The London Jewish Cultural Centre launched a £450,000 project to mark the contribution of London Jews during the First World War with a pilot information gathering event in Redbridge. The aim of the project, which has received an initial £45,000 backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund, is to create a digital history of Jewish life between 1914 and 1918, incorporating a digital archive of stories of people who served in the military, or who lived in London during the conflict.
Events will be held throughout London and project leaders will also work with synagogues and community groups. Partners include JLGB - reflecting a desire to involve young people - the Jewish Military Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Jewish East End Historical Society and Jewish Care.
It will be one of three LJCC schemes to remain independent beyond the merger with JW3. The HLF is expected to provide the majority of the outlay.
Project director Alan Fell said that London Jewry's "massive involvement" in the First World War had been overshadowed by "the tragic events of World War Two.
"This is the right time, with all the focus that nationally is being given to the centenary of the Great War, to ensure for future generations that our Jewish stories are told and our contributions recorded in what will be a state-of-the-art digital history website."
In 2011, LJCC established The Holocaust Explained, a website for young people with no prior knowledge of the Holocaust.
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