Born: Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 14 February 1904
Occupation in country of origin: Rabbi
Arrived in Britain as a refugee from Germany in 1939
Documents
Male enemy alien - Exemption from internment - Refugee Surname: Broch Forename: Isi Alias: - Date and place of birth: 14/02/1904 in Frankfurt am/M Nationality: Stateless Police Regn. Cert. No.: 701 564 Home Office ref: C 476 Address: Kitchener camp, Richborough, Sandwich, Kent Normal occupation: Visitor Present occupation: Name and address of employer: - Decision of tribunal: Exempted "C" & 9A Date 25.10.1939 Whether exempted from Article 6(A): Yes Whether desires to be repatriated: No Release authorised Category 16 & 18 03.12 1940 Released 12.12 1940
Source: National Archives, Home Office: Aliens Department: Internees Index, 1939-1947.
Memories
After the war, Rabbi Broch was appointed as the kashrut supervisor at the Bonns matzo making factory in Carlisle. There being no significant Jewish community in Carlisle, he and his family moved to Gateshead and Rabbi Broch commuted daily to Carlisle. Some time in the 1960s, the Bonns factory was closed down and Rabbi Broch, obviously in need of a job, became the resident minister and kashrut supervisor at the Majestic Hotel in Bournemouth. He retired from that post in 1989/90 and moved back to Gateshead – I think he may have subsequently moved to Hendon. I understand that he also edited, or wrote, commentaries on three books of the Bible – Ruth, Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) and the Song of Songs. He passed away in 2000 and his granddaughter told me that he is buried in the Jewish cemetery in Cheshunt. However, I’ve looked at the Cheshunt records and there’s no mention of a Rabbi Broch.
Kindly submitted and researched by David Harris. With thanks to Michelle, Rabbi Broch’s granddaughter