Skip to main content

Jersey Jewish Congregation

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY ON THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
 

The Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are a group of islands in the English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. They comprise two separate political entities, the Bailiwick of Guernsey (which also includes a number of smaller islands) and the Bailiwick of Jersey.  Although they are not technically part of the United Kingdom (they do not send representatives to the Parliament in Westminster), they are British crown dependencies.

The Jewish Community

It is most probable that there were Jews in the Channel Islands in the Medieval period, in light of their proximity to the French mainland and that fact the islands formed part of the Duchy of Normandy, which had a significant Jewish population, particularly in the city of Rouen (from where the medieval Jewish community in England is believed to have originated). However, no evidence remains of the medieval Jewish presence on the islands.

The Channel Islands were the only British territory occupied by Nazi Germany during the Second World War, and the few Jews that remained behind during the occupation, suffered the same fate as their co-religionists on the European continent. 

Although there is a small number of Jewish families on the island of Guernsey, the only organised Jewish congregations have been exclusively on the island of Jersey. 

Jewish Congregations

The only Jewish congregations known to have existed on the Channel Islands were on the island of Jersey.

The following was the first congregation, established in the mid-nineteenth century:

The synagogue of the above congregation fell into disuse in about 1870. However, those Jewish families remaining on the island lived openly as Jews and continued to hold religious services in private homes

Subsequently, in the 1960's, the following congregation was established:

This congregation is still active

Who to contact

Telephone
01534 482429
Website
www.jewishgen.org/.../Chislands.htm

Where to go

Address
La Petit Route des Mielles
St. Brelade
Jersey
Postcode
JE3 8FY
Back to top