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. www.acflondon.org
Ben Uri
Katerina Wilczyński: Berlin, Rome, Paris, London
For the first time in 40 years, the works of 20th-century painter, printmaker and illustrator Katerina Wilczyński are on display in London and digitally on the Ben Uri website. The exhibition chronicles the Polish artist’s travels through Berlin, Paris, Rome and London; her work disclosing themes of mythology, Mediterranean life and war-torn Europe. After emigrating from Rome to London in 1939, Wilczyński drew the capital in its damaged, post-Blitz state and ended up becoming an integral part of the city’s émigré art scene. These pieces, some of which are being exhibited for the first time, are available to view and purchase.
Until 19 December
Ben Uri 110 Years: From Local to Global
Celebrate 110 years of the Ben Uri Gallery and Museum, a pioneering research centre dedicated to Jewish, refugee and immigrant contribution to British culture. This exhibition presents works from the institution’s collections, which document its journey from local beginnings to its digital global impact today.
Until 16 January
NW8 0RH. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org.uk
JW3
Finding Ivy
See this travelling exhibition, which was originally shown in Holocaust Centre North in 2024, in London for one day only at JW3. It tells the remarkable story of 13 British-born victims of Aktion T4, a Nazi state-led initiative in which 70,000 adults with mental and physical disabilities were murdered in Germany and Austria.
19 January
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.
No end date specified
E2 8EA. 020 7739 9893. www.museumofthehome.org.uk
National Portrait Gallery
Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting
Figurative painter Lucien Freud was fixated on the human face and figure, and is known for his raw and intensely observed portraits and nude studies. This exhibition, the first of its kind in the UK, features Freud’s never-before-displayed drawings. Explore his mastery using pencil, pen, ink, charcoal and etching, as well as a selected group of paintings, which reveal the relationship between his practice on paper and on canvas.
12 February - 3 May
WC2H 0HE. 020 7306 0055. www.npg.org.uk
O2 Centre
Always Changing. Always Welcoming
The derelict building site beside Finchley Road’s O2 Centre has been transformed into a powerful open-air art exhibition curated by the Ben Uri Gallery and Museum. Works by refugee and immigrant artists who lived and worked in the city are displayed, celebrating their contribution to British culture, reflecting on the diverse histories, identities and experiences that have shaped the capital. The creatives featured include Jewish textile designer Elisabeth Tomalin, who fled Nazi Germany in 1936.
Until 31 December
NW3 6LU. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org
Park Lane
Visitor V
British 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
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
WIENER HOLOCAUST LIBRARY
Eldercide: Older Jews and the Holocaust
Rare photographs, personal stories and objects portray the hardships of being an elderly Jew during the Holocaust. Explore how older people navigated persecution, escape and survival, and what happened to the small number of those who survived.
Until 30 April
Ano Ćućipe e Lavengo: In the Silence of Words
What role did language play in the persecution of the Roma community during the Holocaust? This Reading Room exhibition features three original artworks commemorating the Romani and Sinti victims shown alongside a collage by Robert Czibi, which serves as a symbolic representation of Jewish memory and freedom.
Until 1 February
WC1B 5DP. 020 7636 7247. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Sunday 23 November
Jargon Open House
A second-hand book sale at House of Annetta, a former Huguenot Merchants House in east London that now serves as a place for education and community. There will also be an afternoon klezmer jam. Hosted by Jargon, a non-profit that celebrates Yiddish culture through book clubs, book sales, talks and music events. Read our interview with the founders of Jargon in the Autumn 2025 issue of JR.
2.30pm. FREE. House of Annetta, E1 6QH. www.jargon.org.uk
Tuesday 25 November
Two Jews Three Opinions: Reflections of an Ambassador, Lawyer and Writer
Daniel Taub, international lawyer and former Israeli Ambassador to the UK, discusses his recent book, Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement, with barrister Sir Clive Freedman. Drawing on his Harvard education, experience of peace negotiation and law practice, Taub explores how ancient Jewish wisdom can be used as a way of reframing preconceptions, building communities and societies, and facing new and challenging ideas without fear.
6.45pm. £20. Central London location provided upon booking. www.jewishlawyers.co.uk
Tuesday 25 November
The Maveri
ck: George Weidenfeld and the Golden Age of Publishing
Thomas Harding details the life of an Austrian Jewish refugee turned publishing pioneer in his 2023 book. The Maverick: George Weidenfeld and the Golden Age of Publishing shines a light on some of the issues Weidenfeld faced that are still relevant today, such as identity, tension in the Middle East and interfaith dialogue. Harding discusses his work with Professor Gideon Reuveni, director of the Weidenfeld Institute.
7pm. FREE. Austrian Cultural Forum, SW7 1PQ. www.acflondon.org
Tuesday 25 November
Two Jews, Three Opinions: Reflections of an Ambassador, Lawyer and Writer
International lawyer Daniel Taub discusses his recent book with barrister Sir Clive Freedman. Taub. Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish art of Constructive Disagreement looks at how ancient Jewish wisdom can be used within peace negotiations.
7pm. £20. Central London location provided upon booking. www.jewishlawyers.co.uk
Thursday 27 November
Hampstead Photographers in Conversation
Explore the works of photographers Lydia Goldblatt and the late Dorothy Bohm in this discussion led by Katy Barron, director of Photo Oxford. Goldblatt will discuss Fugue, her body of work about love and grief, mothering and losing a mother, and intimacy and distance. Art historian Monica Bohm-Duchen will unpick the 75-year-long career of her mother as detailed in her book Dorothy Bohm at 100.
6.30pm. £6, £38 inc book. Waterstones, NW3 1QP. www.waterstones.com
Thursday 27 November
Women, Resistance and Survival in Wartime France
Hear from the authors of two books that reveal the experiences of Jewish women in Nazi-occupied France. Rosie Whitehouse wrote Two Sisters, the true story of her mother-in-law and her sister who narrowly escaped the Vichy regime following their mother’s deportation to Auschwitz. In Ninette’s War, John Jay puts Ninette Dreyfus’s dramatic fall from grace on paper, using her diary entries to trace her escape from Paris.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 10 December
People Without History Are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust
In her new book, Dr Anna Hájková tells the story of queer Jews who have been silenced in the post-war period. People Without History Are Dust exposes those who were marginalised and persecuted for being both Jewish and homosexual, and confronts the ways in which history has excluded or minimalised their experiences. Hájková discusses how her work deepens our comprehension of identity, survival and memory, reminding us why an inclusive approach to history is vital in understanding the past as well as the future.
6.30pm. FREE. The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 29 January
The Third Reich of Dreams: Dreaming Under Dictatorship
Charlotte Beradt collected the dreams of German citizens under Hitler’s rule in her book, which will be discussed by journalist Amanda Rubin and historian and psychoanalyst Professor Daniel Pick. The Third Reich of Dreams: Dreaming Under Dictatorship looks at how political power shapes not only our words and actions, but also our subconsciousness, raising timely questions about truth, illusion and the hidden effects of propaganda.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 18 February
Dreams, Minds and Power: Therapy Under the Nazis
Psychoanalysis was branded ‘the Jewish science’ and prohibited under the Nazi regime; its leading figures were exiled and psychology was dismissed as irrelevant to Hitler’s ideals. Stephen Frosh, professor of psychological studies at Birkbeck, University of London, and journalist and filmmaker Amanda Rubin draw on Charlotte Beradt’s secret collection of dreams (as detailed in 29 January listing above), to explore how ideas of the self, psyche and healing were reshaped to fit an authoritarian system, and whether this has had long-lasting effects on today’s society.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 26 March
Chutzpah: Yehudis Fletcher in conversation with Toby Lichtig
Having grown up as the rabbi’s daughter in an Orthodox Jewish community, Yehudis Fletcher struggled to conform to the strict expectations set upon her and her siblings. Throughout the years the restrictions intensified and, as she began questioning her sexuality, she also questioned her faith and started yearning for a life in which she could fully be herself. She details her struggles in Chutzpah: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality and Daring to Stay, which she discusses with journalist Toby Lichtig.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 30 March
Dreaming and Resisting: What We Know and What We Deny
Drawing on Charlotte Beradt’s research collected during 1930s Nazi Germany (as detailed in 29 January listing above), filmmaker and journalist Aamanda Rubin explores what dreams reveal about our values, fears and ability to stand up to injustice. She also discusses how the subconscious imagination reflects anxiety, helplessness and resistance, and what makes us conform.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
BOOKS & POETRY
Wednesday 28 January, Thursday 19 February & Thursday 19 March
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. £17. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
COMEDY
Sunday 30 November
Chanukah Funukah
The family extravaganza returns with activities for all ages including arts and crafts, a dance party and interactive storytelling.
2pm. £10, £12 children, under 2s free. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 14 December
Community Chanukah Celebrations
Westminster Synagogue hosts an afternoon of Chanukah activities for all ages, featuring an array of treats.
2pm. FREE. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
Sunday 14 December
Islington Menorah Lighting
Bring in Chanukah with the local community and enjoy klezmer music, storytelling, speeches, arts and crafts, and face painting. Plus, the obligatory feast of doughnuts, latkes and hot chocolate.
5pm. FREE. Islington Green, N1 8DU. www.jewishislington.co.uk
Sunday 15 February
Valentine's Family Disco
Bring your best moves to the dance floor at Ilana Banana’s family party! Children under seven are invited to grab their favourite grown-ups for a Valentines Day celebration.
2pm. £7 per child, £5 per adult. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 1 March
Party on Purim
Families are invited to celebrate the fun festival of Purim with a magic show, scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, face painting and glitter tattoos. Don’t forget to dress up for the costume parade!
3pm. £12. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
family
until Thursday 4 December
UK Jewish Film Festival
The annual festival of Jewish film returns, showcasing UK, European and world premieres of new features, documentaries and shorts. Beginning in London, the festival then tours the UK, and also features a selection of films for online streaming (19-27 Nov). Opening this year’s festival is Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, Eleanor the Great (6 Nov), which follows Eleanor Morgenstein as she moves in with her daughter in New York and inadvertently joins a Holocaust survivors’ group. Read more about UKJFF in the Autumn 2025 issue of JR.
Times, prices and venues vary. https://ukjewishfilm.org
Thursday 4 December
Levi: Screening & Discussion
In this film, podcaster Eli Hassell highlights the mental health issues prevalent in the community of young Orthodox Jews, who are under pressure to conform and succeed. Levi, the title character, embarks on an emotional battle after returning home from yeshiva (an Orthodox religious institution). Desperately unhappy and unable to communicate his feelings to his family, he loses hope for life. Following the screening, Hassell is joined by members of The Jewish Association for Mental Illness (JAMI) and other psychologists for a Q&A.
7.30pm. £12.50. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 27 January
The Jews of Syria 1930-1967
Joe Sitt’s documentary explores the violence faced by Syrian Jewish people in Aleppo and Damascus, who were forbidden to emigrate or leave following the partition of Palestine in 1947. The Jews of Syria 1930-1967 also shines a light on the riots against the community, activist Rabbi Kalmanowitz, who played a key role in rescuing Egyptian Jews, and Eli Cohen, the renowned spy who worked for the Israeli government.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 23 March
Sharif
Israeli journalist, playwright and theatre director Tomer Aldubi presents the dangerous lives of LGBTQ+ Palestinians in his play. Sharif documents the story of a teen who was forced to flee the West Bank, after his sexuality had been publicly exposed, and left to survive in Israel alone. This staged reading explores scenes from Sharif’s past and present, including interrogations by the IDF, a family crisis following his disappearance and life-threatening encounters with the Palestinian police.
7pm. £16. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
FILM AND TV
MUSIC
until 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 Bucheli 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 Fibonacci 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
Sunday 7 December
Johannes Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem
Alyth Choral Society, led by conductor Alison Smart Fisher, performs Johannes Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem in this musical evening.
7pm. £20. Alyth, NW11 7EN. www.alythchoralsociety.com
Sunday 22 February
100 Years of the London Jewish Male Choir
In the first of its year-long celebration, the London Jewish Male Choir marks its 100th anniversary. The evening features cantorial performance, musical theatre numbers, Yiddish song, Israeli folk music and popular classics by Jewish composers.
7pm. £18. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 23 February
Play Nice: Jewish Women in 20th Century Classical Music
Explore the personal and professional lives of three extraordinary Jewish pianists: Harriet Cohen, Myra Hess and Irene Scharrer. Students from the Royal Academy of Music perform pieces the women are most known for, the British Library presents material from its music collection and a panel of academics discusses the musicians’ challenges and achievements.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 15 March
JMI Youth Big Band x NYJO: The Future of Jazz
The Jewish Music Institute’s Youth Big Band, led by Sam Eastmond, revives the traditional melodies of Jewish heritage. They’re joined by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra under-18s in this musical afternoon, showcasing the wide range of talent from both ensembles.
3pm. £18. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 26 March
Nadav Schneerson: Sheva
Influenced by his Jewish heritage, drummer Nadav Schneerson’s debut album is a fusion of jazz, global rhythms and contemporary collaborations. He presents Sheva, which features musicians from acclaimed global projects and festivals in a one-night-only performance.
7.30pm. £16. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
TALKS
Thursday 20 November
An Evening to Mark the Departure and Exodus of Jews from Arab Countries and Iran
Ciara Shalome (@TheMizrahistory on Instagram) is joined by the band Eastern Beats to commemorate the Jewish exodus from the 11 Middle Eastern countries they were forced to flee. This annual celebration also coincides with the 20th anniversary of Harif, a charity representing Jews from North Africa and the Middle East.
7pm. £10. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 24 November
The Forgotten Army: VJ Day Memorial
Martin Sugarman (The Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women) discusses the Jewish military personnel who served in the far east during World War II in this VJ (Victory over Japan) Day commemoration. An often-overlooked chapter in both Jewish and Commonwealth history, the environmental and mentally challenging conditions made fighting in the region extremely tough. Hear about the 600 Jews who became prisoners of war, those who survived and what that meant for their identities thereafter.
7.45pm. £5. Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue, IG7 5NT. www.jhse.org
Saturday 29 November
Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me! (I Know All Their Songs)
New Zealand Jewish (Kibrew, as she calls it) singer-songwriter Deb Filler presents her one-woman show, in which she embarks on a quest for success and happiness in a business all too familiar with failure. Named after the musicians she meets by chance along the way, hear how she was the only audience member in a performance by conductor Leonard Bernstein; developed a lifelong friendship with artist Leonard Cohen when she was selected to be his driver; and even managed to get backstage at a Joni Mitchell concert.
7.30pm. From £19. Arts Depot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Tuesday 2 December
Curators Roundtable: Eldercide – Older Jews and the Holocaust
Curators Christine Schmidt, Dan Stone and Roxy Moore discuss their new exhibition, which explores the untold history of elderly Jews during and after the Holocaust. As well as a guided introduction to Eldercide: Older Jews and the Holocaust (12 November – 30 April), hear about the broader challenges of researching an area of marginalised history. See Art for more details about the exhibition.
6.30pm. FREE. The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Wednesday 10 December
The Massacre of Jews at York 1190
Historian Jill Stern discusses the 1190 York Massacre, where more than 100 Jews were besieged and murdered in York Castle. The carnage was part of a wave of anti-Jewish violence sweeping across England at the time.
11am. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 8 January
Berthe Weill: A Courageous Spirit
Celebrate the life, career and achievements of French art dealer Berthe Weill. Despite being born into a poor Jewish family with no social connections, she was the first in Paris to show the work of both Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, and presented the only solo exhibition of works by Amedeo Modigliani during his lifetime. Read more about Berthe Weill in the Autumn 2025 issue of JR.
2pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 19 January
Can the West Pull Back from the Brink?
Join Jewish journalist Jake Wallis Simons and former army official Andrew Fox for a live recording of their podcast, The Brink. They’ll discuss how the Western world might respond to the challenges of Middle Eastern geopolitics, radicalisation and much more.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 21 January – Saturday 1 February
Cohen, Bernstein, Joni & Me! (I Know All Their Songs)
Please see above for details.
7.30pm. £25. Upstairs at the Gatehouse, N6 4BD. www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com
Friday 23 January
Holocaust Memorial Day
The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, Bridging Generations, emphasises the importance of carrying memories forward through action. With the number of survivors decreasing, it’s more important than ever to remember the atrocities, and to commit to a future shaped by empathy and understanding.
10.30am. FREE. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 3 February
What the Qur’an Says About Jews, Judaism and the Torah
Rick Sopher, an expert in interfaith scriptural dialogue, is joined by Abdulla Galadari, professor of Islamic Studies at Khalifa University, to delve into what the Qur’an teaches Muslims about Jews, Judaism and the Torah.
7pm. £20. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 5 February
Finding Ivy: Panel Discussion
Curators Dr Helen Atherton and Dr Simon Jarrett discuss their exhibition Finding Ivy, which first went on display at the Holocaust Centre North in 2024. Finding Ivy explores the stories of 13 British-born victims of Aktion T4, a Nazi state-led initiative in which 70,000 adults with mental and physical disabilities were murdered in Germany and Austria. Atherton and Jarrett will also be joined by Stephen Unwin, former Chair of the charity KIDS, which supports disabled young people and their families.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 5 March
The Jewish History of Clifton College
Dr Shelley Braude discusses Bristol’s Clifton College, which was the first private school in the UK to admit Jewish students. To this day, it continues to run a Jewish Life Programme and features a fully equipped on-site synagogue, despite being a non-faith school.
7.30pm. £12. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 10 March
Community Resilience and Shared Living Post 7 October
Explore The Abraham Initiatives’ major new campaign, Shared Regions, which aims to transform everyday life for Jews and Arabs in northern Israel. Discover how shared society is becoming a reality in the country’s most diverse region, and hear about plans for the project in the sectors of health care, education and community life.
7.30pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 25 March
A Ritual Murder: Norwich 1144
When the dead body of a man named William was discovered in a wood near Norwich in 1144, rumours circulated that the Jewish community was behind his murder. It was widely believed that he was killed for ritual purposes, but no evidence was found and the crime was never solved. Historian Jill Stern revisits this story and looks at how the accusations were part of a smear campaign to banish Jews from Europe.
11am. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
THEATRE
until Saturday 22 November
The Assembled Parties
This 2013 play by Richard Greenberg premiered on Broadway in 2013 to rapturous success. The run was extended three times and it was awarded a trio of Tonys. The Assembled Parties follows former movie star Julie Bascov and husband Ben, who host a lavish annual Christmas feast in their Central Park apartment, bringing together their Jewish family clan. This year, however, their son Scotty returns from Harvard with a friend and a drama is sparked that’ll span the next two decades. Starring Tracy-Ann Oberman. Read our interview with Oberman in the Autumn 2025 issue of JR.
7.30pm (Mon, Wed & Thu only), 2.30pm (Sat only). From £25. Hampstead Theatre, NW3 3EU. www.hampsteadtheatre.com
until Saturday 29 November
The Wanderers
Anna Ziegler’s new play follows the lives of two couples on very different but intertwining paths. Writers Abe and Sophie’s marriage, while loving, is marred with tension, rivalry and unresolved discontent. This is escalated when Abe receives an unexpected email from a movie star and he embarks on an increasingly risky journey to connect with them. In another time and place, young Orthodox Jews Esther and Schmuli find themselves in an arranged marriage after meeting only once. Esther feels suffocated by her religion and attempts to break away, jeopardising not only her family, but also the only way of life she’s ever known.
7.30pm, 2.30pm (Thu & Sat only). From £22.75. Marylebone Theatre, NW1 6XT. www.marylebonetheatre.com
until Sunday 30 November
Tsitsit Fringe Festival
The fringe festival with a Jewish flavour returns. Tsitsit celebrates the many strands of contemporary Jewish culture and identity, with an annual series of theatre, music, comedy and poetry events. This year, highlights include The JEWish Cabaret’s Jewsicals, a night of brand new musical theatre (22 Nov), Rabbi Santa’s Night of Comedy, featuring award-winning comedians including Sol Bernstein and Steve Hall (27 Nov) and music from Buenos Klezmer (30 Nov).
Time and prices vary. Arts Depot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Sunday 7 December – Sunday 4 January
Cinderella and the Matzo Ball
JW3’s winter pantomime returns, and this time it’s Cinderella’s turn to steal the limelight. Nick Cassenbaum’s creative team brings dazzling costumes, colourful sets and foot-tapping songs to the glittering stage for a magical family experience.
Times vary. From £27 (adult), from £17 (child). JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 8 December – Saturday 24 January
REVENGE: After the Levoyah
Following multiple sell-out runs, Nick Cassenbaum’s Scotsman First Fringe Award-winning play hits the London stage. It’s 2019 in Essex, and twins Dan and Lauren return from their grandfather’s funeral. They’re cornered by 80-year-old gangster Malcolm Spivak, who enlists them to help him kidnap Jeremy Corbyn. Featuring madcap comedy and biting political satire, REVENGE: After the Levoyah journeys through antisemitism in the diaspora and the dangers of collective hysteria. Read our review of REVENGE: After the Levoyah on the JR blog.
8pm. From £13. Soho Theatre Dean Street, W1D 3NE. www.sohotheatre.com
Tuesday 9 December – Thursday 8 January
Christmas Day
Somewhere in north London on a frosty Christmas Day, foxes prowl the deserted streets, while a Jewish family gathers inside an abandoned building. Find out what is set to unfold in this world premiere of the new play by Olivier Award-winning playwright Sam Grabiner and director James Macdonald. Christmas Day promises a darkly comic evening about identity, belonging and the rituals we perform with the people we love.
Phone for times and prices. Almeida Theatre, London N1 1TA. 020 7359 4404. www.almeida.co.uk
Friday 16 January – Saturday 28 February
Cable Street
It’s October 1936 and Sammy, Mairead and Ron are carving out their futures on London’s Cable Street. However, their plans are disrupted by the activities of Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists, and its march through the East End on 4 October. Thousands of Jewish and Irish local residents, trade unionists and activists from the Labour and Communist parties unite to block their passage. This retelling of the historic event is given a contemporary, musical twist. Read more about Cable Street in the Winter 2024 issue of JR.
7.30pm, 2.30pm (Thu & Sat only). From £25. Marylebone Theatre, NW1 6XT. www.marylebonetheatre.com
Sunday 8 February
From Ash to Promise
Three works of contemporary ballet reimagine parts of history and explore Jewish narratives within personal and national identity. Enjoy the live debut of Marika Brussel’s Lot’s Wife, a feminist portrayal of the Old Testament story. Instead of being turned into a pillar of salt, Lot’s wife looks back on what she could be leaving behind. Brussel also presents Slant of the Earth, exploring the love triangle of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, with an original twist on the story’s ending. Finally, Richard Bermange’s Mr Greentree (My Wish Was My Command) is a multimedia piece inspired by Austrian Jewish cabaret artist and anti-fascist Fritz Grünbaum.
7.30pm. £18. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 11 February
Annual Spiro Tribute
Israeli actor, writer and producer Bat-El celebrates the tremendous work of Nitza Spiro and her late husband Robin, founders of the Jewish educational organisation Spiro Ark. This year’s tribute takes the form of a play, which tells the couple’s story of courage, resilience and triumph.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 17 February
Seder
Playwright and educator Adam Kammerling asks: what is survival and how do we pass it on? Seder, an interdisciplinary performance of spoken word, dance, theatre and live music unpacks the tangled stories we carry with us and how we choose to tell them. The story confronts themes of inherited grief and unspoken truths, with a dash of heavy metal thrown in for good measure.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 25 November
Jewish Theatreland
Blue Badge guide Rachel Kolsky leads a walk of London’s theatreland, discussing the impact Jewish actors, producers, writers and performers had on the West End stages.
11am. £20. Meeting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 1 March
Mayfair Walk with a Jewish Twist
Enjoy a guided walk through one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in London. Mayfair, known for its Georgian houses, royal parks and grand avenues, is also steeped in Jewish history. Former residents include Benjamin Disraeli, Sir Moses Montefiore, Alfred de Rothschild and many others whose stories contribute greatly to 1,000 years of British Jewish history.
3pm. £20. Meeting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 8 March
Women of Worth
Mark International Women’s Day by exploring the back streets of London’s Whitechapel and Spitalfields with Blue Badge tour guide Rachel Kolsky. Hear the stories of campaigner Sophie Spielman, Alice Model’s maternity hospital, youth worker Miriam Moses, the Rothschild ladies and their philanthropy and much more.
11am. £20. Meeting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 22 March
Following the Footsteps of Dr Chaim Weizmann and the Balfour Declaration
Follow the footsteps of Israeli statesmen, biochemist and Zionist leader Dr Chaim Azriel Weizmann and explore the locations where modern Zionism was formed in the early 1900s. This walk will show the places where Dr Weizmann met the leading figures who helped him turn the idea of a Jewish state into a reality, including the Rothschild family, Herbert Samuel, Lord Balfour and Lady Astor, and discover the fascinating roles that each person played in sparking the historic Balfour Declaration.
2pm. £20. Meeting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
WALKS
WORKSHOPS
Until Wednesday 3 December
Art and About: Visual Culture, Space and Expression Around London
Art historian Sophie Lachowsky hosts a monthly series exploring London’s vibrant, evolving art scene. Discover the story of Isamu Noguchi’s Billy Rose Sculpture Garden, designed for the Israel Museum, and how his methods resonate today (29 Oct); explore how the works of female artists, including Jewish figures Nancy Spero and Martha Rosler, have shaped an understanding of trauma and resilience (19 Nov); and find out more about the profound connection and intense rivalry between JMW Turner and John Constable (3 Dec).
7.15pm. £20 per session. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Wednesday 10 December
The Kabbalah of Meaning
Discover Judaism’s approach to the purpose of life in this six-weekly course, where participants are taught to gain the tools to see a deeper meaning in the mundane, the exciting and the frightening times that shape them.
7.30pm. £80 (£27 concs). Chabad Lubavitch Islington Community Centre, N1 8HX. www.jewishislington.co.uk
until Monday 15 December
A Family Affair? The Story of Jewish-Muslim Relations
Teacher Angela Gluck leads this weekly workshop, in which she discusses the evolving relationship between Muslims and Jews, which has been challenged over the years by geopolitical developments.
10.30am. £144. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Monday 15 December
The Making of the Modern Middle East: 1939-1950
Historian and writer Paula Kitching explores the divisions, territorial ambitions and rise of Arab nationalism within the Middle East between 1939 and 1950 in this weekly workshop.
11am. £162, £20 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
until Wednesday 26 December
Tracing Your Jewish Family History
Genealogist Jeanette R Rosenberg OBE leads this fortnightly four-week course exploring how to trace Jewish ancestry. Participants will be taught how to find key resources and archives, work with family artefacts and explore methods for discovering and documenting family history.
7pm. £80, £22 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 9 December
Virtual Tour of Jewish Rome
Roman Jewish life dates back 2,200 years, with an extremely turbulent history. In this audio/visual ‘tour’, explore sites including the city’s magnificent Great Synagogue, the previously uninhabitable Jewish Ghetto and one of today’s highest-regarded restaurants, featuring an old mikveh (Jewish ritual bath) in its basement. Hear the stories of Rome’s non-Jewish nurse who saved Jews from the Nazis; artist Bernini, who secretly aided those suffering in the Ghetto; the wartime rabbi who conducted services while SS stormtroopers patrolled outside; and Medici Popes who sought advice from their Jewish counterparts.
2.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 5 January – Monday 23 March
Dilemmas of the Deep: Resistance and The Righteous
Academic Angela Gluck questions the motives behind various atrocities faced by Jews throughout the years. This workshop, spanning 11 weeks, explores the defiance of the Nazi regime and the ways this was expressed, including attacks, escapes, fraud and teaching, and spotlights the ingenuity and strength behind these actions.
10.30am. £198. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Monday 5 January – Monday 23 March
The Making of the Modern Middle East: 1959 to 1979
Historian and writer Paula Kitching explores the alliances, leaderships and international engagements over 20 years of Middle Eastern history in this weekly workshop.
11am. £198, £20 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 6 January – Tuesday 17 March
The Art of Hebrew Calligraphy
Work with ink, paint and gold to create beautifully illuminated Hebrew writings with artist and calligrapher Vetta Alexis. Participants of all levels welcome.
11am. £180, £20 per session. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 15 January – Thursday 26 March
Modern Jewish Literature
Writer Naomi Grant celebrates JW3’s bar mitzvah (aka 13th birthday) by exploring the richness of modern Jewish culture through Israeli, European and American literature. The final session in this weekly course will be led by JR’s executive director Aviva Dautch, who’ll explore the poetry of Adrienne Rich.
10.30am. £180, £20 per session. ONLINE & JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 15 January – Thursday 12 February
What is Jewish Film?
Lecturer and writer Dr Julia Wagner explores how films have reflected cultural shifts within Judaism, from the early years of Yiddish cinema to today.
10.30am. £90. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 22 January
An Evening of Edible Memory: Food, Identity & Jewish Life
A panel of culinary experts explores the important role of food within Judaism. Sephardi chef Linda Dangoor and author Alissa Timoshkina present cookery demonstrations and discuss how cherished recipes, which are handed down through generations, carry stories with them that shape today’s communities and conversations. Read our interview with Linda Dangoor in the Autumn 2025 issue of JR.
6pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 25 January
Tu B’shvat Seder
Writer Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (New North London Synagogue) and other guests commemorate Tu B’shvat, the Jewish new year for trees, marking the imminent start of spring.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 26 February – Thursday 19 March
Artificial Intelligence and Jewish Thought
What is artificial intelligence and how is it connected to Judaism? This four-part course will help participants understand what forms AI takes today, its future potential and how Jewish thinking can help us understand it.
7pm. £72, £20 per session. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk