Brit Milah Chair

Jews were expulsed from England in the 13th century and were not allowed to legally come back into the country until 1655. The first synagogue in England was formed in 1657. This chair dates to 1660, so its construction was at the beginning of the time period in which Jews were returning to England and reestablishing a community after their expulsion.

Inscription: "Brit shalom," added in 18th century.

Place of origin: England

Audio transcript:

This chair represents an early artisan work of Jews readmitted to England after over 300 years of exile. It is sturdily built from oak and it features a Star of David on the backrest among delicately carved patterns.

The history of Jews in England starts in 1070 with the first official record of Jewish settlement. Oppression from the British government began in force in 1276 when King Edward I began to more heavily tax Jewish merchants and moneylenders to pay for the war against Wales. When they were unable to pay the raised taxes, Jews were accused of theft and lying, ultimately leading to an official order of expulsion in 1290.

From then until 1655, no openly Jewish people lived in England aside from those who moved to the Domos Conversorum, an institution for Jews who had converted to Christianity. Jews who were found to be living in England in secret were arrested, exiled, or killed.

In the 1650s, a rabbi and leader of the Dutch Jewish community petitioned Oliver Cromwell to readmit Jews into England. Cromwell was unable to convince the British government to officially welcome Jews back, but by 1655, it was made clear that the oppressive laws against Jewish people would no longer be enforced.

The first legal synagogue in England was formed in 1657 and this chair was built only three years later. The inscription of “Brit Shalom” was added in the 18th century.