Heritage Project Will Research Story Of Jewish People In Mid, West And North Wales

An ambitious project that aims to plot the presence of Jews in mid-, west, and north Wales from the 19th century onwards is underway.

The six-month long research follows the work of the Jewish History Association of South Wales/Cymdeithas Hanes Iddewig De Cymru (JHASW/CHIDC) to preserve and share Jewish heritage in south Wales.

Klavdija Erzen, Programme and Project Manager, explained: “The Jewish heritage of Wales deserves to be better preserved and better known. 

“After the pioneering work we have done in south Wales, we are now turning our attention to the rest of the country. This will be the first time that a comprehensive survey of sources and resources has been attempted.”

The initial scoping project will find out whether the historic Jewish presence in the rest of Wales, outside south Wales, can be identified and what material relating to the Jewish communities there is already available or yet to be discovered.

Mid-, west, and especially north Wales has a rich Jewish history. Jews moved there in large numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, escaping persecution in Eastern Europe.

During World War 2, the refugees from National Socialism in Germany found sanctuary there.However, the Jewish communities in these areas have largely disappeared, as has awareness of their presence and contribution.

So far, there has been no co-ordinated effort to document their presence and preserve and share their heritage.

The work will determine what material relating to Jewish heritage is being held by local archives, museums, and libraries and researchers will also talk to local history and heritage organisations and research local newspapers.

Klavdija Erzen added, “We will be assessing the viability of contacting the remaining members of these communities. Andwe will explore what digital and physical material could be created and how to best share the heritage with the wider public. 

“The results of this initial project will inform the development of a larger project to preserve and share the Jewish heritage of mid-, west, and north Wales.

”We would be delighted to hear from anyone who has any information about Jewish communities or archives in these areas.”

• The six-month project runs until next April.