At that time, Jewish deaf people were meeting in church halls. In April 1948 Julius and his supporters held their first meeting at the Palestinian Club in London’s West End.
During discussions with deaf people, Julius learnt that their main ambition was to have a centre of their own where they could meet in safety and comfort, to socialise and share their issues and challenges – from their social lives to the difficulties of gaining employment.
The Jewish Deaf Association was established as a Registered Charity that year, and settled into a building in Cazenove Road, Stamford Hill after acquiring the freehold at a peppercorn rent.
The official opening of the Jewish Deaf Association Club and hostel took place on 27 May 1951.
The Jewish Deaf Association remained at the Stamford Hill premises until 1998, where it moved into a purpose-built, deaf-friendly Community Centre in North Finchley which remains still today with access to vital services and a social gathering place open to all.
Julius Newman’s family has carried the legacy ever since and remain active members of the JDA even to this day.
