This painted silk banner was made around 1925, and is one of only two surviving Jewish union banners in Britain. It belonged to the London Jewish Bakers’ Union, the longest lived Jewish trade union, which operated from 1905 to 1970.
The banner represents a tangible link with the Jewish labour movement which flourished in London’s East End at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was commissioned while Michael Proof, a leading militant, was the union’s secretary. The banner reminded shoppers to buy bread with the union label, which guaranteed that it was baked under acceptable working conditions. The other side of the banner has the same slogans in Yiddish, and an enlarged depiction of the union label.
Comments
Evelyn Simmons (Zarrop)
My grandfather Mosha Rabinovitch I was told was a union member he worked I think in Brick Lane or in the east end
when I was a child mid to late 1940 I will be coming to England from Australia next month is there a record I could look up he died in 1962
Regards E simmons
Juliet Levene Milkens
My grandfather, Simon Levene, was an early member of the Union and My uncle ,Nathan Lenexa was also a member. I remember hearing the name of Moshe Trompeter in family stories
martin jacobs
My uncle Solomon Lever was the secretary of the bakers union.
Lawrie Nerva
A wonderful example of
workers' solidarity.
Judith
How wonderful to be able to see the reverse side so clearly!
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