Greenock Jewish Community
March 11, 2021

Candles, Conversions and Class

£12.50

Candles, Conversions and Class by Fiona Frank

20 in stock

SKU: BK27 Category:
Description

Candles, Conversions and Class by Fiona Frank

This book charts the progress of five generations of a Scottish Jewish family, from the arrival of Rabbi Zvi David and Sophia Hoppenstein in Edinburgh in the 1880s, to the present day. Fiona Frank—whose aunt, celebrated Glasgow artist Hannah Frank, married into the Hoppenstein family—tracked down and interviewed Zvi David and Sophia’s descendants across the UK and as faras Cape Town. Some branches of the family were harder to find than others, as ‘outmarriage’ meant that some cousins were no longer in touch with the wider family. Fiona listened as members of the family talked about their relationship with their Jewish identity and their Jewish roots.

In the 21st century, some of the family live fully observant Jewish lives, others consider themselves Jewish but secular; still others have completely lost the connection with the Judaism of the first immigrant generation. This book contributes towards a new understanding of Scottish Jewish identity, insider/outsider status and the fluidity of group membership, and shows how the marriage choices and the gendered educational experiences of the early immigrant generations marked the life experience and opportunities of subsequent generations.
Additional information
Weight 0.551 kg