Published to mark 80 years of the AJR Journal, Uprooted Lives brings together seven decades of personal histories and approximately 350 photographs, preserving the remarkable contributions of Holocaust refugees and survivors to British science, culture, medicine and public life.
London, 12 November 2026 – The extraordinary lives and enduring legacies of 440 Holocaust refugees and survivors, who found sanctuary in Britain, are celebrated in a new book launched by the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) at JW3 in London on Thursday evening.
Uprooted Lives: Obituaries of Refugees and Survivors of the Holocaust from the AJR Journal 1955–2025 brings together seven decades of personal histories, documenting how those who fled Nazi persecution rebuilt their lives and went on to make remarkable contributions to their adopted country.
Published to mark the 80th anniversary of the AJR Journal, the anthology was compiled and edited by Andrew Kaufman MBE, AJR Honorary Life President, and Dr Bea Lewkowicz OBE, Director of the AJR Refugee Voices Testimony Archive. Richly illustrated with approximately 350 photographs, it offers a unique collective biography of a generation whose lives were shaped by persecution, displacement and renewal.
Among those commemorated are beloved children’s author Judith Kerr OBE, pioneering psychoanalyst Anna Freud CBE, art historian Sir Ernst Gombrich, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Ernst Chain and Sir Ludwig Guttmann, whose pioneering work in spinal injury rehabilitation led to the creation of the Paralympic movement.
Alongside these celebrated figures are hundreds of less known but equally remarkable individuals, including educators, doctors, artists, entrepreneurs, social workers and community leaders whose contributions helped shape modern Britain.
Actor and comedian Matt Lucas, whose grandmother, Margot Williams, is featured in the book, commented:
“This book is a timely testimony of so many selfless people, many of whom endured their own struggles and personal losses as they came to the UK and yet were dedicated to helping others.”
Celebrated author and journalist, Lord Daniel Finkelstein, who wrote the book’s foreword and whose grandfather, Dr Alfred Wiener, founder of the Wiener Holocaust Library, is among those commemorated, said:
“This anthology of obituaries will enrich the lives of its readers, just as the remarkable individuals remembered in its pages enriched this country.”
The launch brought together 150 guests, including members of the refugee and survivor community, descendants and those involved in preserving their histories. The evening featured discussions led by Kaufman and Lewkowicz, exploring the lives commemorated in the book and the importance of preserving their experiences for future generations.
Kaufman was joined by Michael Flesch, Anthony Spiro OBE and Miriam Grabiner for a panel discussion, while a second conversation led by Lewkowicz featured historian Dr Helen Fry, Sophie Herzheimer and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. The programme also included a short film produced and introduced by Lewkowicz.
The publication is the culmination of approximately three years of research and editorial work. Kaufman reviewed nearly 1,000 editions of the AJR Journal and its predecessor, AJR Information, selecting 440 obituaries from almost 1,400 published over the decades.
The collection includes the stories of five Nobel Prize winners and individuals whose achievements span almost every area of British life. It also provides a rare historical record of those whose contributions may never have received wider public recognition.
Andrew Kaufman MBE said:
“This book is deeply personal to me. As the son of refugees, whose own father’s story is among those featured, I know how important it is that these extraordinary lives are remembered. What began as an idea to preserve the obituaries published in the AJR Journal has become a tribute to a community of remarkable individuals who, having experienced persecution and displacement, rebuilt their lives and contributed so much to Britain. Their stories deserve to be remembered, not only for what they endured, but for everything they achieved.”
For Dr Bea Lewkowicz OBE, the collection is also an important record of how the refugee community has remembered its own history. Many of the earliest obituaries preserve details of individuals who died before oral history testimony projects became widespread, offering an invaluable resource for descendants, historians and future generations.
Dr Bea Lewkowicz OBE said:
“Behind every obituary is a remarkable human story – of lives uprooted by persecution, families torn apart and the courage to begin again. Together, these 440 accounts form a unique record of a generation whose experiences might otherwise be lost. As the number of those who can share their stories firsthand diminishes, preserving these histories becomes ever more urgent. This book ensures that their voices, experiences and contributions will continue to inform and inspire future generations.”
Michael Newman OBE, Chief Executive of the Association of Jewish Refugees, said:
“The contribution of Holocaust refugees and survivors to British society is immeasurable. From pioneering advances in medicine and science to enriching our culture, education and public life, their legacy is woven into the fabric of modern Britain. At a time when refugees are too often portrayed as a burden rather than an asset, these 440 extraordinary lives offer a powerful reminder of what those seeking sanctuary can contribute. As an organisation founded by refugees 85 years ago, we have a responsibility to ensure their achievements and experiences are never forgotten.”
As the generation who experienced Nazi persecution first hand grows smaller, Uprooted Lives provides a lasting record not only of lives interrupted by displacement and loss, but also of resilience, achievement and the new roots established in Britain.
Beyond its commemorative significance, the collection offers a valuable resource for educators, historians and researchers, illuminating the experiences of displacement and integration, the development of refugee communities and the lasting contributions of those who found sanctuary in Britain.
The book forms part of AJR’s wider commitment to Holocaust education, remembrance and preserving the experiences of refugees and survivors for future generations.
Order your copy of Uprooted Lives
Uprooted Lives is available to purchase for £30 (excluding postage and packaging). To order a copy, visit https://ajr.org.uk/uprooted-lives/.
