Hundreds of families contact WJR after digitisation of family records
Hundreds of Jewish families across the world have contacted a Jewish charity based in London following the digitisation of family members’ records, charting how Jews left Europe for Britain be
fore the Holocaust.
World Jewish Relief (WJR) launched the open-access project last month, letting people learn more about family members’ journeys, when it made the personal records of more than 40,000 Jews who arrived in the UK before and after the Second World War publicly available for the first time.
WJR volunteer Debbie Cantor, who leads a team of five and whose grandparents’ records were included in the archive, said: “We’ve had over 350 requests [for information] since the Jewish News article – a huge number!”
She added: “Each file contains a story and a personal family history. I love hearing back from family member who requested the files. They are genuinely grateful and often tell us they’ve learned something they didn’t know before.”
For those interested in following-up, fill in your details on the World Jewish Relief website www.worldjewishrelief.org/archives or call the Archive volunteers on 0208 736 1250.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
