History of the Jews in Jersey should not be confused with History of the Jews in New Jersey.
| Channel Islands | |
| Local Name: | |
| Location: | Western Europe |
| Coordinates: | 49.4333°N -21°W |
| Waterbody: | English Channel |
| Total Islands: | 7 inhabited |
| Major Islands: | Jersey and Guernsey |
| Area Km2: | 198 |
| Highest Mount: | Les Platons |
| Country: | Bailiwick of Guernsey |
| Country Capital And Largest City: | Saint Peter Port, Guernsey |
| Country Capital Type: | settlement |
| Country Area Km2: | 78 |
| Country1: | Bailiwick of Jersey |
| Country1 Capital And Largest City: | Saint Helier, Jersey |
| Country1 Capital Type: | settlement |
| Country1 Area Km2: | 118 |
| Demonym: | Channel Islander |
| Density Km2: | 844.6 |
| Timezone1: | Greenwich Mean Time |
| Utc Offset1: | ±0UTC |
| Timezone1 Dst: | British Summer Time |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +1 |
The history of the Jews in Jersey dates back to at least the 1790s.[1] There was a community in Jersey from the 1840s. The Jersey Old Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1843 and closed around 1870.[2]
As of 2015 there were about 85 Jews living in Jersey, although the number was thought to be shrinking.[3] In 2021, the island’s Synagogue experienced significant growth in its membership, following the arrival of several new Jewish families.
Enemy aliens, people born in a country with which Britain was at war, were restricted from entering Britain without a permit.[4] Accordingly, a few of Jewish faith became trapped in Jersey when the islands were occupied. In addition, a few locals decided to remain in Jersey rather than evacuate in June 1940.
Following the invasion of 1940, Jersey was forced to pass laws by the German occupiers, requiring the identification of Jews. All non Jersey and British foreigners (aliens) had already been required to register with the police, but the records did not mention their faith. An advertisement appeared in the newspaper in October 1941 calling on all Jews to identify themselves.[5] The Germans issued identity cards to everyone, which listed their nationality and faith.
"Jews", under the Nazi definition, identified on Jersey:
The following were shipped out of Jersey in February 1943, following a report by Dr. Casper dated 17 June 1942, and sent to Lager Compiègne in France:
The camps in Laufen and Biberach were civilian camps containing many Channel Island civilians.
Nathan Davidson was admitted to the mental hospital in February 1943 and died in 1944.[5]
After the war, there was a revival of Jewish life in Jersey, founded in 1961 with its synagogue opened in 1972, is located in Saint Brélade.[7]
As of 2004, Jewish population was estimated at about 120.[8] There are currently about 85 Jews living in Jersey; this number was thought to be declining.[3]