Association of Jewish Friendly Societies
Umbrella organisation for Jewish friendly societies in the United Kingdom
| Association of Jewish Friendly Societies | |
|---|---|
| Type | Umbrella organisation |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Area served | |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | |
| Website | |
| Remarks | |
Association of Jewish Friendly Societies was an umbrella body representing various Jewish friendly societies in the United Kingdom during the early 20th century.[1] It coordinated activities and reported on the collective membership and impact of these mutual aid organisations within the Anglo-Jewish community.[2] The association highlighted the significance of friendly societies in providing social security and communal support before the advent of the modern welfare state.[3]
In 1933, the association reported a total membership across all affiliated Jewish friendly societies and organisations of 85,569, underscoring their importance in Anglo-Jewish life.[1][2] These societies offered benefits such as sickness pay, funeral assistance, and social activities, helping to maintain independence and foster community ties among Jewish immigrants and residents.[3]
The role of the association diminished as the welfare state emerged in the late 1940s, leading to a decline in the number and activity of friendly societies.[3] Archival collections, such as those at the University of Southampton, preserve records of the association, including index books for its Burial Society.[3]
History
The Jewish friendly society movement in the United Kingdom dates back to 1793 with the passage of 'An act for the encouragement and relief of Friendly Societies' on 21 June 1793.[2] This legislation enabled the formal establishment of mutual aid groups, including those within Jewish communities.
The Association of Jewish Friendly Societies emerged as a coordinating umbrella organisation, compiling annual reports on affiliated societies.[1] Its 1933 annual report detailed membership statistics and addressed issues such as gravestone inscriptions for members receiving tombstone benefits, which were sometimes controversial.[1] An example inscription noted is "ACHAI TOV – LONDON HEBREW TONTINE O. S. D. GT. BRITAIN LODGE 34", where O. S. D. stands for Order Shield of David.[1]
By the mid-20th century, with the introduction of state welfare provisions, the need for such societies waned, and the association's influence declined.[3] The last surviving Jewish friendly society, the Grand Order of Israel and Shield of David Friendly Society, closed in 2022, marking the end of the movement.[2]
Affiliated societies
Affiliated societies under the association included a range of Jewish mutual aid groups. Known examples from historical records comprise:
- Grand Order of Israel
- Order Shield of David
- Hebrew Order of David
- Grand Order Sons of Jacob
- United Jewish Friendly Society
- Manasseh Ben Israel Friendly Society
- Order Achei Brith
- Order Achei Ameth
- London Hebrew Tontine[1][3][4]
See also
Jewish friendly societies in the United Kingdom Friendly society
External links
Jewish Miscellanies - 1933 Annual Report
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jewish Miscellanies, Association of Jewish Friendly Societies Annual Report, London 1933 Jewish Miscellanies, 5 April 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jewish Historical Society of England, The Last Surviving Jewish Friendly Society Closes JHSE, 27 October 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Special Collections University of Southampton, Jewish friendly societies Special Collections Blog, 6 April 2016.
- ↑ Archives Hub, Papers of the United Jewish Friendly Society Archives Hub.