1750 Circa
- There are records of individual Jews and Jewish families in Leeds.
1830's.
Leeds Jewish community is founded though it is very small.
1840
A Jewish cemetery was opened in Leeds and religious services are held in a loft in Bridge Street.
1841
The census in Leeds reveals only nine identifiably Jewish families together with a number of single male lodgers - a total of 56 persons.
1842
The very first Jewish marriage in Leeds takes place, between James Cohen Pirani and Abigail Davis, daughter of Gabriel Davis, optician and optical instrument maker of Boar Lane.
1846
The first proper synagogue in Leeds opens in a converted house in Back Rockingham Street.
1856
Leeds attracts Jews because of its growing clothing industry. This was started in 1856 by John Barran, a non-Jew, and he was assisted by an immigrant Jew, Herman Friend.
1860
The first purpose-built synagogue in Leeds is erected in in Belgrave Street.
1861
There are still only 200 Jews present in Leeds. Most of this early community is made up of German born immigrants.
1880s
There is a large influx of Jewish immigrants to Leeds from Russian controlled territories, and, in particular, from modern day Lithuania and north east Poland
1891
This census shows there were 8,000 Jews in Leeds, 72% were involved in tailoring, usually working in 'sweat shops'.
1901
The Leeds Jewish community has grown to 14,000.
1904
The first of several Jewish city councillors in Leeds are elected. Subsequently, there have been three Jewish Lord Mayors and a Jewish High Sheriff of Yorkshire
1905
The Aliens' Act of 1905 curtails Jewish immigration to Leeds.
1917
Anti-Jewish riots occur in the main Jewish area of Leylands in Leeds, when a mob attacked the Leylands, destroying property and looting Jewish shops.
1920 circa
Many Jews experience discrimination in Leeds, some Anglicise their names in response.
1923
Leeds Jews later find it almost impossible to join local golf clubs so they set up their own.
1928 circa
The Leeds Jewish population peaks at c. 22-25,000.
2009
Today the Leeds Jewish community numbers less than 7,000 and there are c. 1,000 Jewish students at its two universities.
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