The Poor Jews' Temporary Shelter
The Poor Jews' Temporary Shelter is at 82 Leman Street, Aldgate, London, England.
Place Notes
The Jews' Temporary Shelter was established in 1885 in the East End of London. It provided temporary accommodation, meals and assistance to poor Jewish immigrants and transmigrants arriving in London by ship from Eastern Europe.
The Poor Jews' Temporary Shelter - at 82 Leman Street, Aldgate, rapidly grew into one of the most important sources of assistance organised by Anglo-Jewry for immigrants and transmigrants alike. From the 1880s till the outbreak of the First World War, every ship carrying Jewish migrants was met by a representative of the Shelter. Officials at the Shelter were notified in advance by telegram if there were any Jewish migrants on board, and could then make arrangements to meet passengers off the ships at Gravesend, or off the boat-trains arriving in London from Grimsby or Harwich.
Between 1885 and 1914 the Shelter (which moved from 82 to 84 Leman Street in 1906) housed over 40,000 migrants. Catering only for adult men, it met their short-term needs for up to 14 days, whilst women and children were cared for by its sister organisation, the Jewish Association for the Protection of Girls, Women and Children. Families were housed in approved lodging houses.
By such means, the Shelter protected newly-arrived Jews from being duped into paying exorbitant prices for temporary lodgings. As well as providing accommodation, the Shelter exchanged money and sold tickets to Jewish transmigrants heading for South Africa, South America, the United States, Canada and Australia.
- References (1)
- Occupancy/Contact: accommodation / travel (hotel, camping, trip, vacation, visit a friend) Joseph Orbach
