Studying difference to make a difference

The Parkes Institute is one of the world’s leading centres for the study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations. Our scholarly expertise ranges from antiquity through to the present day, and our archive is one of the largest Jewish documentation centres in Europe.

We are a unique community of scholars, archivists, librarians, and students. The Institute is named for the Reverend Dr James Parkes (1896-1981), one of the most remarkable figures in twentieth century Christianity. Ordained by the Church of England in 1926, Parkes campaigned against the rise of racist nationalism in Europe through his work with the International Student Service and the Student Christian Movement from as early as the 1920s. A tireless fighter against antisemitism, Parkes helped rescue Jewish refugees during the 1930s and campaigned for European Jews during the Holocaust, working throughout his career to promote religious tolerance and mutual respect.