GRAND ORDER OF ISRAEL AND THE SHIELD OF DAVID FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 LMA/4447
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: GRAND ORDER OF ISRAEL AND THE SHIELD OF DAVID FRIENDLY SOCIETY
Date(s)	: 1897-1999
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 10.95 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Grand Order of Israel and Shield of David Friendly Society Grand Order of Israel Friendly Society Order Shield of David x Hebrew Order of Druids

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Grand Order of Israel Friendly Society was inaugurated by Henry Angel and friends on 9 September 1896. Their aim was "to establish a Lodge in every town and city where our co-religionists reside". Membership involved a permanent allegiance to the Jewish cause and service for one's co-religionists and believed that co-operation among Jewish people helps to foster the Jewish conscience and one's obligation to fellow Jews by supporting Communal Institutions and endeavours.

In 1901 17 lodges had been established (13 in London and 4 in the provinces) with 1,856 members and funds totalling £2,733. By 1914 there were 81 lodges, 9,474 members and funds totalling £23,425.

The Grand Order of Israel became the first Jewish approved Society in the country after the introduction of the National Insurance Act in 1912 and full time staff were appointed. London was the centre of activity for the Order but lodges were set up in all the large cities of Great Britain and Ireland. During the two World Wars the Order gave assistance to 'aliens' and succour to refugees. The Order was the first Jewish Approved Society under the National Health Insurance Scheme. At the time of the merger with the Order Shield of David in 1935 there were 54 lodges, 5,871 members and funds totalling £59,000

The Order Shield of David was established in 1896 and was originally known as the Hebrew Order of Druids. By 1903 it had ten lodges in London. The first General Secretary was Frank W Woolf who held the post for more than 30 years. In 1913 the Order Shield of David became an approved Society under the National Insurance Act 1912. At the time of the merger with the Grand Order of Israel there were 41 lodges, 3,578 members and funds totalling £19,000.

The Grand Order of Israel and the Order Shield of David merged in 1935. Details of the merger were agreed at conferences in 1932 and formally confirmed on 26 August 1934. Branksome Dene Convalescent Home was opened in 1951 in Bournemouth. Members were given two weeks at the home to recover from serious illness or after hospital treatment. The stay was covered by the benefit paid by the member. It closed after 30 years and instead members received grants from the Convalescent Fund.

The 'Messenger' was established in the early 1950s was a means of communicating with Order members and increase the profile generally in the Jewish community. The Messenger was replaced by 'Achov' which was published twice a year.

The introduction of the National Health Act resulted in a decline in membership as the National Health Service provided for the medical needs of people. The Order adapted to the changing needs of its members and the focus turned to social activities, which has lead to an increase in membership. The Society ran a number of schemes from which members and their dependents benefited. These include death and sickness funds, the private patients scheme and the holiday scheme. The Order also ran a number of social events and conferences including the annual dinner and ball, quiz evenings and the annual conference.

List of Grand Masters:

Grand Order of Israel:-
1896 - 1904 H Goodman
1904 - 1907 S Ginsberg
1907 - 1910 I Kutner
1910 - 1913 P M Phillips
1913 - 1917 M Levy
1917 - 1919 H Chesney
1919 - 1922 E Goldman
1922 - 1925 J Smith
1925 - 1928 E Moss
1928 - 1934 E Goldman
1931 - 1932 A J Jacobs
1932 - 1934 J Goldberg

Order Shield of David:-
1896 - 1906 H Harris
1906 M Appleby
1906 - 1907 C F Isaacs
1907 - 1910 J W Coevorden
1910 - 1917 H Harris
1917 - 1920 M Clapper
1920 - 1923 M Goldberg
1923 - 1926 J P Grossman
1926 - 1927 A Lazarus
1928 - 1931 A Ogus

Grand Order of Israel and Shield of David Friendly Society:-
1935 E Goldman
1935 - 1936 J Goldberg
1936 - 1939 J Wilks
1939 - 1942 J Slutsky
1942 - 1949 J F Sager
1949 - 1951 S Cohen
1951 - 1952 L L Tobin
1952 - 1954 J Solomons
1954 - 1955 L L Tobin
1955 - 1957 Dr K Jessel
1957 - 1958 M Simms
1958 - 1959 Dr K Jessel
1959 - 1961 L Davis
1962 - 1964 M Simms
1964 - 1965 L Davis
1965 - 1966 H C Goodman
1966 - 1969 J Brand
1969 - 1971 J Gold
1972 - 1974 W Phillips
1975 - 1979 B Steel
1979 - 1982 N Bloom
1982 - 1985 J Sampson
1985 - 1988 M Levine
1988 - 1990 S Cross
1990 - 1993 M Birnbaum
1993 - 1996 D Collins.

Secretaries of the Orders:

Grand Order of Israel:-
A Harries 1897 - 1915
E Moss 1916 - 1920
J Solomon 1921 - 1934.

Order of Shield of David:-
H Richland 1896 - 1897
F Woolf 1897 - 1930
M Lipton 1930 - 1934.

Grand Order of Israel and Shield of David:-
J Solomon 1935 - 1948
A Richmond 1948 - 1953
J Solomon 1953 - 1959
M Pliskin 1960 - 1978
J Lindsey 1978 - 1981
S Merrin 1981 - 1984
R Meth 1984 - 1993
R Salasnik 1993.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Grand Order of Israel and Shield of David Friendly Society. The records relate to the administration of the Society, property investments and the social aspects of the Society, for example, there are files relating to the Annual Dinner and Ball, quizzes and newsletters.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

LMA/4447/A ADMINISTRATION:
LMA/4447/A/01 Executive Council;
LMA/4447/A/02 Committees;
LMA/4447/A/03 Annual reports and statements of accounts;
LMA/4447/A/04 Annual Conference;
LMA/4447/A/05 Membership;
LMA/4447/A/06 Correspondence and general administration;
LMA/4447/A/07 Rules and handbooks.

LMA/4447/B PROPERTY AND FINANCE:
LMA/4447/B/01 Property;
LMA/4447/B/02 Finance;
LMA/4447/B/03 Valuations.

LMA/4447/C SCHEMES AND ACTIVITIES:
LMA/4447/C/01 Social activities;
LMA/4447/C/02 The Leonard Tobin Holiday Scheme;
LMA/4447/C/03 Private patients' scheme;
LMA/4447/C/04 Branksome Dene Convalescent Home;
LMA/4447/C/05 Friends of Charles Clore House.

LMA/4447/D LODGES:
LMA/4447/D/01 Leonard Tobin and Joel Slutsky lodge number 15;
LMA/4447/D/02 Dr Max Nordau lodge number 27;
LMA/4447/D/03 Samuel Finburgh lodge number 37;
LMA/4447/D/04 Morris Jessel lodge number 54;
LMA/4447/D/05 Frederick Jacombs and Eva Bloom Sports lodge number 64;
LMA/4447/D/06 New Victorian lodge number 114 (lodge 18 merged in Jan 1979);
LMA/4447/D/07 Morris Millet lodge number 126;
LMA/4447/D/08 Warsaw Divisional and Joseph Steinhart lodge number 177 (Victory lodge 38a merged in Jan 1979);
LMA/4447/D/09 Essex Sports and Social lodge number 178;
LMA/4447/D/10 Stamford Hill Old Boys and Girls lodge number 179.

LMA/4447/E PRINTED MATERIAL:
LMA/4447/E/01 ACHOV (Brethren);
LMA/4447/E/02 Lodges newsletters;
LMA/4447/E/03 Non-society publications.

LMA/4447/F ARTEFACTS AND NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS:
LMA/4447/F/01 Artefacts and newpapers cuttings.

Conditions governing access:

These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

The following records were transferred to LMA from the University of Southampton Libraries Special Collections: LMA/4447/A/01/001, 003-004, 006, 009-029 and LMA/4447/E/03/002.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in two accessions, in 2002 and 2003.

Allied Materials

Related material:

ACC/2911 (Western Synagogue) contains a ritual book, annual returns under Friendly Societies Acts, correspondence and dispensations relating to the Grand Order of Israel and Shield of David Friendly Society (ACC/2911/179).

Publication note:

For further information please consult the LMA Information Leaflet: "Records of the Anglo-Jewish Community at London Metropolitan Archives"; available to download here: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm (URL correct Feb 2010).

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Description prepared in March 2010.