From Shtetl to Steel City: The Lost World of Sheffield Jewish Life
From Shtetl to Steel City: The Lost World of Sheffield Jewish Life, offers a poignant and richly detailed account of the Jewish community that once thrived in Sheffield. Through personal stories, historical insights, and evocative reflections, Judy Simons brings to life the vibrant culture, resilience, and legacy of a community that helped shape the city's identity.
In 2022, Sheffield City Archives acquired the records of the Sheffield Jewish Community, documenting almost two centuries of Jewish life in the city between 1780 and 1980. Drawing on this rich and largely unexplored archive, Judy’s book brings to light the experiences of immigrant communities who, despite often precarious circumstances, were ambitious, resourceful, and determined, playing a meaningful role in shaping Sheffield’s social and economic history.
Generously supported by funding from the Jane Goodman Trust, the book also serves as an important visual record of the community across generations. Featuring 160 photographs, drawings, and images of original documents and artefacts, it offers a considered and evocative insight into the everyday realities, challenges, and achievements of Jewish life in Sheffield.
This beautifully illustrated volume is a must-read for anyone interested in local history, Jewish heritage, or the broader narrative of migration and belonging in Britain.
This new book offers more than a historical account; it provides a carefully researched exploration of a community that has largely faded from view. From Shtetl to Steel City traces the development of Sheffield’s Jewish community, drawing on archival sources and 160 carefully selected illustrations. Through these materials, Judy Simons examines the experiences of immigrants who left persecution behind to establish new lives in unfamiliar surroundings, capturing both the challenges they faced and the contributions they made.
