Humanities and Arts
Moving ‘out’ to be ‘in’: the suburbanization of London Jewry, 1900–1939
Hannah Ewence
Hannah Ewence
Department of History and Archaeology, Exton Park Campus, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, CH1 4BJ, UK
Abstract
Abstract Between 1900 and 1939, Jewish Londoners departed the East End for the suburbs. Relocation, however, was not always the result of individual agency. Many Jews became the object of institutional strategies to coerce and persuade them to disperse away from inner-city areas. Simultaneous to this was the emergence of a dominant pro-suburban rhetoric within and beyond Jewish cultural circles, which aimed to raise aspirations towards middle-class lifestyles. This striking suburban ‘urge’ amongst London Jewry, managed by the community's elite institutions and leaders, was far more than a phenomenon running parallel to wider British society. As this article argues, it was a decisive response to an insidious culture of intolerance and antisemitism.
Key Questions
tWhat is the central theme of "Moving 'out' to be 'in': the suburbanization of London Jewry, 1900–1939"?
The article examines the migration of London's Jewish population from the East End to suburban areas between 1900 and 1939. It explores the factors driving this movement and its implications for the community's social integration and identity. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
What factors influenced the suburbanization of London Jewry during this period?
The suburbanization was influenced by personal aspirations for better living conditions, efforts by Anglo-Jewish leaders to promote dispersion to combat antisemitism, and broader societal trends favoring suburban living. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
How did Anglo-Jewish institutions facilitate this suburban migration?
Institutions like the Federation of Synagogues and the Board of Guardians actively encouraged and sometimes orchestrated the relocation of Jews to suburban districts through strategies ranging from marketing suburban lifestyles to coercive measures. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
What were the broader implications of this suburbanization for the Jewish community?
The move to the suburbs led to changes in community dynamics, with efforts to maintain cultural and religious ties despite geographical dispersion. It also reflected a desire to integrate into broader British society while addressing concerns about antisemitism associated with the East End. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
