New documentary unveils Wales' vibrant Jewish past despite uncertain future

The rich history of Welsh Jewry is explored in a new BBC Radio Wales programme.

In Bennett Arron’s Cymru Knish, the Port Talbot-born comedian investigates how the Jewish population approached 6,000 during the late 19th century as his own ancestors were among thousands fleeing poverty and persecution in Eastern and Central Europe. Today, the population figure has fallen to around 2,000.

A recorded Jewish presence dates back to the 13th century but was interrupted when Edward I issued the 1290 expulsion decree shortly after his conquest of Wales. Jewish life in Britain only resumed when Oliver Cromwell eased restrictions in the 1650s.

South Wales' burgeoning industry attracted Jewish settlement from around 1730, making Judaism the oldest non-Christian faith to maintain a continuous Welsh presence.

The programme is peppered with anecdotes, not to mention Mr Arron's own recollections of his grandparents enlisting the help of non-Jewish locals to light their fire on Shabbat, including a man accompanied by his young son. The boy was later to find fame as the film star Anthony Hopkins, who Mr Arron has been in touch with to reminisce.

In another contribution, Stephen Hamilton detailed how his GP father and coroner great-uncle tried to aid locals in the aftermath of the 1966 Aberfan disaster, where the collapse of colliery spoil tip engulfed a school and local houses, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

He recalled waiting nervously in the car as his father went to help survey the disaster site, where he was only able to identify bodies.

Mr Arron’s travels took him to Cardiff’s two synagogues.

He spoke to Karen Coulter, a lifelong member of the Reform shul, who admitted that it was difficult to predict if her children would carry on Jewish traditions.

“If they marry someone Jewish, I think they’ll embrace it. But if they don’t, it depends on their partner and how supportive they are.”

At the Orthodox synagogue, administrator Ray Lawrence acknowledged that outward migration was a problem but empathised with those who chose to leave.

“They go away because they follow their children. London is a magnet for people.”

In Swansea, Norma Glass, the Welsh representative on the Board of Deputies, said this year was the first without High Holy-Day services at the synagogue, due to the age of most of the remaining congregants.

“Many of the men who would make a minyan cannot stay for the length of the service,” she explained.

But despite Welsh Jewry’s numerical decline, there were positive aspects, with South Wales Jewish Representative Council chair Lawrence Kahn citing the “good relationship” with other communities. He said he had not come across any “major incidents'' since moving to Cardiff in 1976.

It’s a far cry from the 1911 Tredegar unrest, in which Jewish shops were targeted and looted after rumours spread about Jewish property owners unfairly raising rents.

Making the programme, Mr Arron “just kept thinking about how sad it is that the [community's] numbers are dropping”.

He told the JC that having left Wales to attend drama school in London, he moved back to Port Talbot last year.

“It’s great to be back by the sea and the beach here. I was supposed to be here for a few months but I am still here."

In his stand-up gigs, he usually mentions his Jewishness within the first few minutes “and many people come up to me and say I am the first Jewish person they have met.

“I hope I can help make people realise that Jews in Wales and across the world are not defined by our stereotypes.”

Bennett Arron’s Cymru Knish is available on the BBC Radio Wales website

Topics:

Wales

History