The Literary Society


The Hampstead and St John's Wood Jewish Literary Society was founded in September 1902, after Dr. Jacob Snowman, the Vice-President of the Union of Jewish Literary Societies, called a private meeting. Its initial membership was 150. President - Samuel Moses Vice-Presidents - Rev. A.A. Green & Rev. H.L. Price Treasurer - B.M. Benjamin Hon. Secretaries - Horace l. Friedlander & D. Manchevsky The aim of The Literary Society was "to serve Jewish adult education by means of the diffusion of a knowledge of Jewish literature, history and sociology". Lectures and debates covered topics of: politics, religion, art, science and literature. The society also held concerts and balls. By about 1928, attendance at the meetings had dropped considerably, and on his appointment as minister in 1930, Dayan Mark Gollop set about restoring its popularity. During the Second World War, the society disbanded, but was re-established in 1945 and remained in existence for another two to three decades.