This eighteenth century English Machzor is from the John Rylands library and is part of a collection bequeathed by Rabbi Doctor Moses Gaster. A Machzor is a text that normally contains Hebrew prayers and liturgical poems both for everyday use and for special occasions. What makes this Machzor so unique is that the entire text has been translated into English and features no Hebrew at all.

The manuscript was researched by scholar Aaron Sterk, who believes that the English translation is based on a very early Spanish translation. He believes, due to errors and elisions in the text, that it may have been made by a non-Jewish scribe for a converted female user who could not read Hebrew. The handwriting and layout indicate that the manuscript dates from about 1750. Errors include the misspelling of various Hebrew words like Hannukkah, which you can see in the image.

Read about our in-person encounter with the Machzor here.

See more images from the Machzor here.

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Hidden Treasures: Celebrating the documents, photos and artefacts in British archives that tell the story of Jews in Britain

Jewish and Hebrew Collections at the John Rylands Library and Manchester University Library

Cultural | Jewish Life | ReligionPartially online

The Jewish and Hebrew Collections at the John Rylands Library and Manchester University Library are specialist collections held by Manchester University which […]

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This document, from The National Archives, is a petition to Oliver Cromwell from Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel, a distinguished Amsterdam scholar who came to England from Amsterdam in 1655 to petition Cromwell to readmit Jews to the country & allow them to worship.

One of the signatories, merchant Antonio Fernandez Carvajal, was the first Jew to be granted British citizenship, by Cromwell in 1655. Originally from Portugal, Carvajal’s extensive West Indies trade let him serve as grain contractor for Parliamentary forces during the Civil War. In 1656 Cromwell allowed Jews permission “to meet privately in their houses for prayer” & to lease a cemetery. In 1657, about 30 Sephardi families including Carvajal founded a synagogue in Creechurch Lane, London.

Here is Ben Israel’s statement about his petition, dated April 10, 1656:

“The communication and correspondence I have held for some years since, with some eminent persons of England, was the first originall of my undertaking this design. For I alwayes found by them, a great probability of obtaining what I now request, whilst they affirmed that at this time the minds of men stood very well affected towards us, and that our entrance into this Island would be very acceptable and well pleasing unto them. And from this beginning sprang up in me a semblable affection, and desire of obtaining this purpose. For, for seven yeares on this behalf, I have endeavoured and sollicited it, by letters and other means, without any intervall.

For I conceived that our universall dispersion was a necessary circumstance, to be fulfilled before all that shall be accomplished which the Lord hath promised to the people of the Jewes, concerning their restauration, and their returning again into their own land, according to those words, Dan. 12,7: When we shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. As also, that this our scattering, by little, and little, should be amongst all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other, as it is written Deut. 28,64: I conceived that by the end of the earth might be understood this Island. And I knew not, but that the Lord who often works by naturall meanes, might have design’d and made choice of me for the bringing about this work.

With these proposals therefore, I applyed my self, in all zealous affection to the English Nation, congratulating their glorious liberty which at this day they enjoy; together with their prosperous peace. xviiAnd I entituled my book named The Hope of Israel, to the first Parliament, and the Council of State. And withall declared my intentions. In order to which they sent me a very favorable passe-port. Afterwards I directed my self to the second, and they also sent me another. But at that juncture of time my coming was not presently performed, for that my kindred and friends, considering the checquered, and interwoven vicissitudes, and turns of things here below, embracing me, with pressing importunity, earnestly requested me not to part from them, and would not give over, till their love constrained me to promise, that I would yet awhile stay with them.

But notwithstanding all this, I could not be at quiet in my mind (I know not but that it might be through some particular divine providence) till I had anew made my humble addresses to his Highnesse the Lord Protector (whom God preserve), and finding that my coming over would not be altogether unwelcome to him, with those great hopes which I conceived, I joyfully took my leave of my house, my friends, my kindred, all my advantages there, and the country wherein I have lived all my lifetime, under the benign protection, and favour of the Lords, the States Generall, and Magistrates of Amsterdam; in fine (I say) I parted with them all, and took my voyage for England. Where, after my arrivall, being very courteously received, and treated with much respect, I presented to his most Serene Highnesse a petition, and some desires, which for the most part, were written to me by my brethren the Jewes, from severall parts of Europe, as your worship may better understand by former relations.

Whereupon it pleased His Highnesse to convene an Assembly at Whitehall, of Divines, Lawyers, and Merchants, of different persuasions, and opinions. Whereby men’s judgements, and sentences were different. Insomuch, that as yet, we have had no finall determination from his most Serene Highnesse. Wherefore those few Jewes that were here, despairing of our expected successe, departed hence. And others who desired to come hither, have quitted their hopes, and betaken themselves some to Italy, some to Geneva, where that Commonwealth hath at this time, most freely granted them many, and great privileges.”

Read more here.

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Hidden Treasures: Celebrating the documents, photos and artefacts in British archives that tell the story of Jews in Britain

The National Archives

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Cultural | Religion | SocialOnly online

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This treasure is an indenture, dated 14 February 1734, relating to the acquisition of the ‘Novo’ or ‘new’ burial ground in Mile End Road, East London. It comes from the archive of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews Congregation, held by the The London Archives.

By 1733 there was little room left in the congregation’s burial ground in Mile End Road, (now known as the ‘Velho’ or ‘Old’ Cemetery). The congregation therefore negotiated the purchase of two and a half acres of extra land further east along the same road and the ‘Novo’ (‘New’) cemetery was brought into use, paid for by wealthy members of the Congregation who put their names and seals to this indenture for the purpose.

By 1895 the cemetery was almost full, and it was closed for burials for adults in 1905 and for children in 1918. Today the surviving fraction of the cemetery is incorporated into land that is now part of Queen Mary University. It is one of only two exclusively Sephardic cemeteries left in England. What you see here is one fifth of the original five acres. Approximately 9,500 people were buried here between 1733 and 1918.

The surviving graves are plain, reflecting Sephardic tradition that teaches we enter the world with nothing and exit it in the same way. The gravestones, though, are more decorated. Most are written in Hebrew and English. Many well-known English Jews are buried here. For more information about the Novo Cemetery, we recommend this photo essay from local community magazine Roman Road.

In the summer of 2020, the Pascal Theatre Company, led by Julia Pascal, was set to launch One Lost Stone, a devised performance project about Sephardi British history to be performed in the Novo Cemetery. Due to Covid-19 the project became a digital historical travel guide which you can find here.

Discover more Hidden Treasures

Hidden Treasures: Celebrating the documents, photos and artefacts in British archives that tell the story of Jews in Britain

The London Archives

Immigration | Local History | Religion | SocialPartially online

The London Archives (formerly London Metropolitan Archives) is a public archive, housing a broad collection of social, religious, and local history records. […]