Jews of Britain

A celebration of Jewish life in Britain and the contributions Jews have made to British life, particularly in the past 350 years. 2006 is a key date, which British jewry is celebrating, as, in 1656, Oliver Cromwell allowed Jews to practise their religion freely in England for the first time.

JEWS IN BRITAIN is not meant to be triumphalist, but it is Gilbert's wish to emphasise the positive and constructive nature of Jewish life in Britain, particularly since the 19th century. However, the book will open with an introductory chapter on early Jewish medieval life, until the expulsion of 1290. Throughout, one focus will be on individuals, and another on the flow of events. Among the former will be 'the Jew Jacob', who, to this day, has a celebratory gargoyle at the entrance of an Oxford college because it was created when Jacob sold two of his houses for the residential use of students.

The four and half centuries after the expulsion of Jews in 1290 did not mean that no Jews were to be found in England. As Gilbert points out, Elizabeth I's physician was a Portuguese Jew (but his conversion to Christianity did not prevent him from being executed following an alleged poison plot). Shakespeare was well aware of Jews - witness Shylock. So, indeed, 300 years later, was Dickens with Fagin. But it was the 19th century that saw Jews emancipated into the British way of life. Disraeli became Prime Minister; Lord Macaulay championed Jewish rights. Then Britain opened its doors to mass Jewish immigration from the Russian pogroms...

Gilbert shows just how important Jews have been to 20th century Britain and across the world. He does not shy away from anti-semitism, and why it continues today.