Health and medical care of the Jewish poor in the East End of London, 1880-1939
The East End of London experienced an explosion of its Jewish population, from 35,000 in 1881 to 120,000 in 1910. The majority were poor, of foreign birth, living in overcrowded, sub-standard housing, and engaged in unhealthy occupations. Their arrival brought problems for both the indigenous population and the existing London Jewish community, threatening a crisis which could have overwhelmed the strained general medical services and irreparably damaged the Jewish community. A further problem was the attempt by various missionary societies to provide medical assistance at the cost of religious conversion. The crisis was averted, due to the efforts of the poor themselves and the wealthy established Jews - not always in harmony; and to simultaneous advances being made in public health, medicine, national insurance, and the improving Poor Law facilities. The major triumph of the immigrants, who preferred denominational institutions, was in establishing the London Jewish Hospital after a prolonged bitter battle against Lord Rothschild and many wealthy anglicised Jews, who considered the existing hospitals sufficient and wished to avoid jeopardising concessions already gained for Jews from the London Hospital
Black, Gerald David
History of health care
Health and medical care of the Jewish poor in the East End of London, 1880-1939. The East End of London experienced an explosion of its Jewish population, from 35,000 in 1881 to 120,000 in 1910. The majority were poor, of foreign birth, living in overcrowded, sub-standard housing, and engaged in unhealthy occupations. Their arrival brought problems for both the indigenous population and the existing London Jewish community, threatening a crisis which could have overwhelmed the strained general medical services and irreparably damaged the Jewish community. A further problem was the attempt by various missionary societies to provide medical assistance at the cost of religious conversion. The crisis was averted, due to the efforts of the poor themselves and the wealthy established Jews - not always in harmony; and to simultaneous advances being made in public health, medicine, national insurance, and the improving Poor Law facilities. The major triumph of the immigrants, who preferred denominational institutions, was in establishing the London Jewish Hospital after a prolonged bitter battle against Lord Rothschild and many wealthy anglicised Jews, who considered the existing hospitals sufficient and wished to avoid jeopardising concessions already gained for Jews from the London Hospital
health medical_care jewish poor east_end_london east_end_london experience explosion jewish population majority poor foreign birth live overcrowd sub standard housing engage occupation arrival bring problem indigenous_population exist london jewish_community threaten crisis could overwhelm general medical_service damage jewish_community problem attempt various missionary_society provide medical assistance cost religious conversion crisis due effort poor wealthy establish jews always harmony simultaneous advance_make public_health medicine national insurance improve poor_law facility major triumph immigrant prefer denominational institution_establish london jewish hospital prolong bitter battle lord many wealthy jews consider exist hospital sufficient wish avoid concession already gain jews london hospital