Isle of Man

Information

CJC Vice President: currently vacant

Community Organisation: Isle of Man Hebrew Congregation

Demography

There is a very small resident Jewish community - possibly only seven families throught the winter. They are concentrated in the capital, Douglas.

History

The congregation was founded in 1927.

According to the Jewish Year Book, there was no community in 1938, but a service for Rosh Hashanah (New Year) had been documented, so there must have been some Jewish residents.

During  WW1 and WW2, many Jews were interned as 'enemy aliens' in a camp on the island. In WW2, many of theses were German and Austrian refugees. They were sequestered there until the absurdity of refugees being punished due to the place they were fleeing from was realised.

Whilst there though, these often highly cultured, talented and educated Jewish refugees established remarkable informal cultural and social institutions and activity. Once restrictions were lifted, almost all left the island and to return to their ertstwhile homes, often only recently established anyway, on the mainland.

Community Life

The Jewish community is Ashkenazi Orthodox, but there is no organised Jewish community here, nor has there ever been a synagogue or rabbi on the island. However, there is a Jewish cemetery. Several of these Jews maintain homes on the mainland or elsewhere as well.

They hold irregular meetings but always annually honour Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January.

More recently, local Jews have found it necessary to confront unacceptable anti-Israel sentiment arising from the October 7th Hamas massacres and the ensuing war. 

Kashrut

Kosher food is bought online and transported over to the island.

Education

Youth

Affiliations

Commonwealth Jewish Council