Sephardim in London
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Menasseh Ben Israel
After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, Rabbi Menasseh and his family moved to Amsterdam, then the centre of Jewish life in Europe. Upon his arrival in London in 1655, however, he was met with great contention, as Jews were still banned from England under the 1290 Edict of Expulsion.
Menasseh pleaded with Oliver Cromwell to request that Parliament allow Jewish return. Parliament refused, though Jews began illegally immigrating, demanding burial rites, allowing for cemeteries such as the Novo.
The Edict of Expulsion has never been officially rescinded.
Fish and Chips: A Sephardic Invention
With the influx of Jewish immigrants to England following Menasseh's visit, the two cultures inevitably began blending their cuisines. Under Kosher law, no food may be cooked in pig fat, which was the preferred method at the time in England, an oil not optimal for frying fish.
However, Sephardim brought a great deal of olive oil into the country, an oil which falls under Kosher guidelines, and which is perfect for deep frying whitefish.
The dish which we now see as the most English dish of all was actually born of Sephardi necessity.
Click the fish to read about Claudia Roden, an English-Sephardi Chef and Food Writer
Sephardim in Modern England
Prominent British Sephardim
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June Brown- EastEnders actress
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Tony Bullimore- Circumnavigator
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Caryl Brahms- Arts critic and journalist
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Philip Guedalla- Travel writer and biographer
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Basil Henriques- East End philanthropist
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Paul Kodish- Drummer
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Raphael Meldola- Chemist
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Peter Sellers- Pink Panther and Dr. Strangelove actor and comedian