Hasidic Jewish Community in the UK

[Sundae]

Grandad grew up in the East End of London, where the only families with any money were Jewish. He earned a couple of pennies a week sweeping the local synagogue and as a shabbas goy for a couple of families (decent wages for a young lad in the 20s)

My family moved to Essex after the war, where Mum was born. She grew up eating bagels and cheesecake and knowing her kosher from her treif. She's still good friends by correspondence with Betty, who moved to Israel years back. She talked Betty into wearing green on St Patrick's Day. She wrote (for Mum's 60th birthday scrapbook) "I was the only Jewish girl getting off the Tube at Golders Green wearing shamrock that day!"

When I was in my teens/ twenties, Brick Lane was the place to go for bagels (beigels) after clubbing on a Saturday night. It felt like a Jewish enclave. I was staggered when I revisited there some 15 years later to find it was a thriving Bangladeshi community. Having done a London Walk round Spitalfields however, the Jewish heritage is still there.

Living in Bucks I had no connection with the Jewish faith or community. When I became curious and taught myself, a lot of things fell into place. And then I asked Mum and got some more family history/ anecdotes. I haven't clicked the link yet, but I will do when I have more time. The Jewish faith still fascinates me.

Oh - I played a Jewish woman in a film once.
And it was shown at the British Film Festival.