Jewish East End Celebration Society
4A Cornwall Mews South, London, SW7 4RX
[email protected]

JEECS News Update: Jan 2022

Details
  1. Holocaust Memorial Day Walk: January 30.

Covid has ruled out the normal events in the East End this year. However I shall be doing my annual walk, The Jewish East End – World War 2 and the Holocaust, on Sunday January 30. This is a free event, but needs to be booked through my email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  We will meet at Aldgate tube station, departing at 11am.

  1. Isaac Rosenberg bust

The search for an appropriate site for the planned memorial to the great East End war poet and artist continues. All suggestions are welcome.

3. Leonard Montefiore Drinking Fountain, Stepney Green

Great news: the £14,000 needed to preserve and refurbish this memorial to a great East End philanthropist, is now secure. Leonard was the brother of Claude Montefiore, founder of Liberal Judaism in Britain.

The Heritage of London Trust has offered £6,000 and Tower Hamlets Council is making up any shortfall. The Council is supervising the refurbishment and tenders are being sought.

The Council has asked us to organise an unveiling ceremony, due to take place in June. Any suggestions will be welcome. Meanwhile, I am particularly seeking old photographs of the drinking fountain.

4. Honouring Bernard Kops

Playwright and poet Bernard Kops, JEECS life president, is a giant of Anglo-Jewish literature. Remaining in good health, he is now 95 and we plan to mount an event in his honour this year. I spoke to him before Christmas, and he is keen on the idea.

Again I welcome suggestions. We need a venue, a director, actors etc. I have some help but seek further volunteers. I am meeting Bernard again this month and will keep you informed.

5. Daniel Mendoza

St Margaret’s House, the Bethnal Green community charity, is organising various events this year to honour Mendoza, the first Jewish boxing champion, who was born in Whitechapel in 1764 and is known as the father of scientific boxing.  Details will be supplied in due course.

6. Rudolf Rocker

Thanks to the Tottenham brewer One Mile End, you can now drink the health of Rudolf Rocker, anarchist, leader of East End Jewish workers and editor of Yiddish publications such as Der Arbayter Fraynd (The Workers’ Friend), with a beer bearing his name. Enjoy it at the White Hart at 1 Mile End Road, on the Mile End Waste. I shall be contacting the brewery to see how we can further honour Rocker.

Keep in touch

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Email us at [email protected]

 

 

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