Janus: Records of the Cambridge University Jewish Society, and predecessor and associated bodies

University contains:
<-- See earlier
SLAV	Archives of the Department of Slavonic Studies
SOC.100	Records of the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society, and predecessors
SOC.101	Minutes of committee, sub-committee and business meetings of the Cambridge University Labour Club, signed
SOC.102	Records of the Cambridge University Scout and Guide Club, and predecessor Cambridge University Rover Scout Troop
SOC.103	Records of the Cambridge University Cruising Club
SOC.104	Records of the Cambridge University Jewish Society, and predecessor and associated bodies
SOC.105	Records of the Isaac Newton University Lodge
SOC.106.1	Registers of meetings of the Modern British History Graduate Seminar
SOC.107	Records of Cambridge University Youth Hostels Association Group
SOC.108	Poster issued by the spoof CUA-IS [? Cambridge University Anti-Infatuation Society] warning against romantic liaisons
SOC.109	Records of the Society for the Promotion of Archaeological Research in Cambridge
See later -->

Records of the Cambridge University Jewish Society, and predecessor and associated bodies

Title	Records of the Cambridge University Jewish Society, and predecessor and associated bodies
Reference	GBR/0265/SOC.104 (former reference: Ms.Add.8393-5, SOC.XXX.1-3)
Creator	Cambridge University Jewish Society; Cambridge Hebrew Congregation; Schechter Society; Cambridge branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association; Cambridge branch of the Women's International Zionist Organisation
Covering Dates	1896–2011 (1896-1985, 1991, 2003-4, 2007-11)
Extent and Medium	4 metres; paper
Repository	Cambridge University Archives

Content and context

The Cambridge University Jewish Society was founded on 9 June 1937 as an amalgamation of the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation, Schechter Society, Cambridge University Zionist Society and the Cambridge branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association.

The Cambridge Hebrew Congregation had been founded in 1888 to ''hold services in public according to Jewish ritual''. Full membership was available to university members; honorary membership to those with M.A. status; and local Jewish residents were welcome to attend services. From 1896 the congregation had premises in St Mary's Passage. The Schechter Society had been created by 1912 as subordinate organisation of the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation. It held ''meetings at which matters of Jewish interest [were] discussed.''

In the early twentieth century the Anglo-Jewish Association was working worldwide for the limitation of Anti-Semitism, and for the promotion of education both religious and secular. The date of the formation of the Cambridge branch is unknown but in 1905 it was re-formed. It arranged a speaker programme, fundraising schemes and social events.

The creation of the C.U.J.S. was linked to the opening of the Thompsons Lane synagogue which the society operates in conjunction with a Cambridge residents committee. At its foundation the society stated its purpose as ''assist[ing] and encourag[ing] Jewish members of the University, and Girton, Newnham and Homerton Colleges to take part in all aspects of Jewish communal life''. In addition to providing worship opportunities the society arranges speaker and study programmes; organises social and cultural events; and runs a kosher café (at various dates known as the canteen or restaurant). Additional members were drawn from Jewish boarders at the Perse School Cambridge and, during the Second World War, students from evacuated London colleges. Past members of note include the sixth president of Israel, Chaim Herzog, and jurist David Daube. Further information about the society's activities is on its website: http://www.srcf.ucam.org/cujs/.

No material is extant for the Cambridge University Zionist Society.

The majority of the records were transferred to the University Archives from the Manuscripts Department on 15 August 2008. They had been deposited by Cambridge University Jewish Society with the Manuscripts Department on 12 October 1983 and had been given the classmarks Ms.Add.8393-5. Items SOC.104.1.10, 2.13 and 10 were transferred to the University Archives on 9 June 2004 by officers of the Society. Part of SOC.104.9 was transferred anonymously to the University Archives on 15 July 2008. SOC.104.1.11, 2.14, 10 (addnl) and 25 were transferred by Gemma Steinhart, Murray Edwards College, on 17 March 2009. SOC.104.1.12, 2.15 and 10 (addnl) were transferred by Abigail Bergman, Gonville and Caius College, on 29 April 2011.

File SOC.104.9 was created by the cataloguing archivist by combining a file from Ms.Add.8395 with an overlapping set of term cards acquired in accession 2008/050.

Access and Use

Access to the 1983 deposit is restricted to the C.U.J.S. president and senior treasurer under the transfer terms. Applications for access should be directed to the society. The 2004, 2008 and 2009 deposits are unrestricted. Some items are closed to scholars for 80 years from the date of creation, under the terms of the Data Protection Act, 1998.

In English and Hebrew

Please cite as Cambridge University Archives, Records of the Cambridge University Jewish Society, and predecessor and associated bodies, SOC.104

Further information

Further printed records are in the Rare Books Department. See items in Cambridge Papers J 4815; Freshers' guide, 1978 (classmark: Cam.b.21.63.1); the 1970s-80s magazines ''J. Soc. news.'', ''Manna'' and ''Newsletter'' (various Cam classmarks); and an order of service sheet for a memorial to Herbert Martin James Loewe, 1940 (Cam.c.940.7 ); and William Frankel and Harvey Miller (eds), ''Gown & Tallith: in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Cambridge University Jewish Society (London : Harvey Miller, c1989.) (classmark: Cam.c.989.9). See also the 1947 menu card from the society's tenth anniversary luncheon amongst the papers of Richard Ferdinand Kahn held at King's College Archive Centre, Cambridge (reference: GBR/0272/RFK/21/2); correspondence of 1950 between Charles Goethe Kuper (Fitzwilliam College) of the C.U.J.S. and the Statistical Committee of the Trades Advisory Council is amongst Labour Party Archives held at the People's History Museum, Manchester (reference: GBR/0394/LP/GS/JEWS/6-7); and correspondence with the Board of Deputies of British Jews from 1928-65 is amongst that organisation's papers held at London Metropolitan Archives (reference: GBR/0074/ACC/3121).

The online catalogue for Janus was begun in September 2006 and was extended in September 2008, September 2009 and June 2011.

Index Terms

Cambridge University Jewish Society

University/SOC.104 contains:

SOC.104.1

Minutes of general meetings of the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation, Schechter Society and Cambridge University Jewish Society.
Creator: Cambridge Hebrew Congregation; Schechter Society; Cambridge University Jewish Society.
9 volumes, 7 folders; paper; Volumes 1-5 are in poor condition. They have sustained insect, water and mould damage. The covers are worn and bindings fragile. In volumes 6-9 many of the pages are torn where the term cards which were sellotaped to them have been pulled away..

1896–2011

SOC.104.2

Minutes of committee meetings of the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation, Schechter Society and Cambridge University Jewish Society.
Creator: Cambridge Hebrew Congregation; Schechter Society; Cambridge University Jewish Society.
12 volumes, 3 folders; paper; Volumes 1-4 are in poor condition. They have sustained insect, water and mould damage. The covers are worn and bindings fragile..

1913–2011

SOC.104.3

Minutes of general meetings of the Cambridge branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association, 1 November 1905 - 8 June 1937, signed.
Creator: Cambridge branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association.
2 volumes; paper.

1905–1946

SOC.104.4

Minutes of meetings of the permanent building committee of the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation. The volume is largely blank. Some correspondence is pasted in.
Creator: Cambridge Hebrew Congregation.
1 volume; paper; This volume is in poor condition. It has sustained insect and damp damage. The covers are worn and binding fragile..

25 Feb. 1913–14 May 1914

SOC.104.5

Receipts and expenditure account of the Cambridge branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association. The volume has been used to record individual subscriptions by members.
Creator: Cambridge branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association.
1 volume; paper.

1 Jan. 1920–10 June 1938

SOC.104.6

Typescript copies of conveyances relating to the acquisition of land in Thompsons Lane.
Creator: Cambridge Hebrew Congregation.
1 folder; paper.

1929–1937

SOC.104.7

Architectural drawings for alterations to the Thompsons Lane synagogue. There are elevations, cross sections, plans and perspective views.
Creator: Joseph Mendelsen and Partners, London, architects.
23 drawings and blue prints now in 1 folder; paper.

1978–1983

SOC.104.8

Presidents' correspondence, circulars and newsletters. These are mainly the papers of Elliot R. Goodman (Queens' College) and Neil E. Laufer (Christ's College). The correspondence is mainly concerned with the speaker programme and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (XXX) on Zionism.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1985

SOC.104.9

Term cards and newsletters. There are also some term cards and newsletters for the Cambridge University Israel Society and the Cambridge University Progressive Jewish Group.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
7 items; paper.

Jan. 1980-June 1983

SOC.104.10

Termly events calendars, programmes and flyers.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 envelope of loose items; paper.

Jan. 2004-Mar. 2011

SOC.104.11

Circulars, leaflets and posters re the nineteenth Jewish Women's Week co-ordinated by the Federation of Women Zionists.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1966

SOC.104.12

Menu card and toast list for the fiftieth anniversary dinner, held 13 September 1985; together with a liturgy of berakhah (blessings) to be made over the meal.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
2 items; paper.

13 Sept. 1985

SOC.104.13

Register of attendance at Hebrew classes, 1955-6; together with an expenditure account [? for the classes or canteen] arranged chronologically,1952-3.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 volume; paper.

1952–1956

SOC.104.14

Senior treasurer, Raphael Loewe's, report on the financial situation of the Jewish Restaurant, 1956; together with financial material relating to the restaurant. The report also comments on the general financial state of the society.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1952–1957

SOC.104.15

Members' credit accounts for meals taken at the Jewish Restaurant.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 volume; paper; There is some damp damage and the spine is missing..

1976–1982

SOC.104.16

Membership cards for the Union of Jewish Students of Great Britain and Ireland; together with cards of members details from an index.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1980–1985

SOC.104.17

[? Herbert Loewe] library donation account arranged alphabetically by name of donor.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 volume; paper; Fragile. Some pages are loose..

1955–1958

SOC.104.18

Minutes of meetings of the library committee, 17 February 1957-2 June 1963. A constitution of 1960 is enclosed; together with circulars (some re the Herbert Loewe Memorial Library) and correspondence 1955-61.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 volume; paper.

1955–1963

SOC.104.19

Register of items borrowed from the society library.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 volume; paper; Some pages are loose..

1956–1965

SOC.104.20

Notes for a history of the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation, [?1950s]; together with a collection of documents, 1930-57. The folder contains: a lease from Horace George Gray to Robert Waley Cohen and others of 41 Sidney Street, Cambridge for seven years, 30 December 1930; a paper arguing for the creation of C.U.J.S., circa 1930; senior treasurer's reports and accounts, 1932-4; correspondence, including a letter from Herbert Loewe to Mr. Keidan re the congregation, 7 January 1937; and versions of SOC.104.13, circa 1957.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1930–1959

SOC.104.21

Notes entitled ''History of English Provincial Jewry (excluding Cambridge)''. In particular the notes seem to have been taken from Cecil Roth, ''The Rise of Provincial Jewry'' (Jewish Monthly; London, 1950).
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1950–1959

SOC.104.22

Transcripts of interviews with ?Jews resident in Cambridge, 1967-8; together with related papers. The papers include address lists, 1930s-60s; a list of subscribers to the Cambridge Hebrew Congregation building fund, [?1930s]; and notes on social stereotypes and identities.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 folder; paper.

1930–1968

SOC.104.23

Off-print of an article by Christhard Hoffman and Daniel Schwartz entitled ''Early but Opposed, Supported but Late: Two Berlin Seminaries Which Attempted to Move Abroad,'' Leo Baeck Institute Year Book 36 (1991). The article is partly concerned with the attempted move of the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums to Cambridge in 1939.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
1 item; paper.

1991

SOC.104.24

Minutes of committee meetings of the Cambridge branch of the Women's International Zionist Organisation, 14 July 1964 - 14 October 1965; together with questionnaire responses, 1966. The questionnaire refers to the relationship between Cambridge W.I.Z.O. and the Ladies Guild.
Creator: Cambridge branch of the Women's International Zionist Organisation.
1 folder; paper.

1964–1965

SOC.104.25

Special general meetings motions and minutes.
Creator: Cambridge University Jewish Society.
2 items in envelope.

6 Nov. 2007–21 May 2008