The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation
UK grant-making trust (charity 201892), Littman family endowment
| The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Grant-making charitable trust |
| Logo | |
| Founded | 26 November 1961 |
| Founder(s) | named for Joseph Aaron Littman (1898–1953) |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | Charity 201892 |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | Manor Farm, Mill Lane, Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset TA11 7BQ |
| Area served | |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | Colette Celine Littman; Joanna Karen Littman; Andrew Graham Rosen |
| Website | |
| Remarks | |
The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation is an English grant-making charitable trust (charity no. 201892), established by trust deed on 26 November 1961. It is named for the property investor Joseph Aaron Littman (1898–1953). Income is almost entirely from a freehold investment property and a listed-investment portfolio. The trustees make grants to other charities; they do not run programmes of their own.[1][2][3]
Year to 5 April 2025: income £387,031, expenditure £279,194, of which grants £202,813. Reporting on the Charity Commission register is recorded as up to date.[1][3]
Objects and activity
The trust deed objects, restated unchanged in each recent trustees' report, are:
- the relief of poverty anywhere in the world
- the advancement of knowledge anywhere in the world
- such other charitable purposes as the trustees shall select from time to time.[3]
The Charity Commission activity line is the same two objects. Classifications on the register: education/training; the advancement of health or saving of lives; the prevention or relief of poverty; religious activities; other charitable purposes. The charity helps other charities or voluntary bodies by making grants to organisations. Area of operation is listed as throughout England and Wales, though named recipients include bodies in Israel.[4]
There are no trading subsidiaries. Trustees receive no remuneration or expenses.[1][3]
Joseph Aaron Littman and the family charities
Joseph Aaron Littman (1898–1953) was a British property investor, born in Russia, who lived in New York and moved to London in the 1920s. He specialised in high-street retail property and pioneered sale-and-leaseback structures. After 1945 he concentrated on West End retail, including Oxford Street. He died of lung cancer aged 55 and left an estate reported at £3.3 million.[5]
His son Louis Littman (Louis Thomas Sidney Littman, 1925–1987), a solicitor and farmer, founded the Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation in 1965 in memory of his father. The Library publishes scholarly work on Jewish history, religion and culture. It is a separate charity and company; the Foundation is a recurring related-party donor.[5][6]
The Foundation's own name (“Second”) implies an earlier Littman family vehicle. The 1961 trust deed is the constitution cited in the accounts; the register does not publish a narrative of any first foundation on the 201892 entry.[2]
Income and expenditure
Income is investment income. The Charity Commission financial history and the five most recent trustees' reports give:
| Year ended 5 April | Investment income £ | of which property rent £ | of which listed investments £ | of which other £ | Grants paid £ | Total expenditure £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 437,470 | — | — | — | — | 351,130 |
| 2020 | 429,090 | — | — | — | — | 345,330 |
| 2021 | 396,757 | — | — | — | 246,417 | 278,970 |
| 2022 | 429,606 | — | — | — | 249,005 | — |
| 2023 | 435,343 | — | — | — | 314,280 | — |
| 2024 | 738,751 | 711,254 | 26,966 | 531 | 246,960 | 342,430 |
| 2025 | 387,031 | 339,802 | 41,766 | 5,463 | 202,813 | 279,194 |
The 2024 spike is rent on the freehold investment property (£711,254 against £339,802 the following year). Donations and legacies income is nil on the years the register splits the line. A designated fund holds the carrying value of the freehold, which the trustees treat as not available for distribution. The 2022 accounts carried the property at £8,000,000; the 2025 accounts show a trustees' valuation of £5,300,000. Year-end 2025 capital commitments on refurbishment were £32,362.[7][3][8][9][10][11]
Support costs in 2025 were £32,062 (audit £8,800; legal and professional £18,947; bookkeeping £3,798), against £39,387 in 2024 when general rates of £14,501 appeared.[3]
Plans stated in the 2025 trustees' report: continue to support the Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation; continue smaller donations at trustees' discretion; build cash to diversify investments; refurbish an unleased unit and common parts.[3]
Grants
Grants are accounted for when paid. Named lines of £2,000 and above, plus the sundry pot, from the analysis notes for years ended 5 April 2021–2025:[12][13][14][10]
| Recipient | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Rural Development | — | 4,000 | 2,500 | 3,000 | — |
| Alyn Hospital | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Apples and Honey Nightingale | — | — | 10,000 | 1,000 | — |
| Ben-Gurion University Foundation | — | — | 27,000 | 20,000 | 10,000 |
| Chabad Cambridge | — | — | — | — | 5,000 |
| Chabad Lubavitch | 7,000 | 47,500 | 50,000 | — | 5,000 |
| Coronary Flow Trust | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Diabetes UK | — | — | — | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| Genizah Cambridge Foundation | — | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Jewish Music Institute | — | — | — | — | 4,500 |
| Kent House | — | — | — | 5,000 | — |
| Leo Baeck College | 15,000 | 15,000 | — | — | — |
| Leo Baeck College UK | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 7,500 |
| Lubavitch Senior Girls School | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Magen David Adom | — | — | 500 | 6,000 | 11,000 |
| Memorial Scrolls Trust | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Nightingale Homes | — | 2,500 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| PJ Library | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| RGK Wheelchairs Ltd | — | — | — | — | 6,654 |
| Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue | 4,000 | 5,000 | 6,000 | 10,000 | 5,324 |
| Theatro Technis Company Limited | — | 5,000 | — | — | — |
| The Jerusalem Expressive Therapy Centre (Misholim) | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | — |
| The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation (related party) | 150,000 | 100,000 | 133,000 | 105,000 | 45,000 |
| The Spiro Ark | 5,000 | — | — | — | — |
| Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal | — | — | 5,000 | — | — |
| UJIA | 2,000 | — | — | — | — |
| University College London | 6,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Westminster Synagogue | 7,755 | 12,755 | 7,780 | 7,960 | 12,835 |
| Wolfson College | — | — | — | 13,500 | 13,500 |
| World Jewish Relief | — | 5,000 | — | — | — |
| Sundry under £2,000 | 9,162 | 5,750 | 4,500 | 5,000 | 5,500 |
| Total grants | 246,417 | 249,005 | 314,280 | 246,960 | 202,813 |
The 2025 accounts restate 2024 sundry as £6,000; the 2024 note itself printed £5,000. Totals are those printed in each year's analysis.
The largest recurring beneficiary is the related-party Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation (£533,000 across the five years). Other recurring named lines include PJ Library, Leo Baeck College UK, Alyn Hospital, Memorial Scrolls Trust, Westminster Synagogue, University College London, Lubavitch Senior Girls School and the Genizah Cambridge Foundation.
Named Israel-facing lines in this run include Alyn Hospital (Jerusalem rehabilitation hospital), Ben-Gurion University Foundation, Misholim (The Jerusalem Expressive Therapy Centre) and Magen David Adom. Chabad Lubavitch received £47,500 (2022) and £50,000 (2023). UJIA appears once, at £2,000 in 2021.[12][13][14][10]
Westminster Synagogue and Kent House
Westminster Synagogue (charity 1133190) is a named grantee in every year of this run: £7,755 (2021), £12,755 (2022), £7,780 (2023), £7,960 (2024), £12,835 (2025). A separate “Kent House” line of £5,000 appears only in 2024. That split matches the congregation's own credit of the Foundation as a Kent House Series sponsor: Kent House, Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, is the synagogue building and also houses the Memorial Scrolls Trust museum. Memorial Scrolls Trust itself is a steady £3,000 line in each of the five years.[12][13][15]
Thomas Salamon (Rabbi Dr Thomas Salamon), rabbi of Westminster Synagogue 1997–2017 and thereafter emeritus, was a Foundation trustee until 17 July 2024.[16][17]
Trustees
The Charity Commission register lists three current trustees. The 2025 trustees' report records who served in that year, including the resignation of Thomas Salamon.[18][16]
| Name | Role | Appointed | Other trusteeships / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colette Celine Littman (Mrs C. C. Littman / MRS C Littman) | Trustee | (no date on register) | The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation. Companies House for the Library company records Colette Celine Littman, born 1931. |
| Joanna Karen Littman (Mrs J. K. Littman) | Trustee | 6 April 2017 | Roby Littman Charitable Foundation; also a trustee/PSC of The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation (Companies House birth year 1961). Signed the 2025 accounts (28 January 2026). |
| Andrew Graham Rosen | Trustee | 31 May 2023 | None on the Charity Commission register. |
| Thomas Salamon (Dr T. Salamon) | Trustee (resigned) | — | Resigned 17 July 2024. Emeritus rabbi, Westminster Synagogue. |
No employees with benefits over £60,000 are disclosed. Auditors on recent accounts: Simmons Gainsford LLP, then Sumer Auditco Limited.[1][2]
Related-party transactions
The notes state that during the year ended 5 April 2025 the Foundation donated £45,000 (2024: £105,000) to the Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation, of which Colette Celine Littman and Joanna Karen Littman are trustees.[6]
Contact
- Manor Farm
- Mill Lane
- Charlton Mackrell
- Somerton
- Somerset TA11 7BQ
Alternative address used on some listings: Berkeley Law Ltd, 19 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8ED. No public website. Telephone listed on third-party funder directories: 01458 223650.[2][1]
See also
- Westminster Synagogue
- Memorial Scrolls Trust
- The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation
- Leo Baeck College
- Friends of Yad Sarah UK
- Joseph Aaron Littman
- Roby Littman Charitable Foundation
- Chabad Lubavitch
- Magen David Adom
- UJIA
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 THE SECOND JOSEPH AARON LITTMAN FOUNDATION, Charity Commission, 201892.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2022, constitution note: trust deed 26 November 1961; principal office Manor Farm, Mill Lane, Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset TA11 7BQ.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025, performance and objects.
- ↑ What, who, how, where, THE SECOND JOSEPH AARON LITTMAN FOUNDATION, Charity Commission 201892.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Littman, Joseph Aaron", Encyclopaedia Judaica / Encyclopedia.com, citing Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and Oliver Marriott, The Property Boom (1967).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, notes to the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025, related party transactions.
- ↑ Financial history, THE SECOND JOSEPH AARON LITTMAN FOUNDATION, Charity Commission 201892.
- ↑ The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024, performance.
- ↑ The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2023, performance.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, notes to the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2022, analysis of charitable donations and investment property.
- ↑ The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, notes to the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025, investment property and capital commitments.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, notes to the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025, analysis of charitable donations.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, notes to the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024, analysis of charitable donations.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, notes to the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2023, analysis of charitable donations.
- ↑ Westminster Synagogue, Annual Review 2024–25 / AGM papers, Kent House Series sponsors.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, Trustees' report for the year ended 5 April 2025, trustees who served during the year.
- ↑ Our History, Westminster Synagogue.
- ↑ Trustees, THE SECOND JOSEPH AARON LITTMAN FOUNDATION, Charity Commission 201892.
! 2025African Rural Development—4,0002,5003,000—-Alyn Hospital5,0005,0005,0005,0005,000-Apples and Honey Nightingale——10,0001,000—-Ben-Gurion University Foundation——27,00020,00010,000-Chabad Cambridge————5,000-Chabad Lubavitch7,00047,50050,000—5,000-Coronary Flow Trust5,0005,0005,0005,00010,000-Diabetes UK———2,00010,000-Genizah Cambridge Foundation—15,00015,00015,00015,000-Jewish Music Institute————4,500-Kent House———5,000—-Leo Baeck College15,00015,000———-Leo Baeck College UK7,5007,5007,5007,5007,500-Lubavitch Senior Girls School5,0005,0005,0005,0005,000-Magen David Adom——5006,00011,000-Memorial Scrolls Trust3,0003,0003,0003,0003,000-Nightingale Homes—2,5005,0005,0005,000-PJ Library10,00010,00010,00010,00010,000-RGK Wheelchairs Ltd————6,654-Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue4,0005,0006,00010,0005,324-Theatro Technis Company Limited—5,000———-The Jerusalem Expressive Therapy Centre, Misholim5,0005,0005,0005,000—-The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation (related party)150,000100,000133,000105,00045,000-The Spiro Ark5,000————-Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal——5,000——-UJIA2,000————-University College London6,0006,0008,0008,0008,000-Westminster Synagogue7,75512,7557,7807,96012,835-Wolfson College———13,50013,500-World Jewish Relief—5,000———-Sundry under £2,0009,1625,7504,5005,0005,500-'Total grants'246,417'249,005'314,280'246,960'202,813}
The 2025 accounts restate 2024 sundry as £6,000; the 2024 note itself printed £5,000. Totals are those printed in each year's analysis.
The largest recurring beneficiary is the related-party Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation (£533,000 across the five years). Other recurring named lines include PJ Library, Leo Baeck College UK, Alyn Hospital, Memorial Scrolls Trust, Westminster Synagogue, University College London, Lubavitch Senior Girls School and the Genizah Cambridge fund.
Named Israel-facing lines in this run include Alyn Hospital (Jerusalem rehabilitation hospital), Ben-Gurion University Foundation, Misholim (Jerusalem Expressive Therapy Centre) and Magen David Adom. Chabad Lubavitch received £47,500 (2022) and £50,000 (2023). UJIA appears once, at £2,000 in 2021.
Westminster Synagogue and Kent House
Westminster Synagogue (charity 1133190) is a named grantee in every year of this run: £7,755 (2021), £12,755 (2022), £7,780 (2023), £7,960 (2024), £12,835 (2025). A separate “Kent House” line of £5,000 appears only in 2024. That split matches the congregation's own credit of the Foundation as a Kent House Series sponsor: Kent House, Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, is the synagogue building and also houses the Memorial Scrolls Trust museum. Memorial Scrolls Trust itself is a steady £3,000 line in each of the five years.Westminster Synagogue, Annual Review 2024–25 / AGM papers, Kent House Series sponsors. Thomas Salamon (Rabbi Dr T. Salamon), rabbi of Westminster Synagogue 1997–2017 and thereafter emeritus, was a Foundation trustee until 17 July 2024.The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation, Trustees' report for the year ended 5 April 2025, trustees who served during the year.Our History, Westminster Synagogue.
Trustees
The Charity Commission register lists three current trustees. The 2025 trustees' report records who served in that year, including the resignation of Thomas Salamon.Trustees, THE SECOND JOSEPH AARON LITTMAN FOUNDATION, Charity Commission 201892.
| Name | Role | Appointed
|
Other trusteeships / notesColette Celine Littman (Mrs C. C. Littman / MRS C LITTMAN)Trustee(no date on register)The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation. Companies House for the Library company records Colette Celine Littman, born 1931.-Joanna Karen Littman (Mrs J. K. Littman)Trustee6 April 2017Roby Littman Charitable Foundation; also a trustee/PSC of The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation (Companies House birth year 1961). Signed the 2025 accounts (28 January 2026).-Andrew Graham RosenTrustee31 May 2023None on the Commission register.-Thomas Salamon (Dr T. Salamon)Trustee (resigned)—Resigned 17 July 2024. Emeritus rabbi, Westminster Synagogue.}
No employees with benefits over £60,000 are disclosed. Auditors on recent accounts: Simmons Gainsford LLP, then Sumer Auditco Limited. Related-party transactionsThe notes state that during the year ended 5 April 2025 the Foundation donated £45,000 (2024: £105,000) to the Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation, of which Colette Celine Littman and Joanna Karen Littman are trustees. Contact
Alternative address used on some listings: Berkeley Law Ltd, 19 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8ED. No public website. Telephone listed on third-party funder directories: 01458 223650. See alsoWestminster Synagogue Memorial Scrolls Trust The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation Leo Baeck College Friends of Yad Sarah UK Joseph Aaron Littman Notes |
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