East End Tourist Trail 'Ignores Jewish History'
An East End cultural initiative has been critcised for ignoring Jewish history.
Tower Hamlets council has announcned a £1.85m plan to create a "cultural trail", which it claims will celebrate the history of immigrant groups such as the Jews, Huguenots and Bangladeshis who have settled in the Brick Lane area over the years.
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However, residents, including renowned artist Tracy Emin, have criticised the project for being culturally insensitive and a waste of money.
Clive Bettington, chairman of the Jewish East End Celebration Society, said he had hoped the council's project "would honour all the religious and ethnic groups in the area, especially the Jews whose history in the area goes back 400 years".
He added: "The headscarf arches honour only the history of the Muslims in the area. Other religious and ethnic groups including Jews, Huguenots, Irish, English etc are ignored."
Jack Gilbert, a board member at Sandys Row Synagogue in the East End (pictured above), said there was a "danger the project could airbrush our history" out the area. Speaking of behalf of the synagogue he said it was not opposed to the principle of a cultural trail but that it should honour all the cultural heritage of the area.
Gilbert said: "Brick Lane and its environs has always been a cultural dynamo, and this is to be celebrated."
Sandys Row Synagogue and the council are now investigating the possibility of creating a Jewish East End Heritage Centre in Spitalfields.
Tower Hamlets council said it was unable to comment on the cultural trail project as it is still in the planning stage of application. It added that residents can issue complaints until 22 February.
However, a council spokeswoman told the Guardian that the headscarf design of the arches was not specific to Islam. She said: "Observant married Orthodox Jewish women, for example, are required to cover their hair, often employing scarves for the purpose."
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