East End Jews

Through the words of twenty-six Yiddish writers, this book offers an unparalleled view into the life, labor, politics, and joys of London's historical Jewish East End community. Drawing from the light feuilleton section of the London Yiddish press, these deceptively accessible, often humorous sketches capture remarkable detail of the vibrant immigrant life there from its heyday in the 1890s until the 1950s. Translated for the first time by Vivi Lachs and Barry Smerin, these narratives highlight the complex interactions between Jewish immigrants and their British surroundings as well as social changes that occurred, from celebrating a new Torah scroll to enlisting in the British army during World War I without citizenship. Detailed historical context, biographies of each writer, and evocative illustrations support this meaningful collection of urban sketches and enrich our understanding of the Jewish East End.