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A Walk With Shloimy Alman

October 1, 2019
by the gentle author

Let us join photographer Shloimy Alman as he wanders the streets of the East End in the seventies accompanied by the Yiddish poet Avram Stencl. Alman’s photographs are published for the first time here today and can be seen in a one day exhibition at Sandys Row Synagogue next Sunday 6th October, 11:00am-6:00pm. Click here to book a ticket

Photographs copyright © Shloimy Alman

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Shloimy Alman, Photographer

17 Responses leave one →
  1. Tracey permalink
    October 1, 2019

    These are wonderful, another world, yet less than 50 years ago.

  2. Ian Silverton permalink
    October 1, 2019

    Great pictures from the past love seeing them brings back many memoirs from my child hood on a Sunday Mourning in Bethnal Green some good some sad,as to how poor we all where then. 1 st picture man with his back to the camera is that Monty Clifford my old Boss??? Picture 22. Down Guy in blue bomber jacket white polo black eye stands out as should know him from somewhere from those times??? But where. Thanks GA for the Blog today.

  3. October 1, 2019

    Thankyou for sharing these wonderfully evocative snaps of the Jewish East end which I was lucky to catch in all it’s seventies colour.

  4. October 1, 2019

    Another world, definitely. Fantastic. Thank you.

  5. Peter Metaxas permalink
    October 1, 2019

    Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful photos !!
    Last I was in London I was taken by the building; Synagogue of the Congregation of Jacob .
    I also believe the road was paved with a blue glazed cobble stone.

  6. October 1, 2019

    Such wonderful photographs! My father was brought up in the East End, and my son now lives there. Sadly, the road where my Father grew up was destroyed for the London Hospital, in the 1970’s. I believe it was Leslie Street. But your photos give such a rich vision of the Jewish life my father and family would have been surrounded by, when growing up. So, priceless, thank you so much.

  7. Ros permalink
    October 1, 2019

    more wonderful photos, each one a treasure trove of information and memory. Thank you Shloimy!

  8. Jill Wilson permalink
    October 2, 2019

    Great photos! The exhibition has just had a good plug on Radio London and an interesting interview with Rachel.

  9. October 6, 2019

    This is a vanished world! My goodness; had absolutely no idea. Thank you for sharing this!

  10. October 7, 2019

    Just a thank you to GA for flagging it up, Sandy Row Synagogue and all the volunteers who made the event yesterday very well worth a visit.
    This is especially because to organise this at this time of the year between the Jewish High Holy Days was a brave thing to do.

  11. Douglas Jones permalink
    November 18, 2019

    Clear eyed brilliantly realized document and eye witness.
    More great art from this superb site. Thank you.

  12. peter queally permalink
    March 24, 2020

    a cultural treasure trove. walked around here a few months ago. the ghosts of the past are still there but you need to look hard. beautiful work.

  13. elaine black permalink
    November 26, 2020

    Sadly Shloimy died at home in Israel, this Sunday 22/11/2020. In October 2021 there is due to be an exhibition in Manchester of his Jewish Manchester photos from the same era. Shloimy was a dear friend of my husband for over 65 years and will be sadly missed. His photographic memories however will live on and be enjoyed by many. These projects were of paramount importance to our dear friend. May he rest in peace. He is forever in the hearts of his family and friends.

  14. November 29, 2020

    Like many I have fond memories of the East End. My grandparents from both sides lived there. On my mothers side at 13 Fuller Street which no longer exists (house and street) Petticoat Lane, Blooms, Whitechapel and so much more. But let us not forget that our grandfathers had hard lives despite living as part of a vibrant Jewish community. It is thanks to their sacrifices that we are where we are today.

  15. November 29, 2020

    I would also like to mention BIll FIshman, a tall, lanky figure. A historian and an educator who was for many years principal of the Bethnal Green Collage of Further Education where my mother worked (and I during school breaks). Bill had a passion for the East End and wrote a number of books about the are and its community. I went with him on many walks through the area and remember one walk in particular. We had reached the Whitechapel Bell Foundry where the US Liberty Bell was struck. Bill told them that their bell had cracked and they flatly refused to believe him saying that they had heard the story but the bell that cracked wasn’t theirs but a fake. Despite photographs and long attempts to prove them wrong, they (a couple of old Jewish foundry workers) were adamant. We left with out tails between our legs.

  16. David J.Pkie permalink
    February 16, 2024

    Spent almost 49-Years in Bethnal Green, Shoreditch areas, and recognise many of those stores, turnings and various buildings, etc. Happy Memories, but after my parents died I knew it was time to move on to pastures new!

  17. Hazel permalink
    February 23, 2024

    I would be very interested if anyone knew or has pictures relating to Joseph Levine or his son Maurice Levene or any of their family who owned a fruiteriers / greengrocers round this area between 1920s -1960s.

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