Board of Deputies calls on public to nominate sites for Jewish heritage plaques

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The shelter, which was spread across several addresses in the East End, was originally established in 1885 and as well as helping refugees form the Holocaust, helped Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Hungary, India, Iran, Egypt and Aden.

[Missing Credit]The building on Mansell St

Though the shelter at on Mansell Street is now closed and is, these days, occupied by a scoliosis clinic, the Jews’ Temporary Shelter charity is still in existence and offers grants for housing-related items to people in urgent need.

Attending the unveiling were representatives from the charity today, experts on the Jewish East from the nearby Queen Mary University of London, Board members, the Tower Hamlets archivist, representatives of Scoliosis SOS Clinic, and HIAS+JCORE, which is the British successor of HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), which ran the shelter.

[Missing Credit]Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg (centre) with other attendees at the unveiling of the plaque at the former Jews' Temporary Shelter (Photo: Board of Deputies)

Speaking beneath the plaque, Board President Phil Rosenberg said the project “recognises the Jewish people, places and institutions which have shaped British life. Today, we’re calling on the public to submit nominations for future Jewish heritage plaques to celebrate our community’s contribution.”

The heritage plaque scheme will be rolled out during Jewish Culture Month in the Hebrew month of Sivan, which overlaps with the end of May and the beginning of June.

“In these difficult times,” Rosenberg added, “we need more joy and less oy.”

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The unveiling of the plaque, which was designed by Emily Hoffnung, was also attended by London tour guide Sam Jacobs, who spoke about the significance of the site, alongside photographs of the building when it operated as a Jewish shelter.

[Missing Credit]People arriving at the Jews' Temporary Shelter

Scoliosis SOS Clinic principal, Erika Maude, said the clinic today is for people who have exhausted all other options for treatment, and “like the temporary shelter before us, we are able to offer people a beacon of light when they need it most, and I feel that that’s really lovely.”

The Board of Deputies scheme is ongoing, and it is hoped that a handful of sites can be picked out of the nominations from the public each year.

To nominate a Jewish heritage site for a plaque, click here or go to:

bod.org.uk/bod-news/board-of-deputies-president-unveils-first-plaque-to-launch-heritage-scheme/