Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 1, 2021

Lincoln used to be the home of a substantial Jewish community who came over to the UK during the Norman Conquest.

This community stayed in Lincoln until the expulsion of the Jews in England in 1290.

Just over 700 years passed by until a new, smaller, Jewish community was established in the city.

Lincolnshire Live spoke to the Chairman of the Lincolnshire Jewish Community, Richard Dale, about what it was like to be living in Lincoln before the community was established.

He said: "Before we started the Lincolnshire Jewish Community there really wasn't a lot of Jews around.

"If you wanted to worship at a Synagogue you had to go to Sheffield, Nottingham, Grimsby or Hull. I personally traveled to Nottingham.

"It was a long journey there and it was whilst I was in Nottingham that it was suggested that we set up our own community here in Lincoln.

"This was in 1992 and we are still going to this day."

Initially the community would meet at friends houses but they later decided it would be best to meet at the site of the medieval Synagogue in Lincoln.

The medieval Synagogue is thought to have been based behind the existing Jew's Court and Jew's House on Steep Hill.

It was attacked in 1266 by the Disinherited Barons and Gentleman in the Isle of Oxholme. The attackers broke into the Synagogue burning holy documents.

In the modern day, Lincolnshire Jewish Community has around 30 families as members, with hundreds more supporting them.

The upper floor of Jew's Court is now used as a Synagogue whilst the lower floor of the Grade I listed building is a bookshop.

The community itself has been able to continue most of its practices during the Coronavirus pandemic but, like all of us, has had to adapt to the new normal.

Mr Dale explained: "At the moment we are using Zoom like everybody else in the country. In some ways it has been quite nice but it is no substitution for meeting in real life.

"Of course we do not meet due to Coronavirus so this means we aren't able to eat together like we normally would. Some people choose to eat on Zoom but it just isn't the same.

"We still have the services and for some people this has proved to be better, especially for those that have mobility problems. A couple of clicks on the internet and they are able to attend virtually."

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The story of the Lincolnshire Jewish Community who meet at the oldest Synagogue in the UK - Lincolnshire Live

Category: Synagogue
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