About Birmingham
Birmingham is a major city in England’s West Midlands region, with multiple Industrial Revolution-era landmarks that speak to its history as a manufacturing powerhouse. It’s also home to an extensive network of canals, many of which radiate from Sherborne Wharf and are lined with trendy cafes and bars. In the city centre, the Victorian Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is known for pre-Raphaelite masterpieces. It is Englands second largest city with with 1,101,360 residents. In the middle ages it was only a medium sized town but by 1791 it had grown in population because of the industry that was developing in the city. Birmingham has a temperate maritime climate, like much of the British Isles, with average maximum temperatures in summer (July) being around 11.3 °C (70.3 °F); and in winter (January) around 6.7 °C (44.1 °F). There are 571 parks within Birmingham – more than any other European city – totalling over 3,500 hectares (14 sq mi) of public open space.
Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Birmingham
The Jewish population of Birmingham is considered to be between 1500 and 3000, this number is swelled in term time by Jewish students as it is a popular place to study. There are four synagogues in Birminham three to the south of the city centre, the Progressive and Singers Hill synagogues are situated near China Town, whilst Birmingham Central is located in Edgbaston. There is also another community further to the south-east in Solihull. Kosher food can be found at the deli and shop at the Central Synagogue. You can also eat a kosher lunch on a Tuesday and Wednesday at the lucncheon club BJCC in Stirtley, Birmingham. On a Thursday this moves to Solihull Synagogue. There are also two Chabad centres one on campus and the other in the city centre. he Birmingham Jewish community is reputed to be one of the oldest in the provinces. From as early as 1730, the special manufacturing industries that were springing up all over the City attracted its first Jewish settlers. Indeed, Birmingham became something of a centre for Jewish pedlars, who would travel the surrounding countryside in order to earn their meagre livings. The "Singers Hill" synagogue, which is still in operation, was opened in 1856. According to public records, nearly one hundred Jewish families had made their homes in Birmingham's fashionable Edgbaston suburb by the end of 1871.
