Audio tour: Hebrew Manuscripts

"You see with manuscript illustration how much exchange there was between Jewish communities and their host communities"

Ahead of the opening of the British Library's new exhibition, Hebrew Manuscripts: Journeys of the Written Word, JR’s Arts Editor Judi Herman explored it via a virtual private view. There she met Cassy Sachar, librarian at Leo Baeck College, so the pair got together online later to share their thoughts on this stunning and deeply rewarding display of rarely-seen treasures from as far back as the 10th century. Pieces come from Europe and North Africa, through to the Middle East and China, taking viewers on a "journey beyond the Bible to discover the history, culture and traditions of Jewish people from all corners of the world through the ages". The collection spans science, religion, law, music, philosophy, magic, alchemy and Kabbalah, and explores the relationships between Jews and their neighbours in the communities in which they lived.

Photos by David Jensen

Hebrew Manuscripts: Journeys of the Written Word runs Tuesday 1 September 2020 – Sunday 11 April 2021. British Library, NW1 2DB. www.bl.uk

Audio tour: Czech Routes

Discover Ben Uri’s new exhibition with curator Nicola Baird

The Restaurant by Frederick Feigl

Czech Routes features the work of 21 painters, printmakers and sculptors, many of whom fled to Britain as racial and political refugees from National Socialism in the 1930s. These include sculptor Anita Mandl and painter-printmaker Käthe Strenitz, just two of the 669 ​Kindertransportees​ rescued by British humanitarian Nicholas Winton. Also represented are works by subsequent generations of Czechoslovakian artists, including Irena Sedlecká, who fled her country’s totalitarian Communist regime in the 60s, as well as those who, between the 1970s and 1990s, have made the positive decision to immigrate to Britain to study and develop professionally. The exhibition showcases work drawn primarily from the Ben Uri Collection alongside external loans from important private collections.

By Judi Herman

Czech Routes runs daily until 21 April and then on Mondays only until 20 May or by appointment. Ben Uri Gallery, NW8 0RH. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org.uk

Audio tour: Jews, Money, Myth

Join exhibition curator Joanne Rosenthal in an audio exploration of the Jewish Museum London’s latest display

Jews, Money, Myth is the new exhibition at the Jewish Museum London exploring the ideas and stereotypes that link Jews to money. At a time when antisemitism is on the rise in the UK and beyond, it is especially timely, examining and busting as it does so many of the myths that reinforce prejudice. Join curator Joanne Rosenthal as she takes Judi Herman on a tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition and explains the vision behind it.

Jews, Money, Myth runs until 7 July. Jewish Museum, NW1 7NB. 020 7284 7384. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk

Read more about the exhibition in the Apr 2019 issue of JR.

Image details:

1. Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver, 1629. Oil on panel. © Private Collection, Photography courtesy of the National Gallery, London, 2016.

2. Begging letter from blind man (from the Cairo Genizah) Egypt, c. 1090 © Cambridge University Library.

3 & 4. The Blind Merchant, 2019 © Roee Rosen.

5. Jewish figurines Poland, 2018 © Jewish Museum London.

In conversation: Sira Soetendorp

Dutch Artist Sira Soetendorp discusses the family portraits in her exhibition Vanished Families

Following a visit to Auschwitz in 2012, Sira Soetendorp felt a deep need to preserve the memory of all the lost family members. The Dutch artist used carved outlines drawn in oil paint to fashion portraits based on family photographs, which make up her exhibition Vanished Families. Here she discusses the exhibit with JR’s Arts Editor Judi Herman, plus you will hear Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, Sira’s husband and Emeritus Rabbi of the Hague, who is an award-winning human rights advocate.

Vanished Families runs until Monday 27 February at Etz Chayim Gallery, Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue, HA6 3AA. 019 2382 2592. Viewing by appointment: caroleannek17@gmail.com. www.npls.org.uk/etzchayim.htm

Audio tour: Jukebox, Jewkbox!

Listen to a guided audio tour of the Jewish Museum’s exhibition Jukebox, Jewkbox!

 Jewish Museum Hohenems/Dietmar Walser

The London Jewish Museum’s curator Joanne Rosenthal takes JR’s arts editor Judi Herman on a guided tour of Jukebox, Jewkbox! A Century on Shellac and Vinyl. The exciting interactive exhibition explores 20th century popular culture through shellac and vinyl, celebrating the history of Jewish inventors, musicians, composers, music producers and songwriters, as well as the artistry of the album cover.

Jukebox, Jewkbox! A Century On Shellac and Vinyl runs until 16 October at the Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert St, NW1 7NB; 020 7284 7384. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk

NB: This exhibition was developed by the Jewish Museum Hohenems in collaboration with the Jewish Museum Munich and is on a European tour (some material has been specially added just for its showing at the Jewish Museum London).

Audio tour: Moses, Mods and Mr Fish

Moses, Mods and Mr Fish: A guided audio tour of the Jewish Museum's new exhibition

An audio tour of the London Jewish Museum’s new exhibition, Moses, Mods and Mr Fish: The Menswear Revolution, charting the emergence of the modern male wardrobe. Join Judi Herman on an exclusive journey guided by curator Elizabeth Selby from the tailoring workshops of the mid-19th century to the boutique revolution and mod culture of the Swinging ‘60s. The exhibition tells the story through the huge number of Jewish companies at the forefront of the major developments and changes in the design, manufacturing and retail of men’s clothing from the mid-19th to late-20th century. Among the highlights are the clothes themselves – including the brown suede jacket worn by John Lennon during the recording of The Beatles’ 1963 album, With the Beatles. Judi rounds off her visit by sharing a rather special early ad for Moses and Son Menswear.

Moses, Mods and Mr Fish: The Menswear Revolution runs until 19 June at Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert St, NW1 7NB; 020 7284 7384. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk

Audio tour: Blood

Blood: A guided tour of the Jewish Museum’s cutting edge exhibition

JR’s arts editor Judi Herman joins Joanne Rosenthal, curator of the London Jewish Museum’s Blood exhibition, to take you on a guided audio tour. This cutting edge exhibition explores the provocative and complex subject of blood, featuring manuscripts, prints, Jewish ritual and ceremonial objects, art, film, literature and cultural ephemera to present a rich exploration of how blood can unite and divide, reflecting on over 2,000 years of history.

Blood testing and donation at the museum: Anyone interested in saving lives through blood donation is invited to attend a Know Your Group day at the Jewish Museum, to register and test likely blood groups, on Sunday 17 January ahead of donation in February – donors will be invited to give blood then. There is no need to register in advance for the Know Your Group days – simply turn up between 10am and 4pm.

Blood runs until 28 February at London Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert St, NW1 7NB; 020 7284 7384. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk

Audio tour: For Richer For Poorer – Weddings Unveiled

An audio tour of the Jewish Museum's exhibition For Richer For Poorer – Weddings Unveiled

With exactly a month left to go and see this glorious exhibition, Judi Herman takes listeners on an audio tour with curator Elizabeth Selby to whet appetites. There are dresses from different decades – Edwardian, flapper and home-made wartime austerity. There are invitations, menus and even dance cards. There’s a range of ketubot (Jewish marriage certificates) from different eras and from plain to highly decorated. There’s a gallery of glamorous photo portraits of happy couples by Boris – the doyen of wedding photographers – and of course his giant camera is on display too. There’s even a chance to stand under the chupah (Jewish wedding canopy)! Judi Herman got to do just that, as she and Elizabeth Selby explored the fascinating history of weddings within the Jewish community from the 1880s to the mid-20th century. So even if you can’t make it to the exhibition, this tour will make you feel as if you too have been invited to the wedding!

For Richer For Poorer: Weddings Unveiled runs until 31 May. Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert Street, NW1 7NB; 020 7284 7384. jewishmuseum.org.uk

See pictures from For Richer For Poorer – Weddings Unveiled on the JR blog. [link to blog]