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
Bank of England
Building the Bank: 100 Years On
Explore the fascinating transformation of the Bank of England’s iconic Threadneedle Street building in this exhibition. Architectural plans and models are displayed alongside artwork exploring the site, which started renovations in 1925. Read more about Building the Bank: 100 Years On in the Winter 2026 issue of JR.
No end date specified
EC2R 8AH. 020 3461 4878. www.bankofengland.co.uk
Ben Uri
The Abbey Art Centre as a Postwar Refuge
Unpack the story of the Abbey Art Centre in north London, which was opened in 1946 by William Ohly, a British-German Jewish gallery owner and artist. The space was created to accommodate artists from all over the world, including Jewish refugees, providing affordable living and workspaces. This exhibition features paintings, sculptures, photographs, archival materials and more by those who frequented the centre.
Until 18 December
NW8 0RH. 020 7604 3991. www.benuri.org.uk
Freud Museum
40 Objects 40 Years
An exhibition commemorating 40 years of the Freud Museum London, the final home of the renowned neurologist and psychoanalyst. See never-before-displayed items from the daily lives of Sigmund Freud and his family, as well as key archival objects, including his world-famous couch. These objects are shown alongside reflections from artists, writers, psychologists, educators and community members, providing a contemporary perspective on Freud’s pioneering work.
Until 14 February 2027
NW3 5SX. www.freud.org.uk
JW3
Legacy: The Story of the Jewish Family Who Founded J Lyons and Fed Britain
The Jewish Museum London presents an exhibition dedicated to the J Lyons entrepreneurial empire. In the 1800s, the German Jewish family fled to Britain, where they established the famous Lyons tea houses and corner shops, baked a wedding cake for the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and built iconic London landmarks including the Trocadero and Strand Palace Hotel.
Until 18 October
Tree of Life: Stories from the Jewish Museum London’s Collection
Experience Jewish life in Britain through a collection of Judaica, artefacts, photography and documents taken from the Jewish Museum London’s 35,000 strong archive. Objects date back to the 1650s up until 2023.
Until 18 October
Simcha Snaps! Turning Memories Up to 13
Enjoy a treasure trove of bar and bat mitzvah photographs through the generations to celebrate JW3’s 13th year. Images donated by the community have been curated by cartoonist Zoom Rockman and writer Ivor Baddiel (brother of David), capturing the humour, heart and history of the Jewish ritual. The photos are displayed throughout the building and across the front windows, revealing the evolution of the ceremony over time.
Until 31 December
Abram Games and the Festival of Britain
Marking the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, this exhibition explores the creativity and legacy of Abram Games, who was responsible for the emblem of the event. Discover the life of the influential graphic designer, who was born to Jewish immigrants in London’s East End.
From 2 December
NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
National Gallery
Renoir and Love
Couples waltzing in the summer air, lovers stealing a glance and families sharing a quiet moment all feature in Renoir’s Impressionist paintings, capturing the complexities of personal connections. The artist experimented with style and theme during the peak of his career and, for the first time in the UK, his iconic painting Bal au Moulin de la Galette (Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette) will be displayed. Despite being overtly antisemitic, his piece Pink and Blue depicts sisters Alice and Elisabeth (aka The Renoir Girls), daughters of a wealthy Parisian Jewish banking dynasty and their older sister Irène. Read more about The Renoir Girls in the Summer 2026 issue of JR.
Until 31 January 2027
WC2N 5DN. 020 7747 2885. www.nationalgallery.org.uk
National Portrait Gallery
Gillian Wearing: Spiritual Family
See four works from Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing’s series Me As…, depicting the artist as Andy Warhol, Diane Arbus, Robert Mapplethorpe and Claude Cahun. These four names have had a profound effect on Wearing’s practice and she’s named them her ‘spiritual family’.
Until 10 January
WC2H 0HE. 020 7306 0055. www.npg.org.uk
Royal Academy of Art
Peggy Guggenheim in London: The Making of a Collector
Explore highlights from the various London exhibitions of legendary Jewish art collector Peggy Guggenheim. Her first ever gallery, Guggenheim Jeune, was opened in Mayfair in 1938 and quickly won the favour of avant-garde artists, housing works by surrealists and abstractionists. See works by pioneering artists, including Dalí, Barbara Hepworth and Kadinsky. Read more about Peggy Guggenheim in the Summer 2025 issue of JR.
21 November 2026 – 14 March 2027
W1J 0BD. www.royalacademy.org.uk
Southbank Centre
Anish Kapoor
Discover immersive sculptures and paintings by Anish Kapoor, who returns to the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery almost 30 years after his first major UK show there. This retrospective features some of the Jewish Indian artist’s most iconic works, including steel mirror sculptures and objects coated in Vantablack, possibly the world’s darkest material which, controversially, Kapoor gained exclusive use of in 2016 – a move that maddened the art world. Plus, see several new works, including two huge installations in his signature red. Read more about Anish Kapoor on the JR blog and in the Spring 2026 issue of JR.
Until 18 October
Nan Goldin: You Never Did Anything Wrong
The Southbank Centre presents the first major UK exhibition of work by legendary social documentarian Nan Goldin since 2002. Don’t miss this chance to see the Jewish American artist and activist’s recent films – including the debut of You Never Did Anything Wrong, Part II – and photography that shine a light on the fragility of existence, be it human, animal or environmental. Her unique style captures the rawness of life, from the tumult of personal relationships to struggles with addiction and animal rescue in the Gaza strip.
24 November 2026 – 14 March 2027
SE1 8XX. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Tate Modern
Frida: The Making of an Icon
A showcase of more than 30 pieces by revolutionary artist Frida Kahlo, who identified as Jewish despite her heritage being questioned throughout her career. Kahlo was known for showing the many sides of her personality in her art – from a dedicated wife and intellectual to a political activist – and her story went on to inspire hundreds of pieces by contemporary artists. Frida: The Making of an Icon explores the transformative power of her work, highlighting her lasting influence and fandom.
Until 3 January 2027
Together on this Island: Émigré Art Networks in Britain
Discover the stories of émigrés who fled to Britain from Nazi Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. Based on a quote by Czech art historian JP Hodin (“Never before in the history of art in England have so many artists of foreign nationality worked together on this island”), the display explores the contribution to local culture by Jewish artists, art dealers, writers and teachers.
Until 20 June 2027
SE1 9TG. www.tate.org.uk
WIENER HOLOCAUST LIBRARY
Nazi Slave Labour: Perpetrators and Victims
See how perpetrators of the Holocaust, including the SS, chemical giant IG Farben, and the arms manufacturer Krupp, profited from the exploitation of slave labour. The forced work within concentration camps was brutal, with starvation, exhaustion, disease and physical abuse causing 2.5 million deaths. Despite its scale, this exploitation remains one of the least understood aspects of the period. Through covert photographs, eyewitness testimonies and documents exposing the complicit companies, this exhibition highlights the financial gain, power and responsibility associated with this dark chapter of history.
Until 30 October
J’Accuse! Press, Polemic and the Dreyfus Affair
Take an in depth look at the print culture surrounding The Dreyfus Affair when, in 1894, an innocent French Jewish army officer was falsely accused of treason and incarcerated on the former French penal colony, Devil’s Island. The trial was reported on worldwide, with the press and public questioning the innocence of Alfred Dreyfus, making it one of the first instances of a story going viral. J’Accuse explores the opinions of those who were for and against Dreyfus’s release through documents, newspaper cuttings and antisemitic caricatures.
4 November 2026 – 26 February 2027
WC1B 5DP. 020 7636 7247. www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Wednesday 14 October
Once the Deed is Done
Rachel Seiffert discusses her new novel, which is set at the end of World War II, following forced labourers and those who tried to help them. Once the Deed is Done uncovers the fate of Ukrainian siblings Sasha and Yeva, and British Jewish Red Cross worker Ruth Novak, who tries to find their missing mother in the post-war period and takes a deeper look at their displaced persons camp, which was situated next to a small German town.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 15 October
Revealing Israeli Secrets: The Wisdom of Hebrew Proverbs
Arnon Rubinstein explores how the Hebrew language can help to understand Israel and its people in his new book, Revealing Israeli Secrets.
7.30pm. FREE. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 20 October
Finding Ella Briggs: The Life and Work of an Unconventional Architect
Discover the little-known life of Viennese designer and architect Ella Bringgs, whose early designs were used by the German Theatre and New York Press Club. One of very few women in a heavily male-saturated industry, Briggs was commissioned to design social housing in Red Vienna, before fleeing to Britain to escape Nazi Germany.
6.30pm. FREE. Ben Uri Gallery, NW8 0RH. www.benuri.org
Tuesday 20 October
Making the Cut
In his new book, comedian, journalist and formerly Britain’s youngest pro wrestler Max Olesker reveals how one night in Edinburgh kickstarted an unexpected existential crisis. After meeting the love of his life, Eliana, Olesker discovered that, despite already being Jewish, he would have to convert to Judaism if he wished to marry her. Fresh off a live run at Edinburgh Fringe, Olesker is joined by his wife Eliana to bare all about the story. Followed by a book signing. Read our review of Max Olesker's Fringe show on the JR blog.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 21 October
Telling Tales
Playwright and author Deborah Freeman discusses Tell it Not, her collection of short stories. The 17 tales reflect on the struggles, as a writer, to contradict the Jewish law of Lashon Hara (commentary on others’ behaviour) whilst drawing on accounts involving real people and relationships.
2pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 22 October
John Altman: The Hidden Man
Jewish Emmy- and BAFTA-winning musician John Altman is behind numerous hit songs, including the Monty Python classic ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’, and taught Michael Caine to sing. Find out more as he presents his memoir, Hidden Man: My Many Musical Lives, alongside piano-led, stripped-back versions of the songs he helped shape behind the scenes.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 27 October
Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment
Dr Morwenna Blewett presents an in-depth study of restoration and conservation in the National Socialist era. Her book, Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime, offers a fresh perspective on looted works and how they were physically manipulated between 1933 and 1948.
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Tuesday 29 October
Defeating Hate?
Writers Julia Franck and Katja Hoyer draw on their books, Worlds Apart and Weimer, respectively, to explore how Germany has confronted fascism, silence and divided memories since the world wars.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 4 November
Philippe Sands & Deborah Posel: In Conversation
Barrister Professor Philippe Sands KC and author Deborah Posel discuss the experiences of Jews in Lithuania before the Holocaust. Sands’ book East West Street traces his family history within the former Pale of Settlement, while Posel’s A Darker Shade of Pale tells the story of her grandfather Maurice, who migrated from Lithuania to the British Colony of South Africa. Read more about Deborah Posel in the Autumn 2026 issue of JR.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 5 November
Kristallnacht Commemoration: Ausländer
To commemorate Kristallnacht, Michael Moritz discusses his new book, Ausländer, which explores the history of his family members who were murdered by the Nazis.
7pm. FREE. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 5 November
Translation Salon: Kafkaesque
To celebrate the London Library’s inaugural translation salon, celebrating ideas and opinions around language and the intricate art of translating, Maïa Hruska discusses her new book with Daniel Hahn. Kafkaesque tells the story of the interpreters who were responsible for keeping Franz Kafka’s work alive following his early death. His words were pondered by some of the highest-regarded thinkers and writers of all time, and Hruska’s book explores the lives, histories, tragedies and absurdities of the 20th century which accompanied these efforts.
7pm. From £8. The London Library, SW1Y 4LG. www.jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk
Sunday 8 November
Remembering Wartime Willesden
Judge Dr Jonathan Lewis talks about his book, Jewish Chaplaincy in the British Armed Forces: Captains of the Souls of Men, 1892-2021. Hear about the outstanding wartime contribution and ultimate sacrifice of many Jews who’ve been laid to rest at Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
1.45pm. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Monday 9 November
Conversations with an Executioner
Elżbieta Moczarska celebrates the UK launch of Conversations with an Executioner, a first-hand account written by her late father Kazimierz Moczarski. He fought the Nazi occupation as part of the resistance movement before being imprisoned by the Communist regime, where he shared a cell with Jürgen Stroop, the Nazi war criminal responsible for the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the death of over 50,000 people. Moczarska is joined by translator Sean Gasper Bye and award-winning historian Roger Moorhouse. Followed by a Q&A and book signing.
6.05pm. £20. Imperial War Museum, SE1 6HZ. www.iwm.org.uk
Tuesday 10 November
Will Self in Conversation
Acerbic, award-winning London author Will Self discusses his career, latest book and reflections on Jewishness and antisemitism. His new novel, The Quantity Theory of Morality, follows his usual darkly satirical style to share the story of a bunch of Brits trapped in a cycle of polite chitchat at dinner parties. They tiptoe around all manner of topics, from trans rights to the Holocaust, until someone disrupts the equilibrium by saying something outrageous.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 19 November
After Belsen: Christian Encounters with Holocaust Survivors
Dr Robert Thompson examines how Christians responded to and were impacted by interacting with Holocaust survivors following the liberation of concentration camps. He shines a light on how, using testimonies and personal encounters, British and American Christians pioneered to fight against antisemitism. There will also be an exhibition of the archive materials Thompson used to research his book.
6.30pm. FREE. The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 19 November
The Jewish Bakery: 100 Family Recipes from East London’s Oldest Jewish Bakery Book
Jennifer Rinkoff presents her recent cookbook, which pays tribute to Rinkoffs, her ancestor’s business. The family-run Jewish bakery has served London’s East End since 1911, and this book features a variety of recipes, celebrating the stories and heritage of the establishment. The evening includes a book signing and of course, sampling some of the delicacies.
7pm. £3.50. Finchley Church End Library, N3 2LN. www.barnet-libraries.played.co
Wednesday 25 November
The Silent City of Drancy: Social Housing and Holocaust Memory on the Margins of Paris
Stephanie Hesz-Wood launches her new book, which looks at the Parisian commune of Drancy. In particular, she investigates the Cité de la Muette apartment complex, which became a notorious internment camp during World War II. Through a series of personal testimonies, The Silent City of Drancy examines how a place can simultaneously be associated with historical horrors and contemporary familiarity. Followed by a Q&A and book signing.
6.30pm. FREE. The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 26 November
A Woman Named Edith
Daria Santini presents the first English language biography of Austrian photographer Edith Tudor Hart, charting her escape in 1933 from Vienna to Britain, where she found great success as an artist. Learn about her pioneering work behind the camera and her undetected double life as a Soviet agent.
6.30pm. FREE. The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Thursday 3 December
Celebrating Bukharian Food: A Cooking Class
Jewish chef and author Lilian Cordell shares some of her mother’s Bukharian recipes from her recent cookbook, Miriam's Table. She’ll talk about the stories behind the food and demonstrate how they’re made, followed by a tasting.
2.30pm, 7.15pm. £35. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
BOOKS & POETRY
Tuesday 27 October
Bennett Arron: I Regret This Already
In his most personal performance yet, Bennett Arron reflects on the key moments in his life that didn’t exactly go to plan. I Regret This Already sees the ‘Jewelsh’ (Jewish Welsh) comedian shining a light on his fall-out with Sir Anthony Hopkins, becoming the victim of identity theft and even getting arrested.
7.30pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
COMEDY
Sunday 11 October
Cable Street Stories
A family-friendly workshop based around Tanya Landman’s teen novel The Battle of Cable Street, which follows eight-year-old Elsie on a journey of discovery through a racially charged period in London’s history. Children and grown-ups are invited to explore kindness, cooperation and community building in this morning session, with a reading and various art activities.
11am. FREE. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 29 November
Chanukah Funukah
A fun-filled festive day for all the family. Celebrate Chanukah with music, tasty treats, arts, crafts and plenty of playtime.
2pm. £12 (child), £10 (adult). JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
family
Friday 23 October
Zoe Beloff
Zoe Beloff launches her new book alongside a double bill of two films. Life Forgotten explores the real Lower East Side cinema, Frank Seiden’s Variety Theatre, where Seiden and his sons improvised dialogue and performed Yiddish ballads, and which became a meeting place for radical young garment workers. This is the topic of her new book, which has the same title. Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse People commemorates Franz Kafka’s final short story, focusing on Josephine, a mouse whose extraordinary singing voice is indistinguishable from the ordinary sounds of the rest of her community. Beloff appears in conversation with Professor Ian Christie.
6.30pm. FREE. Birkbeck University, WC1H 0PY. www.bbk.ac.uk
Thursday 5 – Sunday 15 November
UK Jewish Film Festival
The annual festival of Jewish film returns for its 30th innings, showcasing UK, European and world premieres of features, documentaries and shorts. Highlights include the documentary gala choice, Shalom, about the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem during a time of war (14 Nov); and Bookends, about New York writer who falls on hard times and has to move into his grandparents’ retirement community (10 Nov). Kicking off in London, the festival then tours the UK (15 Nov-3 Dec) and provides a selection of films to stream online (18-30 Nov). Read more about UKJFF in the Autumn 2026 issue of JR.
Times, prices and venues vary. https://ukjewishfilm.org
Sunday 15 November
The Long Journey Home
David Kahtan’s documentary pays tribute to the once 180,000 strong Jewish community of Iraq. Despite Jews living in the country for over 2,500 years, almost none remain there today. This film is the result of over 20 years of research, chronicling the stories of ancient Babylon, the Farhud, the mass exodus in the 1950s and the modern day.
11.45am. From £15, from £10 concs. Phoenix Cinema, N2 9PJ. www.ukjewishfilmfestival2026.eventive.org
Tuesday 8 December
The Rescue of the Jews of Syria (1970-1994)
JW3 and Harif present the final part in their film series focusing on the Syrian Jewish Community. The Rescue of the Jews of Syria describes the controlled life of Jews trapped in the country in the 1970s, the international human rights response to their plight and how Brooklyn’s Sephardi community united to free those who remained.
7.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
FILM AND TV
MUSIC
Until Sunday 21 March
The Classical Music Series
JW3’s monthly Classical Music Series returns for a fourth season, showcasing some of the best artists from around the world. Kicking off with pianist Boris Giltburg (30 Sep); followed by a performance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet (28 Oct); and the trio Noam Greenberg, Jonian Kadesha and Vashti Hunter (17 Nov). The 2027 programme features the Aviv Quartet (24 Jan); Irène Duval leading a string quartet (21 Feb); and Piano Trios by Schubert and Beethoven presented by JW3 regulars (21 Mar).
Times vary. £30. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 21 October
Zohara
The lead singer of klezmer band Oi Va Voi blends the sounds of Tel Aviv’s electronic scene with London’s gender-fluid nightlife in her second album. Hear Zohara’s more recent tracks, as well as unreleased material from her upcoming 2027 album and reworked classics.
7pm. £15. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 22 October
Hop Skotshne
Klezmer band Hop Skotshne comprises of clarinet, trumpet, violin, French horn, accordion and poyk (type of drum) players. They use Eastern European Jewish wedding music and add their unique and inventive interpretations.
7.45pm. From £19. Arts Depot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.co.uk
Wednesday 28 October
The Ronnie Scott’s Story
Live jazz, narration, rare archive photos and video footage combine in an evening celebrating the iconic Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, founded in 1959, named after a Jewish East Ender and still operating today. Hear about the venue’s regulars, from pop stars to royalty to infamous gangsters including the Krays, presented by The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.
7.30pm. From £19. Arts Depot, N12 0GA. www.artsdepot.org.uk
Sunday 8 November
Dealing with the Tragic in Life: Mahler, Judaism and Beyond
The Fidelio Orchestra, conducted by Raffaello Morales, presents Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No 6. The Jewish composer, who was forced to convert to Catholicism, reflected on his feelings of uncertainty within identity in this piece. The concert is preceded by a discussion between conductor Morales and music journalist Edward Seckerson.
5.45pm. From £20. The Barbican, EC2Y 8DS. www.jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk
Tuesday 10 November
Shesh Besh: The Arab Jewish Ensemble
Musicians from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Israeli-Arabic artists come together to celebrate connection, hope and humanity. Shesh Besh fuses the vibrant sounds of the Middle East with classical Western pieces and original compositions to express how music can unite people across divides. Read more about Shesh Besh in the Autumn 2026 issue of JR.
6.45pm. From £75. Central London location revealed upon booking. www.ipofoundationuk.com
Thursday 12 November
Daniel Asia: Pines’ Last Poems
The European premiere of composer, conductor and educator Daniel Asia’s Pines’ Last Poems, a classical memorial song comprising of four works by poet Paul Pines. Asia, whose Jewish heritage and identity have influenced his career, has also written settings of Psalms and Poetry by Yehuda Amichai and Breath in a Ram’s Horn: The Jewish Spirit in Classical Music. This performance is part of the London Festival of American Music.
7.30pm. £18, £15 concs. The Warehouse, SE1 8ST. www.soundandmusic.org
Sunday 15 November
West from Here: A tribute to Mati Caspi
Tsemach Productions joins JW3 for a tribute to the late Israeli songwriter and composer Matti Caspi. An ensemble of London-based musicians plays some of Caspi’s best known songs and singer Riki Gal performs her collaborations with the musician.
8pm. From £35. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 22 November
Son of a Cantor Man: The Music of Irving Berlin, Maury Yeston, Kurt Weill and Harold Arlen
Celebrate the music of some of the most famous songwriters of the 20th century, all of whom were descendants of esteemed Jewish cantors. Reflect on the influence that Jewish music had on their work, as a West End cast performs the music live.
7pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 3 – Tuesday 8 December
Bob Dylan
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has experimented with folk, blues, rock and many other musical styles throughout his six-decade career. His works draw on political, social, philosophical and literary influences, some of which explore his Jewish heritage and upbringing in Hibbing, Minnesota. Following the huge success of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, Dylan hits London’s Royal Festival Hall stage for five nights.
7.30pm. SOLD OUT. Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
TALKS
Sunday 11 October
The Merchant of Cable Street
Actor and writer Tracy-Ann Oberman MBE, novelist Howard Jacobson, director Brigid Larmour, and host Sir Trevor Phillips OBE discuss The Merchant of Cable Street – a modern twist on Shakespeare’s Venetian classic. Set in London’s Jewish East End, this production charts the rise of Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists and the Jewish residents, including Oberman’s great-grandmother, who stood against them. The panel explores Shakespeare, antisemitism, identity, and the enduring relevance of the Battle of Cable Street today.
6pm. £17.50. East London location provided upon booking. www.bod.org.uk
Wednesday 14 October
Jews Along the Silk Road
In 2011, a cache of Jewish documents that were discovered in a cave in Afghanistan dating back to 1000 CE. Shortly after, the world’s oldest siddur, from roughly 900 CE, featuring an early version of the Passover Haggadah, was found on the antiquities market. These findings prompted deeper research into the experiences of medieval Jews along the Silk Road, a network of ancient trade routes connecting China, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Gary Rendsburg discusses how the materials, including manuscripts, serve as a reminder that the history of Judaism needs to consider the broadest geographical and chronological horizons.
6.30pm. FREE. University College London, WC1E 6BT. www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanities/institute-jewish-studies
Wednesday 21 October
Viennese Modernism in British Exile: Austrian Émigré Designers and Artists in Britain, 1930–1950
Historian Elena Shapira uncovers the experiences of Viennese modernists, many of whom Jewish, who were forced to flee Austria for Britain and went on to help shape Austrian British culture. Hear the stories of architects Ernst Freud and Ella Briggs, designers Jacques and Jacqueline Groag and Josef Berger and Margarete Berger-Hamerschlag and more. Presented as part of the Austrian Cultural Forum’s Arc of History lecture series.
7pm. FREE. Austrian Cultural Forum, SW7 1PQ. www.acflondon.org
Thursday 22 October
Perpetrator & Victim
Mike Stone presents his portraits of Holocaust survivors, taken using a 1938 Leica camera and lenses made during Nazi-era Germany. With this work, he questions what it means to use old pieces of equipment made during an exploitative regime to document the faces of those whom the very same system tried to erase. This talk is part of the Wiener Holocaust Library’s current exhibition Perpetrator & Victim (see exhibitions for info).
6.30pm. FREE. Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Wednesday 28 October
Psychoanalysis and Laxatives: Philip Roth’s Composition of Portnoy’s Complaint
Philip Roth’s controversial novel Portnoy’s Complaint, about an erotomaniac named Alexander Portnoy, looks at how obsession impacts relationships, family and identity. Dr Andrew Dean delves further into the themes, looking at the book through a lens of Jewish masculinity.
6.30pm. FREE. University College London, WC1E 6BT. www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanities/institute-jewish-studies
Wednesday 4 November
Material Witness: Understanding the Objects of Auschwitz
Historian Professor Zoe Waxman presents the Alfred Wiener Holocaust Memorial Lecture, which looks at the impact that the remains preserved at Auschwitz concentration camp have on Holocaust history. Hear about how shoes, suitcases, brushes, glasses and even human hair can reveal more than just the scale of the horrific ordeals that occurred there.
6pm. FREE. ONLINE & The Wiener Holocaust Library, WC1B 5DP. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org
Tuesday 10 November
Phil Rosenberg and Lord Leigh of Hurley in Conversation
Join the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, and the president of Westminster Synagogue, Lord Howard Leigh of Hurley, in conversation. The former was appointed to his position at 38 years old, making him the youngest president in the Board’s 264-year history. Followed by a Q&A.
7.30pm. £20. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
Wednesday 11 November
Sam Gardner
Maralyn Turgel tells the extraordinary story of her father, Holocaust survivor Sam Gardner, who was born in Pietrokow, Poland in 1925 before the Germans invaded in 1939. Hear of his experience as a slave labourer, in various concentration camps and his ‘death journey’ in a cramped cattle truck, where only 42 of 2,000 survived. He was sent to Mauthausen, which was liberated by Americans and was taken to Windermere as a child refugee, before settling in Manchester.
7pm. FREE. Chipping Barnet Library, EN5 4QT. www.barnet-libraries.played.co
Thursday 12 November
Refugee Lives: Stories of Exile, Resilience, and Community
The Association of Jewish Refugees traces the lives of German-speaking Jewish refugees and émigrés, who fled Nazi persecution, and explores the lasting impact these stories have on British Jews today.
7pm. £10. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 17 November
The Jews of Florence & Tuscany
Deborah Jay discusses the complex and often overlooked history of Jewish life in Florence and Tuscany. Learn about the role Jews played in the city’s cultural and economic landscape, from Napoleon’s emancipation of Jews in 1789, through Nazism and the ‘Risanamento’ (renewal) of Italian cities in the 19th century, which saw Florence’s former Jewish ghetto transformed into a prominent piazza.
2pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Wednesday 18 November
Jewish Patrons: The Career Choices of Pierre-Auguste Renoir
To coincide with the National Gallery’s show Renoir and Love (see exhibitions), art historian Sophie Lachowsky examines the impressionist artist’s complex relationship with his Jewish patrons and the evolution of his artistic style.
7.15pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Thursday 19 November
Commemoration of the Exodus of Jews from Arab Countries and Iran
Communal leaders and diplomats join Harif and JW3 to commemorate the exodus of Jews from Arab countries and Iran. This year’s theme is Jews of Egypt: 70 Years since Suez, and features live testimonies, music from Guy Schalom and his band, the chance to browse Harif’s exhibition celebrating London’s Sephardi culture, and a light reception.
7pm. £10. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 29 November
A Tale of Two Cities, One Legacy
Architect Ittai Frank leads a (virtual) exploration of early 20th-century Europe from the comfort of JW3. This two-part lecture focuses on Jewish émigrés who settled in pre-war Britain, the radical ideas they bought with them, and the new communities they forged for themselves.
2pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 1 December
Willesden Jewish Cemetery: Legends in Jewish History
Tour guide Stephen Burstin swaps the streets for cinema seats in this virtual tour of Willesden Jewish Cemetery. Discover the 140-year story of the burial ground and its residents, including a famous scientist, royal illusionist, ‘Lady Chutzpah’ and more.
2.30pm. £20. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 13 December
Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Alyth Choral Society presents Mendelssohn’s Elijah for their winter concert.
7pm. £23. North Western Reform Synagogue, NW11 7EN. www.alyth.org.uk
THEATRE
until Saturday 10 October
Holy Fool
Celebrated composer Dmitiri Shostakovich and Joseph Stalin had a famously fraught cat-and-mouse relationship. Holy Fool explores the power the dictator wielded over the musician’s life and the codes hidden in Shostakovich’s works that simultaneously exposes and conceals his overt compliance and inner defiance, in a story exploring tyranny, courage, resistance and human spirit.
7.30pm, 3pm (Thu & Sat only). £22.50. Park Theatre, N4 3JP. www.parktheatre.co.uk
until Sunday 18 October
From the Heart
Jewish lyricist Don Black returns to the West End to pay tribute to the New York cabaret scene. Enjoy a selection of well-known hits as well as new songs co-written by artists including Gary Barlow, Natasha Bedingfield and Debbie Wiseman. An award-winning cast leads proceedings, with a surprise guest every show.
3pm, 7.30pm. From £35. The Garrick Theatre, WC2H 0HH. www.thegarricktheatre.co.uk
until Saturday 7 November
The Banality of Evil: Hannah Arendt, France, 1940
Julia Pascal’s latest work combines satire, physical theatre and cabaret to tell the true story of three German Jewish ‘undesirables’ in 1940. Hannah Arendt, who later became one of the 20th century’s most influential political theorists, artist Charlotte Salomon and Communist schoolgirl Eva Daube were imprisoned in Camp Gurs and faced an impossible decision – stay and hope for liberation or risk their lives to escape into an uncertain world? Discover more about the pivotal moment that shaped the writings of 33-year-old Arendt on power and human rights. Read more in the Autumn 2026 issue of JR.
7pm, 6.30pm (Fri & Sat), 3pm (Sat only). From £15. Arcola Theatre, E8 3DL. www.arcolatheatre.com
Until Saturday 10 April 2027
Sinatra the Musical
Explore the man behind the icon in Sinatra the Musical, Joe DiPietro’s new West End show based on the life and career of legendary artist Frank Sinatra. From the New York performance that changed his life as a 27-year-old Italian American to his prolific affairs and tumultuous relationship with the press. His greatest hits, such as ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ and ‘Send in the Clowns’, were written by Jewish American composers, and the singer was known for passionately defending Jews and the State of Israel. The show features over 20 timeless hits, including ‘That’s Life’ and ‘Come Fly with Me’.
7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat only). From £20. Aldwych Theatre, WC2B 4DF. www.aldwychtheatre.com
Thursday 15 October – Saturday 28 November
The Pianist
Thom Southerland’s stage adaptation of Polish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman’s best-selling memoir pays tribute to the golden age of Jewish Warsaw, reflecting on his experiences there during World War II and the Holocaust. Virtuoso performers depict the pre-war vibrant music culture of the city before Nazi persecution destroyed it and Szpilman was forced into hiding.
7.30pm, 3pm (Thu & Sat only). From £15. Park Theatre, N4 3JP. www.parktheatre.co.uk
Thursday 22 October – Saturday 21 November
Memoriam
Noga Flaishon’s play focuses on a tech company working to extract and repackage human memories as immersive virtual reality experiences. Employee Rachel sets out to preserve the memories of her grandmother, Rivka, the last living Holocaust survivor, in this format. Explore the triumphs and tribulations of commodifying lived histories, and the ways trauma is perceived and passed on, in the UK premiere of Memoriam, following its critically acclaimed US run.
7pm, 2.30pm (Tue & Sat only). From £28, from £22.50 concs. Southwark Playhouse Borough, SE1 6BD. www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Sunday 1 November
Joyfully Jewish: Strangers in a Strange Land
Echoes Theatre Company and The Jewish Cabaret present new, comedic short plays and original songs that focus on the highs and lows of global Jewish migration.
7pm. £18. JW3, NW3, 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 6 December – Sunday 3 January
Dick Whittingberg Gets into a Pickle
Since creating the first ever Jewish panto in 2023, Nick Cassenbaum has returned annually with a new fun-fuelled farce. This year is no different, with a twist on the classic story of Dick Whittington. Journeying to London to find his fortune, Dick Whittingberg encounters magic cats and evil rats, with a sprinkling of songs, baddies and gags along the way.
Times vary. From £27, from £17 children. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Tuesday 20 October
An East End Village: Mile End and Stepney
Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kolsky leads a walking tour through London’s East End. She’ll explore Jewish landmarks, including the Sephardi Novo cemetery, Stepney Jewish School and the Rothschild dwellings.
11am. £20. Meeting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 1 November
Jewish Life, Heritage and Hidden Stories
A gentle stroll around Willesden Jewish Cemetery, exploring the stories of those buried there.
11am. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 8 November
London's Jewish History over the Centuries
Marc Gardiner leads a group from Aldgate across the City, sharing the fascinating story of London’s Jews from medieval times to today. Alongside key historical sites, he’ll talk about the experiences of those brought to England by William the Conqueror, their expulsion under Edward I, the resettlement under Cromwell and subsequent Jewish immigration.
2pm. £20. London meeting point provided upon booking. www.jw3.org.uk
Sunday 22 November & Sunday 13 December
Mitzvah Day: Jewish Communal Leaders
Learn about former communal leaders who’ve been buried at Willesden Jewish Cemetery, including chief rabbis, philanthropists and educators.
11am, 12.30pm. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 6 December& Sunday 20 December
Hidden Histories: The Stories of Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Discover the stories behind the familiar and lesser-known of those buried at Willesden Jewish Cemetery. Hear about how Tesco got its name, the uproar surrounding the site’s first burial and the real story behind the discovery of DNA in this walk in the grounds of nearly 30,000 graves.
11am. £10, £8 concs. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
WALKS
WORKSHOPS
Saturday 24 October
Exploring Light
Rediscover the meaning of light, from physical to metaphorical, life-giving to life sustaining, in this workshop. Explore the many Jewish perspectives on the notion, which has been thought on by rabbis, scholars, poets and mystics for millions of years.
2pm. £20-£25. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org
Sunday 25 October
Traditional Jewish Craft Day
Engage in crafts such as candle making, stone carving and spinning wool for tzitzit (the tassels attached to traditional Jewish garments) at Sadeh, the UK’s only Jewish community working farm and education centre. No prior experience required.
10.30am. From £15. Sadeh Farm, Skeet Hill House, BR6 7QA. www.sadehfarm.co.uk
Saturday 31 October
How to Talk to the Dead in Yiddish
Annie Gottfried Cohen discusses the cemetery customs practised by Jewish women in Eastern Europe. She’ll explore the belief that, on certain occasions in the Jewish calendar, the souls of the dead would gather by their graves, and how the dead could be called upon to help the living. In this special Halloween workshop, participants will also have the chance to try the tradition of feldmestn (cemetery measuring), with all necessary materials provided in both Yiddish and English.
3pm. £10, £5 concs. Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, E3 4PX. www.jargon.org.uk
Sunday 8 November
40 Years of Polin, Studies in Polish Jewry: Past, Present and Future
Commemorate 40 years of Polin: A Journal of Polish Jewish Studies in a one-day symposium. Created by scholars from Poland, North America and Israel who joined Antony Polonsky’s initiative, the volumes reflect on East European Jewish history and culture, addressing difficult and contentious issues. Keynote speakers include Professor Dariusz Stola, director of the Polin Museum of History of Polish Jews, and founder Polonsky, who is also the co-chair of the journal’s Board of Editors.
10am. FREE. ONLINE & University College London, WC1E 6BT. www.tickettailor.com/events/uclinstituteofjewishstudies/2426648
Sunday 22 November
Mitzvah Day
Enjoy a Jewish-led interfaith morning of volunteering in the tranquil grounds of Willesden Jewish Cemetery. Mitzvah Day invites all ages to help support the site’s biodiversity and wildlife by collecting leaves, twigs and weeds for its composting programme.
10.30am. FREE. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, NW10 2JE. www.willesdenjewishcemetery.org.uk
Sunday 22 November
Sigd
Celebrate the Ethiopian Jewish festival of Sigd, a day of fasting to celebrate the relationship between Jews and God. JW3 presents an afternoon of music and storytelling for those familiar with and wishing to discover Sigd for the first time. Hear first-hand stories of life in Gondar city, enjoy traditional Ethiopian dance and music, sample local coffee and food, and browse unique handcrafted items from the community.
12pm. FREE. JW3, NW3 6ET. www.jw3.org.uk
Friday 27 November
Czech Scrolls Commemorative Service
A memorial service for the Jewish communities of Hořovice, Horažd’ovice and Přeštice who perished in the Holocaust. Hear readings from their Bar and Bat Mitzvah and festival service scrolls, remember their past and celebrate Jewish life today.
6.30pm. FREE. Westminster Synagogue, SW7 1BX. www.westminstersynagogue.org