Growth of the Jewish population of London during the past forty years is the subject of a British statistical study and survey the results of which have just been published in a report prepared by Miss F. Adler.
From 60,000 in 1890, the London Jewish population has grown to 183,000, representing today three per cent of the total population as against one and one-half per cent in 1890.
In contrast to former years, London Jews now tend to scatter throughout Greater London, the Survey states. While formerly most of the Jewish population was foreign born, today sixty per cent are English-born. Forty years ago Yiddish predominated and seventy per cent read Yiddish newspapers. Today only thirty per cent are reached by the Yiddish press and the majority use English as their mother-tongue.
There has also been a great shift in occupations. While formerly the Jews were chiefly to be found in the needle trades and as small tradesmen, today they are well represented in all branches of industry and commerce, and dress-making and tailoring form but eight per cent of Jewish occupations. As to religion, the report finds the majority of London Jewry still adhering to orthodox forms of Judaism and continuing to observe the Sabbath, while the “kindling of the Sabbath lights and the Ceremony of Sanctification still draw together at home a great part of Jewish families on Friday evening.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
