Ruth Sayliss Interview

Transcript

01:38 Growing up in the Sheffield Jewish community.

06:45 Community integration with the rest of Sheffield. Hebrew education/Jewish schools.

09:00 Attitude towards practice of Jewish faith as a child.

10:42 Best things about growing up in a Jewish community. Importance of family and

keeping together. “Closed”, “inclusive”, “cossetted”.

13:22 Unenjoyable aspects of growing up the Jewish community? Tuition, Sunday school.

16:30 Community spirit but “apathy” on the fringe, people who weren’t orthodox, the

“twain don’t meet”.

20:10 reformed synagogue.

20:45 Impact of immigration on the Jewish community. Russian immigrants.

21:39 Parent’s plumbing shop in West Bar, Sheffield.

23:00 Kosher butchers during childhood.

24:45 Impact of WW2 on the Sheffield Jewish community. Rations.

25:50 How often were exchanges made in Yiddish?

27:00 Different Jewish communities in England.

28:40 Prominent Jewish figures in Sheffield. Sheffield industry.

31:00 Current Jewish community in Sheffield.

33:50 Immigration. Welfare board. Patronage of givers cutlery and furniture businesses.

Viner’s.

39:00 Met people who fled from the holocaust to the U.K on the kinder transport. One

became a lecturer. Taken in by non-Jewish families.

41:20 Visits to Israel.

42:45 Big Jewish community in Leeds.

43:30 Small nature of Sheffield community fostering communal spirit.

44:40 Attempted dialogue with Sheffield Muslim community. Interfaith meetings.

45:45 Jewish students at university not wanting to participate in religious activities.

47:00 Anti-Semitism.

49:00 What was the reaction in the Jewish community to the holocaust?

53:15 Communal reaction against discrimination as a driving force of Judaism.

55:50 Conversion to Judaism.

59:30 Stamford Hill. People moving out to start new community.