Jewish financier Jurnet of Norwich dies. His son Issac becomes one of the richest men in the county. Issac and his father were prominent members of the Norwich Jewish community, principal financiers to the crown and important patrons of Jewish scholarship.

1233

An unnamed clerk adds an anti-Jewish caricature to the margin of a royal tax records. Isaac, son of Jurnet of Norwich, appears at the top as a three-faces demonic figure. Another demon touchers the noses of Issac's agent Mosse Modde and a Jewish woman called Avegaye.

Caricature of Norwich Jews at the top of a 13th century tax roll (Image: The National Archives, London/Mary Evens Picture Library)

The end of Medieval Anglo-Jewry

1235

Further anti-Jewish violence breaks out in Norwich, Jews are accused of child kidnap, leading to executions.

Section of a Hebrew deed for a house on Mancroft Street, Norwich, 1280. In this document, a woman named Miriam relinquishes her rights to a house in Mancroft Street, Norwich, which her husband, Oshaya ben Isaac, is selling. The house had been given to Oshaya by Miriam's mother, Yiskah, as part of her marriage settlement. But if the marriage ended, Miriam could claim the house as part of her ketubah (marriage contract), a feature of Jewish marriage law that provides financial protection to wives. This document assures the buyer that Miriam will not do this. (Image: British Library, Lansdowne Ch 667) Hebrew starr (contract) concerning the sale of a house Norwich (England), 1280

1272

Edwards I comes to the throne and enforces extra taxes on the Jewish community

1290

Edwards I issues a royal decree, ordering all Jews to leave England by 1 Norwich. Although Jews are officially banned from living in Britain, some remain, converting to Christianity or practising Judaism in secret.

Late 13th
Century

Meir ben Eliyahu writes poetry in exile on the persecution and expulsion of England's Jews. In an acrostic he identifies himself as coming from Norwich. Meir's work is today preserved in a manuscript in the Vatican Library and celebrated as the finest Hebrew poetry of medieval Anglo-Jewy.

Manuscript detail showing Meir of Norwich’s poetry.

Meir frequently used acrostics in his poetry and one is shown here: the first
letters of the enlarged Hebrew words spell out M-E-I-R.
(Image: Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Vat. ebr. 402, fol. 114v.)

Jug with medieval glaze, found on the Littlewoods' store site in Haymarket, the
possible site of Norwich’s medieval synagogue which was demolished in 1298
(Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

Jews return to England

1656

Oliver Cromwell permits Jews to resettle in England. Over 350 years after Jews were expelled, a new community is established.

Portrait by Rembrandt of Menasseh ben Israel, 1636. Ben Israel was a rabbi from Amsterdam who visited England in 1655 to plead with Cromwell to allow Jews back into the country (Image: Public domain)

1750

A small number of Jews settle in Norwich, forming the first Jewish community in the city since the late 13th century. A Jewish cemetery is consecrated for use on Mariners Lane. The first synagogue operates from a room in Gowings Court, St Stephen’s Street. In 1754 the Norwich Mercury newspaper reports on a quarrel amongst the synagogue’s leaders.

1828

A small synagogue opens in a rented tenement at the top of Tombland Alley, with a membership of 29 families.

Drawing of the interior of the Tombland Alley rooms which were in use as a synagogue between 1828 and 1849

1840

Simon Caro serves the community as minister of the synagogue and shochet (kosher butcher). He continues in these roles until his death in 1870.

Photograph of Simon Caro

1847

The Norwich Jewish community numbers 104 people. Most make a living in skilled jobs, including Norwich manufacturing trades such as cap making and the shoe and boot industry.

1848

Philip Haldinstein marries Rachel Soman, the daughter of David Soman, one of Norwich’s earliest shoe manufacturers. Philip takes over his father-in-law's shoe-making business. Philip's second son Alfred later continues the business. It is sold to Bally in 1946.

Plan of the Haldinstein shoe factory on Queen Street by Edward Boardman
(Image: Norfolk Record Office)

Laying down roots

1849

A purpose-built synagogue opens in Norwich, following fundraising by Joel Fox, the leader of the community. The street on which it stood is later renamed Synagogue Street, the only one in England.

Postcard showing the new synagogue
(Image: Picture Norfolk)

1853

Joel Fox is elected as the first Jewish town councillor. British Jews are fighting for, and starting to win, full civil rights.

Photograph of Joel Fox's furrier's shop on Gentleman's Walk which opened in 1830
(Image:Picture Norfolk)

1855

Joseph Levine flees the Russian empire, boarding a ship bound for England with his brother. Arriving in Wells-next-to-the-Sea, they set out on foot to Norwich, settling here. The Levine family establish a successful antiques business in the city.

1857

The Leveton family open a picture framing and art conservation business. Passed on through the generations, the family business remains active until the present day.

1896

The Norwich Jewish Ladies Ark Decorating Society is established. It later becomes the Jewish Ladies Society

1897

Alfred Haldinstein is appointed Sheriff of Norwich. Alfred is also a committed member of the synagogue and serves as President for 32 years.

Alfred Haldinstein
(Image: Picture Norfolk)

1912

Arthur Michael Samuel becomes the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Norwich. He serves as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Farnham from 1918-37 and receives several titles, becoming Baron Mancroft in 1937.

Portrait of Arthur Michael Samuel by Walter Stoneman, 1920
(Image © National Portrait Gallery, London)

Living through War

1914-1918

Seven members of Norwich Hebrew Congregation are killed serving in the First World War.

Frank Haldinstein, son of Alfred and Edith Haldinstein who died in the First World War aged 22
(Image:Imperial War Museum)

1936

Adelman Goodman, a refugee from Lithuania, moves to Norwich. He purchases the Florida Shoe Factory and, together with his sons, grows the company. Later relaunched as Van Dal, it becomes a brand leader in the UK.

1938-39

The Norwich Jewish Community and the Norwich Quakers sponsor the rescue of 41 Jewish and Christian children in Nazi-occupied Europe. The children are hosted in homes throughout Norfolk. Many will never see their parents again.

1939-45

Three members of the Jewish community, as well as two Canadian Jewish airmen, are killed serving in the Second World War. Along with the First World War dead, they are commemorated in Norwich Synagogue.

1942

Norwich Synagogue is destroyed in a direct hit. The bombing occurs at night and no one is hurt. Local churches offer the Jewish community alternative spaces for worship. For six years, Jews make use the Spiritualist Church hall in Chapelfield North. A side door is created to enable access without having to enter under the sign of the cross.

Photograph showing the bombed synagogue
(Image: Picture Norfolk)

1944

The Jewish community holds a Passover Seder at Stuart Hall for American Jewish troops stationed in Norfolk during the war. Hollywood actor James Stewart, in England during service with the United States Airforce, attends as one of the guests.

Ticket for Passover seder, 1944
(Image: Norfolk Record Office / American Library)

New Beginnings

1948

The community moves from its temporary site at the Spiritualist Church to a pre-fabricated building on Earlham Road. Plans are developed for a permanent synagogue.

Temporary synagogue, a pre-fabricated building on the present site on Earlham Road

1956

Norwich Castle Museum stages an exhibition to mark the 300-hundredyear anniversary of Jewish resettlement in England.

Catalogue of Norwich Castle Museum's exhibition in 1956

1961

The first history of the Norwich Hebrew Congregation is written by local businessman and synagogue treasurer Henry Levine.

1963

The University of East Anglia is established. Academics and students become an important part of the synagogue community

1968

The new, current synagogue opens. The building is consecrated the following year with a visit from Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits. Cyril Leveton, who was President of the synagogue over five sessions between 1951 and 1977, was responsible for the idea of the design of the stained glass windows.

Former Chief Rabbi Jacobowitz at the consecration of the synagogue in 1969

Former Chief Rabbi Jacobowitz accompanied by Minister for Small Communities, Michael Weisman

1990

The Progressive Jewish Community of East Anglia is founded. It later becomes known as the Norwich Liberal Jewish Community

1998

Ethel Imber Lithman becomes the first female President of Norwich Hebrew Congregation. Ethel wrote a book on her relative, the Hebrew-language poet Naphtali Herz Imber, who wrote the poem 'Hatikva' on which the Israeli national anthem is based.

Ethel Imber Lithman

Towards the Present Day

2004

During construction work at Chapelfield (now Chantry Place), the remains of 17 adults and children are discovered in an unearthed medieval well. Scientific analysis later identifies them as members of the medieval Jewish community, possibly victims of the 1190 massacre. The remains are reburied in the Jewish section of Earlham cemetery in 2013.

Images showing what two of the victims might have looked like. Facial depictions courtesy of Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University. With thanks to Professor Caroline Wilkinson.

2015

2015 Kindertransport survivor Joe Stirling becomes an honorary member of the synagogue and attends synagogue for the first time since his Barmitzvah in Germany more than 75 years earlier.

Reading from the scrolls with minister, Daniel Rosenthal.

2016

The Jewish Mortuary Chapel at Earlham Cemetery is granted Grade II listed status by Historic England. The building was originally built for carrying out Jewish burial rites on the site, which has been in use as a Jewish cemetery since 1856.

The Jewish Mortuary Chapel at Earlham Cemetery, Bowthorpe Road.
(Image: Historic England)

2019

The second history of the Norwich Jewish Community is published, written by Maureen Leveton.

2019

Marian Prinsley is elected Sheriff of Norwich and serves a two-year term.

Marian Prinsley, Sheriff of Norwich, 2019

2021

Renovation work on the synagogue hall is completed. The hall is named after synagogue treasurer and fund-raiser Nick Simons, who died in 2018

Nick Simons

2024

Peter Prinsley, Honorary Treasurer and former President of Norwich Hebrew Congregation is elected Labour Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket.

Credits:
Jo Rosenthal, freelance curator, researcher, museum consultant for content and advice.
June Schneider, art & design and graphic production.

The Norwich Synagogue

Norwich Synagogue is a place of worship, community and friendship. We strive to make our synagogue a welcoming place and open our arms to anyone who wishes to join us. We are proud of our history and look forward to making new memories in the future. If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you soon!