This is a photograph of Jew’s Court and a medieval synagogue in Lincoln, England, two building surviving from the Jewish community which had been England’s second largest after London. The picture shows two connected stone buildings built at 2, Steep Hill in Lincoln. The base of the buildings are on a slant so that the top of the buildings are level. The building on the left has a red tile roof, and the building on the right stands a little higher and has a brown roof. Both buildings have large windows in the front, and the building on the right has a sign which says “books.” On the buildings are plaques with the names: Jew’s Court and Jews House. Jew’s Court is the oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom and has some medieval stonework in the basement and above ground level.
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The Jewish Community of Britain – The first mention of Jews in Britain is from 1070. In the eleventh and twelfth century Jews were legally under the protection of the monarchs in return for heavy taxes and loans and lived mainly in the financial centres of London, Oxford, Lincoln, Bristol, and Norwich. In the late twelfth century, the Jews suffered from anti-Semitic restrictions, blood libels, riots, and massacres. One of the worst anti-Semitic massacres of the Middle Ages took place in York where the entire Jewish community was burnt to death at Clifford’s Tower. In 1290 King Edward I expelled all the Jews of Britain and their homes and properties were confiscated. For many centuries, Jews did not officially live in the country, but many lived secretly until the rule of Oliver Cromwell, when they were readmitted due to the intervention of the Dutch rabbi and leader, Menashe Ben Israel. Many of these new Jewish arrivals were of Spanish and Portuguese origins. An attempt to legalise Jewish presence in Britain was made in 1753 with the Jewish Naturalisation Act, and in the nineteenth century Jews received equal rights. The community prospered and comprised academics, bankers, scientists, and merchants. Among these distinguished British Jews of the eighteenth and nineteenth century were Sir Moses Montefiore, Nathan Mayer von Rothschild, and Benjamin Disraeli. Due to the good conditions, the lack of violence towards Jews, and religious tolerance, in the nineteenth century Britain became a target for Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe. The new Jewish immigrants lived mainly in the large industrial cities, especially London, Manchester, and Leeds. The East End of London became a Jewish neighbourhood where Yiddish was commonly spoken. In the twentieth century many more Jews fleeing the Nazis arrived in Britain, including the famous kindertransport, the British rescue effort of thousands of children from Nazi-occupied Europe. The Jewish community of Britain numbers over 300,000 today. This is the fifth largest Jewish community in the world and the second in Europe.
Jewish Community of Lincoln – Lincoln was one of the most important Jewish communities of medieval England, dating back to as early as 1159. The Jews were originally brought to England by William the Conqueror, who wished to benefit from their financial capabilities. There are three Jewish houses from this time remaining in Lincoln. There are associated with the leading Jewish financial and scholarly figures of the time: Aaron of Lincoln, a prominent banker, and Rabbi Berachiah of Nicole. In 1190, the Jews of Lincoln were attacked by returning crusaders but saved by Bishop Hugh. In 1255, a Christian boy, named Little Hugh, died in an accident and the Jews of Lincoln were accused of murdering him for the sake of the ritual baking of matzah for Pesach. This blood libel resulted in the execution of 18 Lincoln Jews. The Jewish community existed in Lincoln until the expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290. In 1655, Jews were permitted to return to England under Oliver Cromwell’s rule, and a small number of Jews returned to Lincoln; however, the community dwindled in time In 1992, the Lincolnshire Jewish Community reopened the ancient synagogue for religious services and this Liberal community still holds regular Shabbat and holiday services.
The Story of Little Hugh – Hugh was an eight-year-old boy living in Lincoln, England. In August 1255, Hugh did not return home after playing outside, and after a long search, his body was found at the bottom of a well. The local Jews were accused of killing the boy and using his blood to make matzah, which was a well-known anti-Semitic accusation known as a blood libel. Ninety Jews were arrested for the crime, held in the Tower of London, and accused of ritual murder. Of those arrested, 18 were hung, while the others remained imprisoned until the Jewish community paid a ransom. Although the story lacked any factual or rational basis (especially since Hugh was killed in August and Pesach is celebrated in spring), the story persisted and was useful to the local cathedral where Hugh was buried since it became a pilgrimage destination. This is one example of thousands of such blood libels that can still be found in anti-Semitic propaganda.
