LONDON
ART
Austrian Cultural Forum
Painting Sculpture: Sophie Barber & Franz West
Sophie Barber created a series of smalls-scale works referencing the name and art of Austrian Jewish sculptor Franz West, inspire by his pink outdoor sculptures shown at the 2019 Tate Modern retrospective. West, one of Austria’s most celebrated artists, was known for his unique aesthetic portraying both high and low reference points and privileged social interactions.
No end date specified
SW7 1PQ. 020 7225 7300. https://acflondon.org
Barbican Centre
Revealing London’s Forgotten Medieval Jewish Cemetery
Housed beneath the grounds of the Barbican Centre is the UK’s oldest Jewish cemetery, dating back to 1070. The Jewish Square Mile Project presents this new exhibition as an extension of their work, which revives the medieval history of London’s Jews. Displayed in St Giles Cripplegate Church within the grounds, visitors can see artefacts and other materials that shine a light on the diverse group of people who once lived and worked in the capital. Explore further on our walking tour Medieval England and The Jewish Square Mile (15 July).
5-16 September
EC2Y 8DS. 020 7638 4141. www.barbican.org.uk
Ben Uri
Paula Rego
One of the most significant figurative artists of her generation, Portuguese creative Paula Rego used her provocative works to draw on childhood memories, feminist themes and political events reflecting her Portuguese roots and the broader human condition. This exhibition offers a tribute to her legacy and cements her status as a modern master.
11 June – 24 October
US to UK: The American Contribution to 20th-Century British Art
A selection of works tracing the journeys of Jewish artists from the US to the UK. This is Ben Uri’s second installation of the initiative, US: From There to Here, which uses artwork to document the contribution of migrants to British art.
17 September - 31 October
NW8 0RH. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org.uk
Isokon Gallery
Through a Bauhaus Lens: Edith Tudor-Hart and Isokon
See recently uncovered prints that document the historic construction and opening of Belsize Park’s Isokon Flats, Britain's first reinforced concrete residency. The images were taken by Viennese Bauhaus-trained photographer Edith Tudor-Hart who, during her time in the UK, moonlighted as a spy-handler for the Soviets. It’s thought that she worked with the Cambridge Five – and recruited one of its most famous members, Kim Philby – as when the group was exposed, she destroyed much of her work. A cache of her negatives from the 1930s has been discovered in Salzburg, however, including these Isokon photographs.
Until 26 October 2025
NW3 2XD. www.isokongallery.co.uk
JW3
Pitch Up: The Cockney Yiddish Podcast
The Jewish Museum London may have closed its physical doors, but the organisation has been hosting a series of pop-up stalls. This ‘Pitch Up’ at JW3 provides further insight into each episode of The Cockney Yiddish Podcast, a seven-part series by Nadia Valman and Vivi Lachs. See objects and images connected to themes on the podcast, including language, theatre, humour and politics. If you haven’t already heard it, stream the series at cockneyyiddish.org.
Until 11 July
NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
MCC Museum, Lord’s Cricket Ground
Cricket and the Jewish Community
This exhibition shows, for the first time, how Jewish people have contributed to the world of cricket. See clothing, artwork, books and videos exploring how Jews, who have been both on the field and behind the scenes, have not only represented their countries, but also been pivotal in the development of the sport.
No end date specified
NW8 8QN. 020 7616 8595. www.lords.org
Museum of the Home
Rooms Through Time: Real Rooms
Museum of the Home, east London’s ode to how humans have lived throughout the centuries, has renovated its long-running exhibit with seven new additions that reflect the multicultural melting pot of London’s residents. Among them, is the Delinsky family home – a 1913 tenement room portraying Shabbat dinner, with simmering lokshen soup on the stove and an oil painting on the wall. The painting was based on a well-worn photo that the donor’s great-grandmother used to carry with her and the artwork was commissioned by her husband, an art dealer who filled their home with portraits. The pair met in the UK after the great-grandmother fled antisemitic violence in Eastern Europe.
From 17 July
E2 8EA. 020 7739 9893. www.museumofthehome.org.uk
Park Lane
Visitor V
British Jewish artist David Breuer-Weil’s new installation, featuring two resin-bronze feet sticking upwards out of the ground, explores the theme of ‘outsiders’. Located opposite the Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane, Visitor V represents a person ‘crash-landed’, having arrived from a distant land and culture. This follows his 2023 sculpture SISTER, in tribute to his sibling. Read more about SISTER on the JR blog.
Until December
W1K 1QA. www.davidbreuerweil.com
Royal Academy of Art
Kiefer / Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh had an enduring influence on painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, whose work often addresses post-war Germany’s reckoning with the Holocaust. See works by both artists side by side and examine traces of van Gogh’s technique in Kiefer’s pieces, which draw on history, mythology, literature, philosophy and science.
28 June-26 October
W1J 0BD. www.royalacademy.org.uk
Tate St Ives
Artist Rooms: Sol LeWitt
Influential in establishing the notion of ‘conceptual art’ in the 1960s, Jewish American artist Solomon ‘Sol’ LeWitt produced highly colourful, sprawling wall pieces. For example, Wall Drawing #1136 (2004) weaves together seven vibrant colours to create an enveloping chromatic environment.
No end date specified
TR26 1TG. www.tate.org.uk
Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives
The Brady Club: A Legacy for the Future
Established in 1896, The Brady Club was a Jewish youth group that enhanced the lives of largely underprivileged young people. Today, the Brady Arts and Community Centre, which is housed in the original Brady Girls Club building in central London, continues the legacy of this work but has fallen victim to funding cuts. In a bid to encourage future sponsorship, the organisation presents this exhibition featuring old club magazines, holiday albums, games, music and dressing up.
Until 21 June
E1 4DQ. www.ideastore.co.uk
Wiener Holocaust Library
Traces of Belsen
After liberation in 1945, Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was left as little more than a mass grave. The Nazis destroyed all of its records and the British Army was forced to burn down barracks to eradicate disease. What remains today stands as a memorial site and museum, but certain materials were recovered in archaeological digs and from descendants of survivors. This exhibition, which marks 80 years since the end of World War II, uses photographs and documents to explore the history and post-war life of the site.
Until 10 July
WC1B 5DP. 020 7636 7247. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Wednesday 25 June
The Jewish Pedlar Trope and the 20th Century
In the 1700s, a pedlar called Jacob Harris slit the throats of three people in a Sussex pub, which was, to this day, the most violent crime ever committed by a British Jew. Dr Tony Kushner discusses his new book, The Jewish Pedlar Trope and the 20th century, which uses law records, newspaper reports, songs and folktales to reconstruct the world of Jewish salespeople-turned-smugglers within the UK and internationally.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Tuesday 15 July
Jewish Country Houses
Juliet Carey and Abigail Green discuss their recent book, exploring the world of Jewish country houses, their architecture and collections, as well as the lives of the people who created, transformed and shaped the properties.
7.30pm. £10. Highgate location provided upon booking. www.jhse.org
Sunday 24 August
A Particularly Nasty Case: A Murderously Funny Evening with Adam Kay
Bafta-winning Jewish comic and former NHS staffer Adam Kay became a household name after his debut best-seller, This is Going to Hurt, was adapted into a hit BBC drama starring Ben Whishaw. Compiled from diary entries he made while working as junior doctor, the book (as well as its follow-up Undoctored) told everyday stories that were as gut-clenchingly funny as they were gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking. Now he presents A Particularly Nasty Case, his first work of fiction, a murder mystery inspired by his medical history – and highly humorous to boot. Discover more about it in this evening of anecdotes, insights and readings, followed by a Q&A.
7pm. £34.50. Churchill Theatre, BR1 1HA. www.adamkay.co.uk
Tuesday 16 September
My Sister and Other Lovers
Esther Freud celebrates the launch of her new book, My Sister and Other Lovers. The autobiographical novel looks at the relationship between two sisters and their mother against a backdrop of heartbreak, addiction, secrets and adventure. Freud will be in conversation with JR’s executive director Dr Aviva Dautch, followed by a book signing.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
BOOKS & POETRY
Wednesday 25 June
JW3 Comedy Club
Sit back and relax as Jewish (and Jew-ish) comedians take to the stage with jokes, improvisation and stand-up performances.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Saturday 5 July
Ian Stone is Looking for the Wow
Ian Stone is sick of the daily humdrum, he wants to be dazzled. He’s thought about exploring breathtaking forests, but “my ancestors wandered the desert for 40 years, I think we’ve been outdoors enough”, he stubbornly states in his press release. And spirituality is a no-go (“I’ve been harbouring a grudge against God since my mother stopped me going to see Arsenal play after my bar mitzvah”). So, what will wow this wry London comic? Join Stone as he attempts to find out.
Contact venue for price/time. Stoke Park, Guildford, GU1 1ER. www.guilfest.co.uk
Tuesday 8 July
Ian Stone is Looking for the Wow
See above for info.
7.30pm. From £16. Walthamstow Trades Hall, E17 4RQ. www.ianstonecomedian.co.uk
Thursday 24 July
Michael Shafar: Inappropriate
The Aussie Jewish comedian is double-dipping this season. Not only is he performing last year’s sell-out show Well Worth the Chemo (9.30pm at Kick Ass Cowgate), a darkly humorous take on losing a testicle, he’s got a new set on the go. As the title suggests, Inappropriate isn’t for the faint-hearted. Shafar will be tackling the hard topics, from abortion rights to assassinating politicians to the Middle East – and this is coming from the man who compared the Queen to Hitler. You have been warned.
6pm. Prices vary. The Top Secret Comedy Club, WC2B 5PD. www.michaelshafar.com
Thursday 24 July
Tova Leigh: Honey, I'm Losing It!
What is the secret to a healthy marriage? Tova Leigh, bestselling Israeli author and comic thinks she has the answer. Her stand-up show leaves nothing to the imagination, delving into taboo topics such as c-section shelves and the death of her libido.
8pm. From £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
COMEDY
Sunday 6 July
A Season to Sing
Jewish choir Alyth Choral Society presents A Season to Sing, led by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, featuring a new version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Psalm 118 by composer Julian Dawes. Refreshments provided.
7.30pm. £20. North Western Reform Synagoge, NW11 7EN. www.alythchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 August
Klezfest
Celebrate the soulful and traditional Jewish music from 19th-century Eastern Europe in this three-day event. The jam-packed programme features a workshop with the Yiddish Choir, a lively jam session and lots of opportunities to learn, play, sing, dance and connect. Hosted by the Jewish Music Institute.
From 10am. £125.00–£225.00. SOAS University, Thornhaugh Street, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk
Sunday 14 September
Islington Torah Inauguration
Chabad Islington is celebrating the inauguration of a new Torah dedicated in memory of Jewish lawyer and human rights activist Julian Young. The scroll will be paraded through the streets in a grand procession complete with music and festivities, followed by a feast. Those who wish to write the final letters into the Torah using a quill and ink can do so for an additional cost of £180.
11am. FREE. Chabad Islington, N1 8HX. www.jewishislington.co.uk
family
Monday 30 June
Sleeping with the SS
Ziko, a nine-year-old orphan from Salonica, joins a group of Greek Jews hiding from the horrors of the Holocaust on Pelion Mountain. The peace is disturbed when a Nazi SS Unit, intent on deporting the Jewish people to Auschwitz, arrives to set up their headquarters and demand to lodge with them. Discover this remarkable true story in Rami Kimchi’s film, which is being shown for the first time in the UK. Followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
7.30pm. £16.50. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
FILM AND TV
MUSIC
Sunday 29 June
Celebrating Anthony Newley
West End actors take to the JW3 stage to celebrate the life and works of Jewish musician Anthony Newley, who was responsible for a slew of hits including ‘Goldfinger’ and the score for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 6 July
A Season to Sing
Jewish choir Alyth Choral Society present A Season to Sing, led by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. Featuring a new version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Psalm 118 by composer Julian Dawes. Refreshments provided.
7.30pm. £20. North Western Reform Synagoge, NW11 7EN. www.alythchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Thursday 10 July
TamaRadah
Singer-songwriter TamaRadah uses her personal experience of immigrating to Israel from Ethiopia as a child in her music. Fusing Israeli folk music with African-Caribbean grooves, the Rimon School of Music graduate explores the heritage of Ethiopian music through her performance.
7.30pm. £16. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 30 September – Wednesday 4 March
The Classical Music Series
JW3’s Classical Music Series returns for a third season, showcasing some of the best artists from around the world. The performances start with pianist Dame Imogen Cooper (30 Sep), followed by vocalist Helen Charlston, who’ll sing alongside string musicians Sergio Buchell and Jonathan Manson (30 Oct); and the third concert features a Four Hands recital by Mishka Rushdie Momen and Alasdair Beatson sharing a piano (16 Nov). The 2026 programme features the Fionacci Quartet (15 Jan), a piano trio repertoire (12 Feb) and a classical string quartet accompanied by a viola (4 Mar).
7.30pm. £33, £16.50 concs. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
TALKS
Tuesday 24 June
Meet the Mural
Leon Fenster’s 26-metre-long mural, which brightened the side of JW3’s nine-storey building, depicted over 150 Jewish faces from past and present. Some of those featured in the painting join the artist to discuss what it means to have been included, what the work represents, and how Jewish Londoners have contributed to the capital over the centuries.
7pm. £12. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 30 June
Belsen in British Memory
Professors Sue Vice (University of Sheffield) and Dan Stone (University of London) explore the significance of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in today’s society. This talk is part of the library’s Traces of Belsen exhibition and marks 80 years since prisoners of the camp were freed.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Wednesday 2 July
Europe and the Middle East
Academic Jonathan Paris examines the evolving relationship between Israel and Europe amidst the current conflict. He’ll focus on the rising levels of antisemitism in the UK and the shift in patterns of Jewish people emigrating to Israel.
2pm. £20. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 6 July
Remembering the Fallen with no Known Grave
This special 80th anniversary remembrance service honours those who lost their lives in World War II. Hosted with AJEX (Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women), a charity that provides support for Jewish war veterans and their families.
11am. FREE. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Monday 7 July
Are British Jews still Entrepreneurial and Innovative?
A discussion chaired by politician Stephen Barclay on whether British Jews are as entrepreneurial and innovative as they are stereotypically thought to be. The panel includes journalist Judi Bevan, businessman Geoffrey Gestetner and solicitor Martin Paisner.
7pm. £20. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
Tuesday 8 July
A Third Annual Evening of Cricket
Drawing on his current Lord’s exhibition, Cricket and the Jewish Community, Daniel Lightman presents an evening of discussion focusing on the sport within Judaism. He’s joined by former England captain Mike Brearley OBE and Roland Butcher, who was the first black cricketer to play for England.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 9 July
Next Stop, Finchleystrasse!
Journalist Etan Smallman explores the colourful history of north-west London’s Finchley Road, focusing on its importance for European Jews from the 1930s onwards. It was the home of various different establishments built by Jewish refugees and became a sanctuary for those displaced during World War II.
7pm. £12. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 15 July
Death Café
People from all faiths are invited to discuss life and death. Whether it’s exploring how to start a conversation with family, sharing ideas about the afterlife or feelings around bereavement, these sessions are light-hearted and non-judgemental.
2pm. FREE. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
THEATRE
UNTIL Saturday 28 June
The Frogs
Award-winning American actor Nathan Lane, best known for his role in The Producers, tackles Stephen Sondheim’s lesser-known musical The Frogs. Adapted loosely from Aristophanes’ ancient Greek comedy of the same name, this new staging sees mythological characters Dionysos and Xanthias dive to the depths of Hades in order to save a divided and despairing world – if they don’t get bogged down by their own idiosyncrasies. Read more about The Frogs in the Spring 2025 issue of JR.
7pm, 2.30pm (Tue & Sat only). £10-£35. Southwark Playhouse, SE1 6BD. www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Until Saturday 28 June
Here We Are
Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello directs this staging of Stephen Sondheim’s last musical before he died in 2021. Here We Are follows Leo and Marianne Brink, who are out to brunch. The restaurant has great reviews and they’re with great friends – what could go wrong? Read more about Here We Are in Theatre in the Spring 2025 issue of JR.
7.30pm, 2.15pm (Wed & Sat only). £25-£110. National Theatre, SE1 9PX. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Until Saturday 12 July
The Crucible
A timely reproduction of Arther Miller’s The Crucible retells the 17th-Century Salem witch trials in a nine-week run at The Globe. In an already paranoid and superstitious community, the Puritans of the town evoke mass hysteria when they discover a rumour that a group of girls are practising witchcraft, which they believe to be an act of the devil. Explore the dangers of the abuse of power in director Ola Ince’s venture into a tumultuous world, where everyone is implicated.
7.30pm, 2pm (Tue, Thu & Sat only). From £5. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, SE1 9DT. www.shakespearesglobe.com
Until Saturday 12 July
Who is Claude Cahun?
Explore the true story of Claude Cahun (born Lucy Schwob), a groundbreaking Jewish artist, photographer and writer whose self-portraits explored identity, gender and feminism. This intimate, five-person production tells her story, from her youth in Nantes and England, to her time in Paris with lover Marcel Moore (born Suzanne Malherbe), and final years in the Channel Islands. The couple were key members of the French Surrealist circle and playing with gender was a key part of their work. As Hitler’s power grew, the pair fled France for Jersey, believing they would be safe on British territory. On the island, they began spreading anti-Nazi resistance propaganda, for which they were arrested in 1944. Read more about Claude Cahun in the Spring 2025 issue of JR.
7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 3pm (Tue & Sat only). From £24, £19 concs. Southwark Playhouse Borough, SE1 6BD. www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
UNTIL Saturday 19 July
Fiddler on the Roof
Following its sold-out run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in the summer, Jordan Fein’s production of Fiddler on the Roof hits the Barbican stage. Travel back to the small village of Anatevka and watch as Jewish milkman Tevye navigates life with his wife Golde and five daughters. With each daughter rebelling against his strong Jewish beliefs, can Tevye embrace the unfamiliar in a changing world or will he stick to his roots? Featuring classics such as ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, ‘Matchmaker’ and ‘Sunrise, Sunset’.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Tue, Thu & Sat only). From £25. The Barbican Centre, EC2Y 8DS. www.barbican.org.uk
Until Saturday 2 August
Giant
After a sold-out run at the Royal Court Theatre, Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play Giant transfers to the West End. It’s the summer of 1983 and renowned children’s author Roald Dahl is set to release his latest book, The Witches. If only the public outrage over his recent antisemitic comments would disappear. Should he make a public apology or risk his name and reputation? An unexpectedly explosive confrontation at his family home may just force him to choose. Based on real-life events, Giant deals with the problematic issues of fame and rhetoric with dark humour. Starring Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow and Olivier Award-winner Elliot Levey. Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Read more about Giant in the Summer 2024 issue of JR.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). Prices TBC. Harold Pinter Theatre, SW1Y 4DN. www.haroldpintertheatre.co.uk
until Saturday 20 September
STOREHOUSE
Every news story, message, memory and meme ever transmitted across the internet is being meticulously catalogued by an underground collective. They believe that bringing together these ‘pieces’ of humanity will reveal a “higher, universal truth”. But there’s only so much one gargantuan warehouse can hold and the digital narratives are beginning to compete with each other. How will the collective safeguard the mission and decide what to save, rewrite or delete? This unique immersive theatre venture comes from the team behind Sage & Jester, an arts company that “questions truth” and promotes critical thinking through “stories, laughter and immersive experiences”. It was set up by Georgian Jewish former TV exec Liana Patarkatsishvili, daughter of the late business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, an ardent philanthropist and founder of Georgia’s first independent broadcasting station. The irony that it’s taking place in the gargantuan warehouse that previously printed Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun, The Times and now defunct News of the World, is no accident: STOREHOUSE intends to have you questioning the role of misinformation in today’s world.
Times vary. From £27.50. Deptford Storehouse, SE8 3AA. www.sageandjester.com
Until Sunday 28 September
Oliver!
Following its huge success at Chichester Festival Theatre last year, Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel returns. The orphaned Oliver Twist finds himself in London’s dark underworld with Fagin and his team of pickpockets, led by the Artful Dodger. With a score of well-known songs, including ‘Oom Pah Pah’ and ‘As Long as He Needs Me’, follow Oliver as he looks for happiness in Dickens’ story of the boy who asked for more.
7pm (Mon & Tues only), 7.30pm (Wed-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). From £65. Gielgud Theatre, W1D 6AR. www.oliverthemusical.com
Thursday 3 – Saturday 5 July
Kiki and Herb are Trying!
Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman, under their alter egos Kiki and Herb, bring their darkly comic stories and tone-deaf songs to the stage. Following success in their youth, the elderly couple is now coasting through life, living off meagre government entitlements. Kiki, who has a fascination with Jewish people, has returned to her birthplace in New Jersey to unwind, while Herb, an actual Jew, lives in Tennessee. The two remain in close communication, but when their payments stop arriving and various other inconveniences hit, they’re forced to return to showbusiness, this time in London. Can the two heal the centuries-old conflict between the US and UK through their performances? They’re certainly going to try.
7.30pm. From £15. Soho Theatre Walthamstow, E17 4QH. www.sohotheatre.com
Tuesday 9 September – Saturday 1 November
The Land of the Living
David Lan’s new play focuses on Thomas, one of thousands of children stolen from Eastern Europe during World War II and raised as Aryan. He was cared for by Ruth, a UN relief worker, who was torn between trying to reunite him with a family he’s never known or keep him in the stable home that he’s used to. In 1990, Thomas visits Ruth in London and together the two unravel the past, bringing the difficult decisions Ruth made as a young woman back into question.
7.30pm, 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). From £40. National Theatre, National Theatre, SE1 9PX. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Thursday 19 June
Royal Connections
Follow in the footsteps of British monarchs on this Westminster walk. Blue Badge guide Rachel Kolsky tells of the many and varied connections that the Jewish community has had with Britain’s royal family.
11am. £20. Starting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 15 July
Twilight Guided Walk: Pioneers of Science & Medicine in Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Discover groundbreaking scientists, doctors and industrialists who made invaluable contributions to science in this evening walk around Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
6pm. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesedenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 20 July
Spitalfields: The Historic Jewish East End of London
Venture through the capital’s East End, past Bevis Marks – the UK’s oldest functioning synagogue – to the buzzing Spitalfields Market. Marc Gardiner guides participants through historic streets, including Brick Lane, where Yiddish was once the common language, and to corners of the city that boast Jewish history dating back 1,000 years.
3pm. £20. Starting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 14 September
Exploring Jewish and Victorian Cemetery Architecture and Heritage
All ages are invited to Willesden Jewish Cemetery to commemorate Heritage Open Day and Open House Festival, where locations across England celebrate the country’s rich history and culture. In the morning, there’s a family craft workshop, inspired by the lives, homes and places of worship of those laid to rest in the grounds. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walk exploring Jewish and Victorian funerary art and its symbolism.
10.30am. FREE. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
WALKS
WORKSHOPS
until Thursday 26 June
World War II on Film
This four-week course, led by lecturer, writer and film studies expert Dr Julia Wagner explores the diversity within wartime filmmaking. Various works will be examined alongside discussions about how 1940s cinematography informed, influenced and persuaded audiences during World War II.
10.30am. £72. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Monday 23 June
Fringes
Explore symbolism, clothing and identity with teachers and rabbis in weekly sessions of cross-denomination learning.
6.30pm. Price TBC. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
until Monday 14 July
Love Love Love
Angela Gluck debunks various theories that Jews are emotionally lacking and ruled by the law of religion. This weekly workshop explores the depth of feeling within Judaism, which is based on a love of your neighbours, strangers and Hashem (God).
10.30am. £144, £18 per session. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Until Tuesday 22 July
Hebrew Calligraphy
Develop your skills in Hebrew calligraphy, artwork and colour with expert Vetta Alexis. Work towards creating beautiful, illuminated Hebrew letters, words, quotations and more with ink, painting and gold leaf in these weekly sessions.
Time TBC. £162. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Thursday 31 July
Hebrew Language for Beginners
Whether you have Jewish heritage or simply a love for languages, discover the magic of the Hebrew dialect in this course designed specifically for beginners.
8pm. £35 per session. 15 Kidderpore Avenue, NW3 7SJ. www.spiroark.org
Monday 21 July – Friday 15 August
Sadeh Farm Summer Fellowship
This immersive four-week fellowship gives participants significant responsibility at Sadeh Farm, equipping them with skills in food growing and preserving, land management and animal care. By integrating farming with Jewish values, traditions and rituals, fellows are invited to explore the links between supervising the land and giving others equal opportunities.
Times vary. Price TBC. Sadeh Farm, BR6 7QA. www.sadehfarm.co.uk
Sunday 18 – Friday 23 August
Golden Peacock: Sing Yiddish
Shura Lipovsky – Yiddish singer, teacher and artistic director of Golden Peacock leads this course for singers wishing to deepen their knowledge of Yiddish music. Participants will focus on music theory, range, roots and. There will also be a communal dancing session with both Klezfest and Golden Peacock students. This is one of the only opportunities in the UK to immerse yourself in the world of Yiddish song with like-minded people from different backgrounds. Hosted by the Jewish Music Institute.
10am-6pm. £165-£260. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk
Sunday 17 – Friday 22 August
Ot Azoy! Learn Yiddish
The Jewish Music Institute presents fully immersive classes in Yiddish language, song and culture for all levels and backgrounds. International Yiddish expert Dr Khayele Beer leads the course, while head of faculty Shura Lipovsky leads daily sessions in Yiddish song.
Times vary. £175-£290. SOAS University of London, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk
Wednesday 20 – Friday 22 August
Klezfest
Celebrate the soulful and traditional Jewish music from 19th-century Eastern Europe in this three-day event. The jam-packed programme features a workshop with the Yiddish Choir, a lively jam session and lots of opportunities to learn, play, sing, dance and connect. Hosted by the Jewish Music Institute.
From 10am. £125.00–£225.00. SOAS University, Thornhaugh Street, WC1H 0XG. www.jmi.org.uk