Source 9

WHAT THE JEWISH WOMAN AND GIRL CAN DO TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM

In order to uphold the good name of Jewish womanhood, and to show an example of quiet taste in matters of behaviour, appearance and dress (thus avoiding the accusations of unseemly conduct, ostentation and vulgarity levelled against Jewish girls and women) it is of the utmost urgency that the following code be observed by them.

To show loyalty to God, the King, and the State.

To join whatever official body is formed and approved by leaders of the Community for the purpose of combatting anti-semitism. 

To avoid taking part in, or being in any way associated with rowdy street meetings, and to help to maintain law and order.

To show courteous consideration for all with whom they come in contact and be good neighbours.

To uphold the highest moral and ethical standards of Judaism, and to show respect for the religious observances of other Faiths.

To keep themselves fit, and to take an active part in the physical, intellectual and social improvement of the nation.

To observe the most scrupulous accuracy in dealing with their employers or employees.

To avoid behaving in an ostentatious manner, and being noisy in the streets or places of amusement.

To patronize only those places of amusement in which a good tone prevails, and to abstain from loitering the streets at night.

To keep the standards of friendship between girls and boys on a high level.

To reject extremes of fashion in favour of a middle way.

To refrain from excessive painting of the face and dyeing of the hair.

To influence other Jewish girls to uphold the same standards of conduct.

To give by their whole lives, both at work and socially, the impression to their non-Jewish friends of being LOYAL, ENGLISH GENTLEWOMEN OF THE JEWISH FAITH.

Rose Henriques papers, October 1936, University of Southampton archives.

This source comes from the papers of Rose Henriques, a leading member of elite British Jews who was active especially in the Jewish girls’ clubs of the East End. Rather than fight fascism directly, Rose Henriques and others argued that the way for Jews to stop antisemitism was to modify their behaviour. The following leaflet was circulated to further that aim.

Questions to consider:

  1. What does this source suggest about how the pressures on the Jewish community in the 1930s?
  2. Do you think if this code was observed it would have made any difference to levels of antisemitism?
  3. How do you think Jewish girls and women might have responded to such advice?