| Sumario: | The article deals with the establishment and function of the Jewish Mutual Instruction Society (JMIS) in London, 1848-1849. This occurrence forms a chapter in the social and educational history of the Anglo-Jewish community in the mid-nineteenth century in the context of Victorian society and reveals connections made between the Jewish community and the world around it. The article illustrates the meaning and influence of self-improvement ideology in the social history of the Anglo-Jewish community. The study examines the Jewish indication of the society, its goals and curriculum, its success and the characteristics of its members and managers; and raises the question of whether it was actually a mutual instruction society attended by Jewish workers. The article traces the community's reaction to the activity of the JMIS as reflected in the extensive coverage given to it by the Jewish Chronicle (which is the sole source of knowledge about the JMIS). The debate sheds light on the mutual effort of Jews and Christians to promote adult education in the Anglo-Jewish community. Finally, the study demonstrates the influence of the general society on the Jewish community and the educational interaction between the two.
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