\nthis summer. \u00a0It was a pivotal turning
\npoint in European History that heralded a period of stability and a new
\napproach to European diplomacy after more than twenty years of conflict across
\nEurope which had begun with the French Revolution. It marked the defeat of
\nEmperor Napoleon and the end of France\u2019s domination of mainland Europe.<\/p>\n
![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/jewishmuseum.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/tumblr_inline_nso70j9hxs1rivt1t_540.jpg\")
Trade card for Abraham Joseph, slopman (purveyor of naval clothing) from Plymouth<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n
The Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars also contributed to a
\nchanging attitude towards Jews across Europe when historically many had been
\nmarginalised in ghettos. Napoleon had sympathy for the Jews and gave them equal
\nrights leading to their liberation across France.\u00a0<\/p>\n
British law had not confined
\nJews to specific areas following their return to the country in the mid-17th century, and the Jewish immigrants had settled largely in London. By 1743 the
\nJewish population of London had reached 7,000 people. Wealthier Jews, uncomfortable
\nwith the steady influx of poor immigrants, encouraged the less established to depart
\nfrom London in exchange for a small loan to \u2018peddle their wares\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many relocated <\/p>\n In 1789 France was thrown into turmoil by the Revolution. Solomon Hirschel, the first ever British-born Chief Rabbi, encouraged <\/p>\n For many Jews, joining the navy was considered an However, despite monetary encouragements, there weren\u2019t This often took the form of impressment or These were While the Admiralty were not consistent in accepting Jews by Phoebe Newman, Museum Administrator Our recent partnership with the Jewish Military Museum has made us think in more depth about Jewish military history. A few weeks ago it was the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, so I had a rummage around to find some objects in our collection that reflect the Jewish involvement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[247,146,222,221,248],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nto the naval ports of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham where commercial connections
\nwere rising, and traders had the opportunity to sell to seamen. Jewish traders
\ntook the chance to sell aboard warships, often as the sailors on board were not
\ngiven permission to go ashore for fear they would desert. Nevertheless the
\nsailors often treated these pedlars very badly, viewing them as figures of fun.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/jewishmuseum.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/tumblr_inline_nso6j2jSnX1rivt1t_540.jpg\")
A comic sheet introducing a Jewish man (apparently a naval supplier) and pickled pork<\/small><\/figure>\n
\nBritain joined the war in 1793, demanding France gave up multiple territories
\nit had annexed in Europe and beyond. By this time Jews were still largely treated
\nas social outcasts in British society, but were more inclined to fight than
\never before as they were allowed to follow their religion under the protection
\nof law.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nJews to enlist in the Navy. He gained permission for Jews to stay away from
\nchurch parades and to take their oaths on the Book of Leviticus instead of the
\nNew Testament. \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/jewishmuseum.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/tumblr_inline_nso676DVF11rivt1t_540.jpg\")
Etrog box presented by Chief Rabbi Solomon Hirschell (Herschel) on the wedding of Aron Joseph of the Great Synagogue<\/small><\/figure>\n
\n\u2018opportunity\u2019 to make an impression and gain acceptance. Young Jews saw the
\nnavy as a chance to break away from their impoverished background, and
\nvolunteers were tempted by generous bounties.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nenough people to complete the Navy\u2019s need for sailors. Following the passing of
\na parliamentary act in 1795, local magistrates were required to fill their
\nmanning quotas and began to enlist various unsavoury characters to encourage
\nmen to serve in the Royal Navy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\u2018press-ganging\u2019, taking men into the Navy by force and often without notice.
\nOnly those considered to be \u2018users of the sea\u2019 could be lawfully pressed, but this
\ndidn\u2019t prevent British Jews from becoming victims of press gangs.<\/p>\n
\nwidespread in the sea ports where many Jewish communities had formed, and this
\nmeant that Jews became targets. For example Israel and Benjamin Hart, strolling
\nconjurors, were pressed after they went aboard a man-of-war in 1800 but
\napparently became brave fighting men. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\ninto the Navy, it was possible to escape service by declaring oneself Jewish.
\nBenjamin Moses was discharged from service aboard the HMS Victory per order of
\nLord Nelson. Many, however, continued to serve reflecting their wish to fight
\nfor Britain, whether it was for monetary or patriotic reasons, or an underlying
\ndesire to gain acceptance as British citizens.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/jewishmuseum.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/tumblr_inline_nso6ha8aGV1rivt1t_540.jpg\")
This book of Hebrew odes, written between 1806 and 1830, includes one commemorating the death of Nelson, which is on display our History Gallery<\/small><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"