An unorthodox history

This up-to-date history of Britain’s Jewish community focuses on the experiences of Jewish people themselves. It offers insight into the lives of queer Jews, Jews married to non-Jews, Israel-critical Jews, Messianic Jews and others.

Gavin Schaffer is Professor of Modern British History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is the author of numerous books and articles on race, ethnicity and immigrant histories and regularly contributes to television and radio.

'A brave and important book that presents post-war British Jewry in a new light. Taking the attention away from the centre, Gavin Scahffer presents the vibrant, rooted but diverse nature of Britain’s oldest minority with a generosity of spirit, revealing a dynamism rarely acknowledged.'
Tony Kushner, author of Anglo-Jewry since 1066

'Gavin Schaffer compellingly argues that contrary to popular belief, British Jewry has flourished since 1945.'
Jacob Freedland, The Telegraph

'Overall Schaffer makes a strong argument for the view that there has usually been more scope for agreement than initially meets the eye.'
Alun David, The Jewish Chronicle

'Gavin Schaffer has written a lucid and readable account of an “unorthodox” British-Jewish community made up of disparate groups of Jewish people who are queer, non-Zionist, converts to Judaism and Christianity and émigrés to Israel. In doing so he has radically changed our perspective of a so-called model minority.'
Bryan Cheyette, author of The Ghetto: A Very Short Introduction

'Gavin Shaffer’s excellent new book demonstrates that the most insightful way to tell the story of a community is from its margins. In doing so he illuminates the vibrant debates about belief, politics and national identity that have reshaped what it means to be a Jew in postwar Britain.'
Nadia Valman, Professor of Urban Literature, Queen Mary University of London

'Often an engaging history, told by means of individual stories, in which many British Jews will find resonances with their own personal and family memories...'
Deborah Maccoby, Jewish Voice for Labour