Our House was a very nice House
A DOCUMENTARY charting the history of one of Liverpool Jewish community’s most iconic centres has been released.
The Story of Harold House was produced by Michael Swerdlow, who has been the community centre’s archivist for many years.
The centre was set up in 1936, as the headquartersof theLiverpoolbranchof the Jewish Lads’ Brigade. It subsequently evolved into a Jewish youth and community centre and was a focal point for generations of the local community.
“Harold House was responsible for many weddings and relationships within the Jewish community,” said Mr Swerdlow.
“My own parents met there. It’s almost possible to say that every Jew in Liverpool would at some point have come into contact with Harold House.”
The Cohen family, which owned the Lewis department store chain, were major communal donors; it was Harold Cohen who was instrumental in the creation of a space for the Jewish Lads’ Brigade and the building was named in his honour. In the 1960s the site, which was in Liverpool’s city centre, was subject to a compulsory purchase order, after which it was relocated to the Childwall area.
The Duke of Edinburgh came to visit the new property soon after it was established, with the helicopter carrying him landing in the playing fields behind the building. This event is just one of many chronicled in the documentary about a place which used to be known as “the heart of the community” and became the home of many Jewish communal organisations.
“The organisations for the elderly, the literary organisations, the sports organisations were all based there,” said Mr Swerdlow.
“In fact, the Jewish football team, which still flourishes today, is called Old Haroldeans. “For many years its shop was the only place in Liverpool where you could get Jewish items, such as a tallit.”
The 95-minute DVD is available for purchase from Mr Swerdlow, who anticipates interest from beyond the Liverpool community.
“There are people in all parts of the country and, in fact all over the world, who have fond memories of Harold House and the services it provided.”
In 2011, the centre was demolished and became part of the new £25m King David campus which brought together the high school, primary school, kindergarten and community facilities.