JEWISH EAST END OF LONDON PHOTO GALLERY & COMMENTARY

London's East End Synagogues, cemeteries and more......

My personal journey through the Jewish East End of London

 
Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East
 
Whitechapel Library closed a few years ago to be incorporated into the Whitechapel Art Gallery.  In its day it was known as the University of the Ghetto.  Amongst those who studied here were First World War poet Isaac Rosenberg.  A blue plaque to his memory is located on the wall of the library.  Bernard Kops wrote a poem praising the library, entitled: Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East.  The first nine lines of the poem are inscribed on the window of the reading room in gallery four of the Whitechapel Art Gallery. 
 
Below are some of my photos commemorating this important institution.

Double click all photos to enlarge

Whitechapel Art Gallery, Whitechapel Library and Aldgate East Station

Aldgate East station and enbtrance to Whitechapel Library

Inside the Whitechapel Library

Inside the Whitechapel Library

Whitechapel Library

Isaac Rosenberg studied here

Bernard Kops reads Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East

First 9 lines of Whitechapel Library, Aldgate East, on the window of the reading room,gallery four of Whitechapel Art Gallery - transcribed below.

 
Whitechapel library, Aldgate East, by Bernard Kops
 
The reference library where my thought were to rage.
I ate book after book, page after page.
I scoffed poetry for breakfast and novels for tea.
And plays for my supper. No more poverty.
Welcome young poet in here you are free
To follow your star to where you should be
 
That door of the library was the door unto me.
 
And Lorca and Shelly said "Come to the feast."
Whitechapel library, Aldgate East.

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