History of the Jews in Jersey

The history of the Jews in Jersey dates back to at least the 1790s. There was a community in Jersey from the 1840s. The Jersey Old Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1843 and closed around 1870.

There are currently about 85 Jews living in Jersey, although the number is shrinking.

World War Two

Enemy aliens, people born in a country with which Britain was at war, were restricted from entering Britain without a permit. Accordingly a few of Jewish faith became trapped in Jersey when the islands were occupied. In addition, a few locals decided to remain in Jersey rather than evacuate in June 1940.

Following the invasion of 1940, Jersey was forced to pass laws by the German occupiers, requiring the identification of Jews. All non Jersey and British foreigners (Aliens) had already been required to register with the police, but the records did not mention their faith. An advertisement appeared in the newspaper in October 1941 calling on all Jews to identify themselves. The Germans issued identity cards to everyone, which listed their nationality and faith.

"Jews", under the Nazi definition, identified on Jersey:

• Victor Emanuel 4/9/1870; British by naturalisation, born Germany; resident in Jersey for 2 years
• John Finkelstein 12/3/1882; Romanian; resident in Jersey for 8 years
• Samuel Selig Simon 3/6/1862; British, born in Jersey
• Nathan Davidson 16/8/1881; Egyptian by naturalisation, born Romania; resident in Jersey for 5 years
• Marianne Blampied 27/8/1887; British by marriage, born Holland; resident in Jersey for 2 years
• John Jacobs 29/9/1883; British; resident in Jersey for 17 years
• Theresa Marks 15/10/1862; born in Jersey
• Ruby Ellen Still 4/7/1887; British; resident in Jersey for 30 years
• Hyam Goldman 18/5/1869; British; resident in Jersey for 32 years
• Hedwig Bercu 23/6/1919; Romanian, born Austria; resident in Jersey for 2 years
• Margarete Hurban 16/4/1909; German, born Austria; resident in Jersey for 3 years
• Esther Pauline Lloyd 31/7/1906; British; resident in Jersey for 3 years

The following were shipped out of Jersey in February 1943, following a report by Dr. Casper dated 17 June 1942, and sent to Lager Compiègne in France:

• Alfred Bertie Still (husband of Ruby) and then to Laufen, Germany , a survivor
• Ruby Ellen Still and then to Biberach an der Riss Ilag V-B, a survivor
• Michael Lewis Still (son of Alfred and Ruby) and then to Biberach an der Riss Ilag V-B, a survivor
• John Max Finkelstein and then to Buchenwald Concentration Camp and finally in April 1945 to Theresienstadt concentration camp, where he was among the survivors.
• Esther Pauline Lloyd and then to Biberach an der Riss Ilag V-B, returned to Jersey in April 1944.

The camps in Laufen and Biberach were civilian camps containing many Channel Island civilians.

Nathan Davidson was admitted to the mental hospital in February 1943 and died in 1944.

Current

After the war, there was a revival of Jewish life in Jersey, founded in 1961 with its synagogue opened in 1972, is located in Saint Brélade.

As of 2004, Jewish population was estimated at about 120. There are currently about 85 Jews living in Jersey, although this number is declining.

See also

• History of the Jews in Guernsey
• History of the Jews in the United Kingdom
• List of churches, chapels and meeting halls in the Channel Islands