Manchester Jewish Refugees Committee

This committee was originally called the Manchester German Jewish Aid Committee. It was formed in November 1938 with a view to support and place refugees in the area. Initially two sub-committees were formed: the Industrial Committee and the Hospitality Committee aimed at supporting incoming refugees. At the First meeting of the main Committee it was decided to also form an Executive Committee which would appoint additional sub-committees to deal with various branches of work as the enormity of the task was realised. At the first Executive Meeting the following sub-committees were established: Domestic Workers, Trainees, After Care and the Children's Committee. As the organisation developed further sub-committees were established such as the Care of Children from the Camps, Agriculture, Finance and Welfare Committees and the Kershaw House Committee which was responsible for managing Kershaw House one of the hostels used to house refugees. The work of the committee during the period 1938-1945 was to look after refugees. Between 1945 and 1949 the emphasis changed to looking after survivors of the holocaust. For minutes of the inaugural meetings see M533/1/2/2/1. For further records of the Manchester Jewish Refugees Committee see M102. For correspondence to Mrs Barash and other members of the Committee regarding internment see M533/9/3. For Report on the activities of the Committee June 1943 see M533/13/1/11. For correspondence see M533/25/25 and M533/25/45.