Jews in Britain Today

Today, there are 250-300,000 people identifying as Jews in the United Kingdom. There are British Jews whose families have moved here for a number of different reasons and from a huge variety of countries.

The majority of UK Jews live in London, centred in north London, south Hertfordshire and Essex. The other main areas of Jewish population are in Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, Brighton, Bournemouth, Gateshead, Birmingham and Southend, although smaller Jewish communities are scattered throughout the UK in over 70 towns and cities.

British Jews at the annual ‘Limmud’ Conference in Birmingham (Photographer Avi Grant), an art exhibition in Manchester put on by ‘The Friendship Circle’ and Jewish guests at a Hanukah reception in Parliament.

Diversity within the UK Jewish Community

There are Ashkenazi
Jewish group and culture primarily developed around Central or Eastern Europe., SephardiDescribes Jews of Spanish or Portuguese decent., MizrahiDescribes Jews from Central and West Asian countries, often Arabic-speaking countries. (and more) British Jews, whose families have come from many different countries all over the world, bringing their cultural traditions with them.

British Jews also have a wide variety of opinions about God, Judaism and how to live a ‘Jewish life’. They may belong to a community and attend synagogueJewish communal building where people gather to pray, learn and celebrate. (From Greek – meaning place of gathering). and events there. They may be involved in Jewish charities or cultural organisations. They may not be involved in any community but still have a Jewish identity due to their religious beliefs or their family history. There are vibrant HarediAn ideology within Judaism (see ‘Branches of Judaism page’ for more details)., OrthodoxOne of the major branches of Judaism., MasortiAn ideology within Judaism (see ‘Groups within Judaism’ page for more details)., ReformAn ideology within Judaism (see ‘Groups within Judaism page for more details). and LiberalAn ideology within Judaism (see ‘Groups within Judaism page for more details). Jewish communities across the UK, as well as many secularA term for anyone or anything non-religious. Jews.

In the 2021 census:

76.3% English and Welsh Jews identified as Jewish as their religion alone.
18.2% English and Welsh Jews identified as Jewish jointly as their religion and ethnicity.
5.6% English and Welsh Jews identified as Jewish as ethnicity alone.

Photos above show pupils at Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School in London and Joseph Winton, the oldest living Jewish man in the UK, turning 105!

TO FIND OUT

Are there other religious or cultural groups in the UK that have a lot of diversity within the group?

CRITICAL THINKING

1. Why would some Jews say that being Jewish is their religion, but others would say it is their ethnicity (culture and history)?

2. Is your ethnicity (culture and history) different to your religion?

3. Think about your nationality (the country you were born in). Is this the same as your ethnicity? Do you have the same nationality as your parents? You may not!

DID YOU KNOW

The 2022 census of Scotland was the first time Jews were given the option to define themselves by ethnicity, as well or instead of by religion. In England and Wales ‘Jewish’ is only an option in the question about religion. The Board of Deputies of British Jews is campaigning for ‘Jewish’ to also be an option in the ethnicity question.

CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1. Approximately how many Jews are there in Britain today?

2. Which city do the majority of British Jews live in today?

3. Do British Jews today see being Jewish as their religion or ethnicity?

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