Letters from CORRA and British ORT to Newport Mon Hebrew congregation regarding Hilary Goldberg's visit to Newport, 1959

Description

The first letter dated 4 June 1959 is from Joan Stiebel the secretary at the Combined Overseas Rehabilitation and Refugee Appeal (CORRA) to Mr Phillips of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation. The letter outlines how the organisation is a combination of appeals from organisations fundraising for Jewish refugees. It is written that The United Kingdom Committee of World Refugee Year is under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen and that the chairman of the committee has written to all Lord Mayors, Lord Provosts, Mayors and Provosts to give their support to local refugee organisations. The letter highlights the needs of Jewish people living in Muslim countries and the need for health services in Israel and support for new immigrants. It is also mentioned in the letter that Hilary Goldberg who is the General Secretary of the British O.R.T. will be visiting Newport on 8 June 1959 and would like to visit the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation.

The second letter is dated 11 June 1959 from Hilary Goldberg and is addressed to Mr Phillips of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation. He writes to thank Mr Phillips for his hospitality following his visit to the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation and to thank him for inviting Harry Joseph to help build up a committee to support the combined appeals. He writes that he has included a pamphlet with information about CORRA and a pamphlet about the British O.R.T. and that if Mr Phillips would like them sent to his friends to send him their names and addresses. He writes that he hopes Mr Phillips plan to donate a lump sum through the local Council to CORRA is successful. He thanks Mr Phillips for a donation of £2.20 and writes that a receipt is included.

The third letter is dated 15 June 1959 from Hilary Goldberg and is addressed to Harry Joseph of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation. It is following his visit to the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation. He writes to inform Mr Joseph that the committee of the British O.R.T. were delighted about that he intends to propose to the Council of Newport that a lump sum is to be given to CORRA and that he will help with appeals to individual members in the community. He asks that Mr Joseph let him know when letters with stamped envelopes for him to sign should be prepared for sending out to members of the community.

The Combined Overseas Rehabilitation and Refugee Appeal (CORRA) was a combination of appeals from organisations fundraising for Jewish refugees for World Refugee Year. World Refugee Year was launched by the United Nations in June 1959 to June 1960. It was set up to increase the public's awareness of the issues faced by refugees and to find solutions to improve their lives. The organisations which were included were the Central British Fund for Jewish Relief and Rehabilitation (C.B.F.), British Organisation for Rehabilitation through Training (British O.R.T.) and British O.S.E. Jewish Health Organisation. The Central British Fund provided support such as housing, a kindergarten and equipment for summer camps and clinics for Jewish immigrants and refugees in Australia, France, Morocco, Poland, Iran and the rehabilitation of Jewish survivors from Agadir. The British Organisation for Rehabilitation through Training (British O.R.T.) was part of World O.R.T. and provided technical training in 21 countries including Tunisia, Morocco, Israel, Iran, France and Poland. The British O.S.E. Jewish Health Organisation ran a health programmes in Tunisia, Morocco, Iran and Israel. As well as a scheme for patients discharged from mental hospitals in France. They also provided post-graduate medical training and scholarships for nurses.

Newport Monmouthshire Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1859 by orthodox Jews meeting at a temporary synagogue in Llanarth Street. A synagogue at Francis Street was opened in 1869 and consecrated by the Chief Rabbi Dr Herman Adler in 1871. In 1934 the congregation moved to their Nathan Harris Memorial Hall in Queen's Hill which was converted to a synagogue. In 1997 this synagogue was closed, and the congregation moved to their Prayer House by the Jewish Burial Ground on Risca Road. Within 20 years the congregation had dwindled to a few members able to attend and this too had ceased to hold services.

Sources:
"History of our Shul. The First Hundred Years", published by Newport Congregation in 1959;
Oral history interviews with members of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation, recorded in 2018 by JHASW;
Letters sent from the Combined Overseas Rehabilitation and Refugee Appeal to the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation between 1959 and 1960 detailing the purpose of the organisation;
"When the war was over: European refugees after 1945. Briefing Paper 7. World Refugee Year 1959-1960" found at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/postwar-refugees/documents/briefing-paper-7-world-refugee-year.pdf.

Depository: Gwent Archives.