This collection contains the minutes from the monthly meetings of the Hull Old Hebrew Congregation Council from December 1915 to November 1917. 

The congregation was formed in 1826, and during the First World War the synagogue building was on Osborne Road, Hull, and would have had around 200 members.

The minutes show us that as well as the usual business of chasing members for fees, and debates about where the kosher butchers got their chickens from, the committee had to deal with lots of new issues arising as a consequence of the war. 

We know, for example, that in April 1917 a sub-committee was formed to deal with the matter of a Roll of Honour for the members of the Jewish community in Hull serving in the army, and in March 1916, the Hull Hebrew Communal Council was formed, after the committee decided to approach the other congregations in the city to help with providing for Jewish soldiers who might be in need for Passover.

Letters of condolonce were sent to members who had lost family serving in the war, such as Mrs Cuckle who was thanked for presenting the synagogue with 6 chumashim (books of the Torah in print) and 12 siddurim (Jewish prayer books) in memory of her late son Louis who was killed in action. You can read more about Louis on his Personal Record.

It is clear that times were hard financially, as in April 1917 a member wrote to say he could not pay off any arrears until after the war, and in June 1917 the serving Rabbi Rev. H M Bendas was granted an increased salary due to the high cost of living during the war. 

This collection has been digitised and shared here thanks to the Hull History Centre.