Charity and welfare are very important in Judaism. The museum’s collections illustrate that while an important part of charity is giving money, acts of kindness are equally important. A number of institutions were set up from the late 17th century to relieve poverty and help the sick, particularly those established in response to the thousands of immigrants who arrived from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century.
Dora Shushter Collecting for the London Jewish Hospital
Photograph of Dora Shuster, by Isaac Perkoff, holding a collecting box marked “Jewish Hospital Fund” in Yiddish.
Friendly Society Collar
A collar from the Stuart M Samuel Lodge, Order of Achei Brith Friendly Society. In return for weekly contributions, members of the society received payments to help them in times of illness and death.
Jewish National Fund Collecting Box, 1924
Collection box was made by the Jewish furniture firm S Hille in 1924 for Louis and Ada Krendel, who lived in the London suburb of Brondesbury.
Jews’ Hospital and Orphan Asylum Banner
Banner of the Norwood Orphanage, now the childcare organisation Norwood, commemorating the founding of the Jews’ Hospital in 1795 and the Jews’ Orphan Asylum in 1831.
Offertory Book from the Great Synagogue
This register, dating from the 18th century, records Sabbath donations made to the Great Synagogue in London. The Great Synagogue was founded in 1692 at Duke’s Place in the City of London but was destroyed by bombing during World War II
Jews’ Temporary Shelter Deed Box
This deed box belonged to the Jews’ Temporary Shelter and was used to provide a safe place for residents of the shelter to keep their valuables and personal belongings.
