Metadata: Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- London Metropolitan Archives, City of London
- Holding institution (official language):
- London Metropolitan Archives, City of London
- Postal address:
- 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB, United Kingdom
- Phone number:
- (+44) 20 7332 3820
- Email:
- ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk
- Reference number:
- ACC/2942
- Title:
- Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor
- Title (official language):
- Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor
- Creator/accumulator:
- Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor
- Date(s):
- 1872/1980
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 2.15 linear metres
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
- Records of the Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor, 1872-1980. The collection includes minute books of the general and other committees, and many account books, although there is little material which relates to the early days of the charity. There is a large amount of correspondence relating to all aspects of work of the charity. Also some property records and lists of recipients of aid.
- Archival history:
- Deposited at London Metropolitan Archives in 1991.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor was founded in January 1854. Its aim was to supply soup, bread and meat twice a week, during the winter, to impoverished members of the Jewish community. It was originally set up to help Jews fleeing from pogroms, who were arriving in London with no money and no immediate prospect of employment. At that time it was probably only viewed as a temporary measure, a service which would no longer be required once the refugees had integrated. This was not to prove the case, although as the Soup Kitchen became more established it was no longer the refugees that needed the service but the elderly and the sick amongst the Jewish community. Until 1939 the institution was literally just a soup kitchen, which dispensed soup that was cooked and eaten on the premises or taken away in tin cans. However, with the advent of the Second World War, rationing made it impossible to continue the soup allocations. Instead, those on the charity's books received an allocation of bread and groceries three times a week. In addition, special distributions were made at festivals. A small monetary allowance was also given on these occasions. A special fund was set up for relief at Passover. Recommendations for recipients of relief came from a number of sources, including the Jewish Welfare Board (formerly Jewish Board of Guardians), the Spanish and Portuguese Board of Guardians and other local bodies. A few people contacted the charity directly. All cases referred to the Soup Kitchen were thoroughly investigated and re-investigated at regular intervals. The results of these investigations were recorded on report cards. The Soup Kitchen's main sources of income came from rent paid on part of its premises in Brune Street, East London, and annual donations and covenants. It also held occasional fund raising activities. The buildings in Brune Street were finally vacated by the organisation in July 1991. Its remaining functions were taken over by Jewish Care, previously known as the Jewish Welfare Board.
- Access points: locations:
- London
- United Kingdom
- System of arrangement:
- Catalogued in six sections: Administration; Finance; Conveyances; Distributions; Correspondence; Miscellaneous
- Access, restrictions:
- These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.
- Finding aids:
- Please see online catalogues.
- Links to finding aids:
- https://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
- Yerusha Network member:
- London Metropolitan Archives
- Author of the description:
- Nicola Avery, London Metropolitan Archives, 2018