Where are the centres of Jewish life in the UK?
Overwhelmingly they are in London. Barnet in the north-west of London is the unofficial capital with up to 60,000 Jews. Areas on the northern fringes of London, such as Hertfordshire and parts of Essex are also known for their strong Jewish communities. Beyond London, two key centres are Manchester and Gateshead. How do Jews fare compared to other minorities? Very favourably, although they remain a small community, they have had a significant impact in most walks of life. The reasons for this are complex and much debated. For a start, they are the longest-established religious minority in the UK – many British Jews could probably trace their ancestors back centuries. This means that many of the challenges faced by new minorities, integration, language issues and acceptance for instance, just do not figure for many Jewish communities. Many Jewish families are firmly part of the middle class in professions or highly-skilled jobs. Educationally, Jewish children tend to do well and for mor
