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Bevis Marks: Britain’s Most Significant Synagogue

Virtually explore four galleries dedicated to the UK’s oldest synagogue that’s still active. Bevis Marks was erected in 1701 following the resettlement of Jews in the UK in 1656. Its Wren-style interior remains unchanged, reflecting the influence of the great Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam of 1675. The synagogue embraced a new Sephardi community, led by Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel of Amsterdam, who acted as a Jewish ambassador to Oliver Cromwell. The services at Bevis Marks are today made up of Jews with Sephardi, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi backgrounds.

ONLINE. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk 

 

David Breuer-Weil: Golden Drawings

A virtual exhibition of illuminated drawings made in isolation by London artist David Breuer-Weil, who’s well known for his huge bronze sculptures. He started the series on day one of lockdown as a form of meditation. Executed in pencil on paper with gold leaf, the pieces reflect different aspects of the current pandemic and the human condition. The series is partly inspired by medieval apocalyptic manuscripts that were often illuminated with gold leaf to give an otherworldly sense of reality, and were often produced in periods of great upheaval. Read more about this project in the Jan 2021 issue of JR.

ONLINE. www.davidbreuerweil.com

John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester

The Many Faces of the Rylands’ Jewish Manuscripts

Manchester university celebrates the digital revolution by compiling 30 years of Hebrew manuscripts. The 400+ articles display exemplary literary and artistic style, spanning the 14th to 19th centuries, including an early 1400s Sephardi Haggadah and a text of Nachmanides' Commentary on the Pentateuch, containing illuminations by the Florentine artist Francesco Antonio del Cherico. The curators owe their thanks to the collections of Enriqueta Rylands, who founded the John Rylands Library in 1900, and Moses Gaster, the Haham (Chief Rabbi) of the Sephardi community in London. 

ONLINE. www.manchester.ac.uk 

 

Memory Map of the Jewish East End

Artist and writer Rachel Lichtenstein and The Bartlett research units present a new digital resource that allows you to explore former sites of Jewish memory in east London. On it you will find photographs and essays of more than 70 sites in the area, plus audio interviews with residents and testimony from the collection at Sandys Row, the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in the capital.

ONLINE. https://jewisheastendmemorymap.org


Jewish Museum London

Jewish Britain: A History in 50 Objects

Highlights from the Jewish Museum London’s extensive collection. Each object tells a story about the history of the Jewish community in Britain, from medieval to modern times.

ONLINE. www.jewishmuseumlondon.org.uk

University of Durham

Bridging Identities: The Cultural Odyssey of Kurdistani Jews

Kurdistani Jews weaved an intricate tapestry of experiences and stories during their migration to Israel, and this exhibition intertwines historical events and personal aspirations to tell their stories. See how languages and encounters adapt from one generation to the next and from one country to another.

No end date specified.

ONLINE. www.stories.durham.ac.uk

BOOKS & POETRY

 

Thursday 8 October

Amber Nickell: Brotherlands to Bloodlands

Dr Amber Nickell discusses Brotherlands to Bloodlands: Ethnic Germans and Jews in Southern Ukraine, Late Tsarist to Postwar, which won her the 2025 Ernst Fraenkel Prize. Her book explores the everchanging relationship between Germans and Jews in Southern Ukraine from the period of the 18th-century and over both World Wars, looking into how their interactions shifted from amicable to sinister; intergroup violence; perpetrator mindsets and much more.

6.30pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.wienerholocaustlibrary.org

AVAILABLE INDEFINITELY

There is Sweet Music Here: The World of Wigmore Hall

Julia Boyd speaks to Ian Skelly about her new book, which explores the 125-year evolution of Wigmore Hall, and the artists and performances that make up its rich history. The Edwardian venue, which was designed by the same architect behind The Savoy Hotel, was a sanctuary for refugee Jewish musicians during World War II and showcased music by composers banned by the Nazis, including Gustav Mahler.

FREE. ONLINE. www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/podcasts/there-is-sweet-music-here-the-world-of-wigmore-hall

The History Podcast: Half Life

Welsh author Joe Dunthorne reads through his new book, Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance, based on the discovery of his German Jewish great-grandfather Siegfried Merzbacher’s memoir. Spanning almost 2,000 pages, Merzbacher, who manufactured radioactive toothpaste and worked on developing chemical warfare for the Nazis, documented his family’s dramatic escape from Nazi Germany. Featuring interviews with members of Dunthorne’s family, including his grandmother, and music by Jeremy Warmsley.

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002c4x0

Unseen: Photographs by Wolf Suschitzky, Dorothy Bohm and Neil Libbert

Three photographers, Wolf Suschitzky, Dorothy Bohm and Neil Libbert, present their responses to London, Paris and New York, photographing it without prejudice or expectation.

FREE. ONLINE. www.benuri.org

FILM & TV

 

Thursday 19 November

Capturing Kennedy

Discover the little-known story of Holocaust survivor Jacques Lowe, who went from the horrors of World War II to becoming the personal photographer to John F Kennedy. Newly uncovered historic interviews document Lowe’s experience and explore some of the most iconic images he took during America’s 35th president’s time in office.

Time tbc. FREE. Streaming on various TV platforms. www.capturingkennedy.com

Available indefinitely

The Last Spy

Age is just a number for 102-year-old Peter Sichel who, despite heavy dissuasion from the CIA, tells the unredacted story of his life as a spymaster in the OSS, America’s first intelligence agency. His memoirs reveal the lesser-known side of espionage throughout the Cold War, the accusations of him being a Soviet spy and questions over his allegiances. Katharina Otto-Bernstein presents the true story of a man who lived an extraordinary life through his rose-tinted glasses with wit and wisdom.

FREE. ONLINE. www.thelastspy.film

Orphan

Set in Hungary, 1957, a boy is reunited with his mother shortly after the failed revolution against Soviet rule. After being told his father died during the war, the boy longs to confront the truth. Hungarian director, writer and producer László Nemes, best known for the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama Son of Saul, presents the complexities of a Jewish community rebuilding itself following destruction in this new film. Read more about Orphan in the Spring 2026 issue of JR.

www.mubi.com

Stork of Hope

Based on true events, Stork of Hope tells the story of two brothers, Ilya and Sascha, who lose both their parents when they’re just eight and 12. The film traces the brothers’ harrowing journey, which sees them separated for 65 years before a long-awaited reunion. Directed by Alexander Franskevich-Leie, Stork of Hope is a poignant reminder that even in the darkest days of war, love and hope can prevail for a lifetime. Available to stream in the UK from 5 January.

FREE. ONLINE. www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/stork-of-hope

Book of Joshua: Walls of Jericho

In biblical Judaism, Joshua was instructed by Hashem to lead a procession while carrying holy texts around the fortress of Jericho for seven days. This intricately animated feature film recounts the story, where poorly armed Israelites faced the fierce soldiers of the city and managed to bring the mighty walls crashing down with their faith.

FREE. ONLINE. www.partingseasproductions.com

Solomon & Gaenor

In what may be the only time you will hear Welsh and Yiddish spoken in the same film, Solomon & Gaenor is an Oscar-nominated classic shining a rare spotlight on the little-known Welsh Jewish community. The touching and memorable love story focuses on two young people –Jewish Solomon, who hides his Orthodox heritage, and Christian Gaenor, who wants to escape her stifling family life. Both risk their families’ wrath amidst a looming miner’s strike in the background, provoking tensions and prejudices, further threatening the lovers’ happiness.

£3.99. ONLINE. https://ukjewishfilm.org

Other People’s Children

A bittersweet drama following Rachel, a single Jewish woman nearing 40, who appears content with the life that sees her falling in love with Ali and his four-year-old daughter Leila. However, their relationship, while filling Rachel with joy, only serves to remind her of her own childlessness, resurfacing feelings of regret about not becoming a parent when she had the chance. A bittersweet drama following Rachel, a single Jewish woman nearing 40, who appears content with the life that sees her falling in love with Ali and his four-year-old daughter Leila. However, their relationship, while filling Rachel with joy, only serves to remind her of her own childlessness, resurfacing feelings of regret about not becoming a parent when she had the chance.

£4.99. ONLINE. https://ukjewishfilm.org

Daughter of the Waves: Memoirs of Growing Up in Pre-War Palestine

The relaunch of Ruth Jordan’s autobiography. This poignant memoir follows her upbringing in British Mandate Palestine, as well as her career as a journalist – she was the first female news presenter on the BBC World Service Hebrew Section – and beyond. Jordan’s children, Sharon and Oran Kivity, share their mother’s journey 40 years after the book’s first launch, and speak to a former colleague of Jordan’s, the journalist, author and music expert Norman Lebrecht, to remember her life and work.

FREE. ONLINE. www.youtube.com/watch?v=411_740BUBg

Birds of Passage

Hormazd Narielwalla’s 11th ‘bookwork’ (a piece of art that folds into a book) draws comparisons between certain members of gay communities and birds, both moving from country to country seeking somewhere to live safely and comfortably. It is inspired by the artist’s own motivation for migrating to the UK from India to celebrate his sexuality and creativity. Learn more in this intimate, video exploration of the artwork presented by the Ben Uri Gallery and narrated by Dr Shaun Cole, who wrote the introduction to Birds of Passage.

FREE. ONLINE. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuRrVGnoNCI

Servant of the People

When Jewish comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy co-wrote and starred in Servant of the People, a comedy series about a history teacher (Zelenskyy) who finds himself elected president, little did he know that life was to imitate art. Flash forward seven years since the show first aired, and Zelenskyy is not only Ukraine's heroic leader, but a household name internationally. It's no surprise then, that Channel 4 opted to interrupt its usual schedule of Sunday night reruns to screen the first three episodes. Catch up with them now on All 4. Read our review of Servant of the People on the JR blog.

FREE. ONLINE. www.channel4.com/programmes/servant-of-the-people 

MUSIC

 

AVailable indefinitely

Alex Weiser: In a Dark Blue Night

Following his Pulitzer Prize-nominated album And All the Days Were Purple, a love letter to New York City, Alex Weiser introduces his new album, In a Dark Blue Night, comprising of two song cycles exploring the city from complementary perspectives. The first cycle features five settings of Yiddish poetry, written by newly arrived immigrants to New York over the 1800s and 1900s, and the second, told through the recorded memories of Weiser’s late grandmother, features vivid, buoyant adventures about childhood in the bustling world of Coney Island in the late 1930s and 40s. Combined, the two cycles explore a little-known chapter of New York City’s history.

£7.93. Online download. www.alexweiser.bandcamp.com

Faiths in Tune

Get a taste of Faiths in Tune, the interfaith music festival that takes place annually in various locations around the world. This playlist of 20 videos features previous performances from different years and countries.

FREE. ONLINE. www.youtube.com/CoexistinterfaithOrgplus 

Music That Survived the Nazis

There’s a common idea that music created in Nazi Germany was only for propoganda. Historian Shirli Gibson clears up this misconception with a handful of rare and newly discovered recordings that show just how varied German musical output of the period was. In the first episode, she explores the music of the Jewish Culture League, as well two Jewish record labels, Lukraphon and Semer. Part Two is focused on music-making in the concentration camps and ghettos during World War II. Gibson takes a look at the stories that influenced the creative responses in a variety of ways. 

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct3c7z?utm

TALKS

 

Monday 12 October

Shanghai: The Port of Last Resort

Author Paul French looks into the 20,000 Jewish refugees who fled Germany and Austria in the late 1930s for Shanghai. He’ll also talk about his research into the young, mostly female Jews who then went on to the Portuguese-controlled Macao, who hoped to end up In the UK or US.

7.30pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.jcc.scot

Tuesday 13 October

October 7 in Graphic Novels

Israeli cartoonist Asaf Hanuka and writer and actor Omri Rose appear in conversation with Jonathan Sandler, exploring how they both retold the stories of the 7 October attacks. Hanuka is the co-creator of The Day Everything Changed: Ten Stories from October 7th and Rose co-wrote Echoes of October; both graphic novels revealed various aspects about the trauma, memories and experiences of the atrocities.

6.30pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk

Tuesday 13 October

Synagogues Under Changing Moroccan Rule

Architectural designer, curator, researcher and author Dr Dana Avrish explores how Moroccan Jews maintained their religious and communal identities amidst political, legal, social and cultural shifts under Muslim and colonial regimes.

7pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.harif.org

Monday 19 October

British Jews in 2026

Dr Jonathan Boyd of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research presents a fresh perspective on the evolution of British Jewry. He’ll explore how demographic trends, sociological forces, technological developments and political dynamics are shaping the experiences and perceptions of Britain’s Jews, and consider what these changes mean for the future sustainability of Jewish communities in the UK.

8pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.manchesterjewishstudies.org

Tuesday 27 October

Reaching Israel from Yemen and Aden: A Shared Jewish Struggle

Benjamin Berman-Gladstone (University of Pennsylvania) discusses how 20th-century Yemeni and Adeni Jews, who were divided by borders and cultural differences, found solidarity in their determination to move to Israel.

7.30pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.harif.org

Thursday 5 November

From the Creation of the World to the Creation of a Foetus: Pregnancy in Jewish Mystical and Magical Sources

Andrea Gondos discusses how Jews in the Middle Ages used magic, religious practice and traditional medicine to protect pregnant women and babies. She’ll touch on amulets that were worn, special prayers and sacred words that were said, herb and foods that were consumed and specific rituals that were performed to protect the expecting. Gondos explores the notion of pregnancy as a spiritual connection to the wider universe and will show an 18th-century Jewish birth amulet thought to repel Lilith – a mystical figure believed to threaten prenatal women, babies and newborns.

6pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanities/institute-jewish-studies

Tuesday 10 November

Did Zionists Cause Jews to Leave Arab Countries?

Lyn Julius discusses the exodus of Jews from Arab countries in the mid-20th century, and whether Zionists were behind it. Hear about the theory of ‘false-flag’ attacks – strikes that were said to be caused by Zionists, but made to look as though someone else carried them out – and whether they actually happened, who was responsible and how much they contributed to Jews leaving places such as Iraq and Egypt.  

7.30pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.harif.org

Wednesday 11 November

Gaze Matters - When Does a Picture Become an Idol?

At first glance, the Torah seems clear that idolatry is strictly condemned, yet it also commands the creation of visual artefacts. Beniamino Fortis looks at how and why the devotion to imagery happens, drawing on biblical texts, Greek philosophy and modern picture theories, arguing that idolisation doesn’t come from the appearance of an object but the way it is perceived. He’ll take a closer look at pictures, presence, representation and visual understanding to see why some pieces become so precious and why others don’t.

6pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanities/institute-jewish-studies

Available indefinitely

Jewish Medieval History at the Tower of London

Curator Charles Farris, Dr Rory MacLellan (University of Winchester) and historian Professor Miri Rubin (Queen Mary University of London) discuss the medieval Jewish community that once existed in England, drawing on research from Historic Royal Palaces, which has provided a nuanced picture of life at the time. Read more about Jewish Medieval History at the Tower of London in the Winter 2026 issue of JR.

FREE. ONLINE. www.historicroyalpalaces.libsyn.com/jewish-medieval-history-at-the-tower-of-london

Our Freedom: Then and Now

London’s JW3 marked 80 years since the end of World War II with an exhibition by people aged 18-35, exploring how the Holocaust is remembered by younger generations. This new podcast, featuring participants and artists who took part in the display, delves into what freedom means today for those living in the shadows of survivors, and how the stories of their ancestors shape their own sense of liberation.

FREE. ONLINE. www.production8x.podbean.com

What is the Right Pronoun to use for God?

Within its texts, Judaism affirms God’s supremacy beyond gender, however in further teachings and tradition, there is an overwhelming use of masculine imagery. This recording, made by Rabbi Louis Jacobs in 2005, argues the importance of neutral pronouns within the religion, especially for queer and non-binary worshippers to feel a sense of belonging, and to promote gender diversity.

FREE. ONLINE. www.buzzsprout.com/1859010/episodes/18036034

Bearing Witness: Documenting 7 October and its Aftermath

The National Library of Israel’s Bearing Witness Archive is an initiative that documents the events of 7 October and the aftermath. This discussion, which originally took place at Jewish Book Week, features the library’s head of collections Raqual Ukeles and historian Ilan Troen exploring the unprecedented scale of online coverage, vigils, rallies and memorials that have resulted from the Israel-Gaza war.

FREE. ONLINE. www.jewishliteraryfoundation.co.uk/videos/bearing-witness-documenting-7-october-its-aftermath

The Romani Holocaust

The destruction of the Roma by the Nazi state is sparsely understood and documented. Dr Barbara Warnock, Senior Curator and Head of Education at the Wiener Holocaust Library, is featured in this documentary about the Roma Genocide, which also features a representation of the first-hand account of a Sinti survivor of Auschwitz, held in the library’s archives.

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct6r9x

Auld Lang Schmooze

Edinburgh Jewish Cultural Centre’s podcast kicks off with an in-depth conversation with Jewish Renaissance editor Rebecca Taylor and writer David Ian Neville, talking about JR’s Summer 2023 issue and how each edition of the magazine is planned and produced.

FREE. ONLINE. www.jcc.scot

I Belong to Glazgoy

Dr Phil Alexander pieces together the story of Isaac Hirshow, a virtuosic Russian Jewish synagogue cantor and composer, who was one of thousands of Jewish immigrants who arrived in Glasgow from Warsaw in 1922. Alexander excavates Hirshow’s story through archive, oral history, poetry, early recordings and specially performed music.

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n1x7

The Black Cantor

Thomas LaRue Jones, an African-American tenor, was known as the Black Cantor, singing Jewish music in the early decades of the 20th century. His soulful voice and perfect Yiddish pronunciation propelled him to fame, performing in synagogues and theatres across America’s East Coast and around Europe. However, after his death in 1954, LaRue Jones all but disappeared from history, leaving behind only one recording, made in 1923. Journalist Maria Margaronis unpacks the mystery of the Black Cantor’s career, looking at what drew him to the music, what his life tells us about race, faith and identity in America 100 years ago, and why he was so quickly forgotten.

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fj1ylk

The Cockney Yiddish Podcast

Historians Nadia Valman and Vivi Lachs’ new podcast explores the unknown popular Yiddish culture of London’s East End against a backdrop of stories and songs from the 1880s to the 1950s. With special guests, including broadcaster Alan Dein and actor and comedian David Schneider, the hosts journey through music halls and street markets to revive London’s old East End. There are seven episodes in the series, six in English and one in Yiddish.

FREE. ONLINE. www.cockneyyiddish.org

Jewish Quest: Between the Lines Series

This weekly podcast provides a space where Jewish conversation can be free of denominational constraints, inspiring a deep love and knowledge of Jewish learning, teaching and debate. Previous speakers include Zvi Koenigsberg, Professor Mark Leuchter, Dr Kristine Henriksen Garroway and Chazan Jaclyn Chernett.

FREE. ONLINE. https://jewishquest.org 

Anne Frank’s Stepsister: How I Survived Auschwitz 

This raw and unfiltered two-part documentary offers a rare insight into the Frank family’s experience during the Holocaust. It’s a personal account by Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s step-sister and friend, who describes Anne humorously as ‘Miss Quack-Quack’ (a reference to her chatty personality). In the first episode, Schloss describes her life before Auschwitz and her family’s eventual capture. In part two, she focuses on her experience of the liberation of Auschwitz and her efforts to keep her brother Heinz’s memory alive.  

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1k4b 

Hardtalk: David Baddiel

BBC World Service presenter Stephen Sacker speaks to writer and comedian David Baddiel, who has a gift for finding the funny in some of the darkest corners of the human psyche. Now he is taking on modern culture, which is often toxic, and asks: is comedy becoming a victim of the culture wars? Baddiel gives as good as he gets in this frank, intelligent one-to-one interview that lives up to its name.

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1n6f

London’s Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony 2022

The capital marked Holocaust Memorial Day online again this year, featuring a moving address by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, alongside testimonies by Holocaust survivor Steven Frank BEM and Eric Murangwa Eugene MBE, survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Violinist Emmanuel Bach opened and closed the event with renditions of Bach’s Sola Sonatas. Watch the entire live-stream of the ceremony on the Mayor’s Office London YouTube channel. 

FREE. ONLINE. www.jmi.org.uk 

 

Opera Arias Reinvented and Holocaust Survivor Rachel Levy

Celebrate the achievements of Jewish women in this two-part podcast. Hear from violinist Charlotte Maclet about the award-winning, all-female string quartet Zaïde, and Rachel Levy, who is one of seven Holocaust survivors featured in the Portraits of the Holocaust project commissioned by the Prince of Wales.

FREE. ONLINE. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013rn0

How Things are Done in Odessa

The city of Odesa has been at the heart of attacks by Russia in its war against Ukraine. It is famously fiercely independent from Moscow and Kyiv, and its legendary past and position as a nexus of global trade has given the city a distinctive character. Narrating this Odesan story are musician Alec Kopyt, shipping proprietor Roman Morgenshtern, journalist Vlad Davidzon, translator Boris Dralyuk, and poets Boris and Lyudmila Khersonsky.sav

FREE. ONLINE. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0ctvzj8

The Exchange - Breaking with Tradition

Former Chasidic Jew Emily and ex-Amish person John both grew up in strict religious communities that heavily governed their lives and maintained a degree of separation from the ‘secular’ world. Together, they discuss the challenges of living with rules they found impossible to relate to and the difficulties they faced while adjusting to life on ‘the outside’.

FREE. ONLINE. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001brqg 

THEATRE

 

Available indefinitely

The End of the Night

A chance to stream Ben Brown’s phenomenal play, The End of the Night, directed by Alan Strachan and performed at Park Theatre. A singular meeting between a Jew and a Nazi during World War II is the main focus. As the war is coming to an end, Dr Felix Kersten, Himmler’s personal physiotherapist, uses his unique position of influence to facilitate a meeting between the architect of the Holocaust and Swedish Jew Norbert Masur, a member of the World Jewish Congress. Can Masur and Kersten turn Himmler’s thoughts away from the downfall of the Third Reich and towards a course of action that could save thousands of lives? It’s a joint attempt to release the last surviving Jews from concentration camps, contrary to Hitler’s orders that no Jew should outlast the regime. Read our review of The End of the Night on the JR blog and hear our interview with playwright Ben Brown on JR OutLoud.

From £20/a. ONLINE. https://originaltheatreonline.com 

Otvetka

Under the shadow of an imminent Russian attack, a woman tries to hold her shattered life together after the father of her unborn child is killed in the Donbas region by a sniper. Suddenly, her phone pings with a delighted message from a friend on the other side of the border, inviting her to a wedding. How will she respond? Written by leading Ukrainian playwright Neda Nezhdana, this explosive monodrama confronts not only the war between Russia and Ukraine, but increased unrest sparked by fake news around the world. Dedicated to Ukrainian opera singer Vasyl Slipak, who went to war as a volunteer and died in the trenches of Donbas after being shot by a sniper, Otvetka (meaning ‘answers’ and ‘retaliation’ in Ukrainian) is currently being performed in Ukraine, despite constant interruptions from air-raid sirens. This stream is part of Finborough Theatre’s new digital initiative, #FinboroughFrontier, and part of the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Reading Series, a collaboration with the Theatre of Playwrights in Kyiv to read new Ukrainian plays around the world.

FREE. ONLINE. www.youtube.com/finboroughtheatre

Wednesday 28 October

Jewish Authors Summit

This six-hour online workshop equips Jewish writers with practical tools to progress in their career. At a time of rising antisemitism, event cancellations and few publicity opportunities, 70 Faces Media provides hands-on digital training; tools for audience growth; Substack, social media and podcast guidance; and insights from Jewish publishers and authors.

5pm. FREE. ONLINE. www.70facesmedia.org

Wednesday 18 November – Wednesday 2 December

From Hastings to Hockney: Narrative and Nationhood in British art

In tribute to the recent passing of David Hockney, explore how artists have shaped ideas of identity, belonging and nationhood through their works. This three-part course, timed simultaneously with the return of the Bayeux Tapestry – a visual narrative created after the Norman Conquest – to Britain, looks at who gets to tell history, the representation of power, and how ideas of sovereignty are constructed and challenged.

3.30pm. £45, £40.50 concs. ONLINE. www.nationalgallery.org.uk

AVAILABLE INDEFINITELY

Alex Weiser: ‘in a dark blue night’

Following his Pulitzer Prize-nominated album And All the Days Were Purple, a love letter to New York City, Alex Weiser introduces his new album, ‘in a dark blue night’, comprising two song cycles exploring the city from complementary perspectives. The first cycle features five settings of Yiddish poetry, written by newly arrived immigrants to New York over the 1800s and 1900s, and the second, told through the recorded memories of Weiser’s late grandmother, features vivid, buoyant adventures about childhood in the bustling world of Coney Island in the late 1930s and 40s. Combined, the two cycles explore a little-known chapter of New York City’s history. Read our interview with Alex Weiser in the Summer 2024 issue of JR.

£7.93. ONLINE. www.alexweiser.bandcamp.com

WORKSHOPS

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

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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

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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

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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

CORNWALL 

Saturday 14 November

The Amy Winehouse Band: Back to Black 20th Anniversary Tour

The late Amy Winehouse’s original band present a major UK tour celebrating 20 years of the singer’s defining album, Back to Black. The work propelled her to global stardom and received five GRAMMY Awards, and this performance pays tribute to her musical legacy. The band toured and recorded with Winehouse throughout her career and will visit various venues across the UK over more than 50 dates.

7.30pm. From £48.94. Truro Hall for Cornwall, TR1 2LL. www.theamywinehouseband.com

MUSIC

DORSET

Wednesday 25 November

Bob Dylan

A chance to see legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan live. Throughout his six-decade career, he’s experimented with folk, blues, rock and many other musical styles. 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 UK stages, performing in London (3-8 Dec), Birmingham (26 Nov), Sheffield (27 Nov) and Blackpool (30 Nov & 1 Dec).

8pm. From £96.50. Bournemouth International Centre, BH2 5BC. www.bic.co.uk

MUSIC

THEATRE

 

Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 October

Present Laughter

A revival of Noël Coward’s 1939 play, which for the first time stars a woman in the lead role of megastar Garry Essendine (now Geri). Tracy-Ann Oberman embodies Geri as she’s about to embark on a tour of Africa and finds herself weighed down by the adoration of fans and lovers, not to mention her estranged husband. Can she separate herself from her stardom – and does she even want to? See this touring production to find out.

2.30pm, 7pm. From £20. Lighthouse Poole, BH15 1UG. www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

GREATER MANCHESTER

Friday 30 October

The Amy Winehouse Band: Back to Black 20th Anniversary Tour

The late Amy Winehouse’s original band present a major UK tour celebrating 20 years of the singer’s defining album, Back to Black. The work propelled her to global stardom and received five GRAMMY Awards, and this performance pays tribute to her musical legacy. The band toured and recorded with Winehouse throughout her career and will visit various venues across the UK over more than 50 dates.

7.30pm. From £37.95. The Bridgewater Hall, M2 3WS. www.theamywinehouseband.com

Thursday 19 November

Rayzl: Singing the Archive

Vocalist Rayzl explores the musical world of Manchester’s Jewish theatrical community from 1900-1950 through Yiddish opera, popular songs from the time, musical theatre pieces and synagogue music. Her performance is accompanied by illustration and narration, drawing on Manchester Jewish Museum’s collection of posters, programmes and memoirs.

7pm. From £10. Manchester Jewish Museum, M8 8LW. www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com

MUSIC

Sunday 11 October

Does the Media Portray British Muslims and Jews Fairly?

A panel of two Jewish and two Muslim journalists discuss whether or not their faiths are reported fairly in the media. Followed by a Q&A.

2.30pm. FREE. Salford Civic Centre, Salford, M27 5AW. www.muslimjewish.org.uk

TALKS

Saturday 28 November

Long After the Labyrinth

Explore the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete in a new play inspired by the Greek mythology of the Minotaur. Text, movement and shadow-play feature in a performance following Rena Depas, a young girl who watches helplessly from her hiding place as her family is rounded up and loaded into trucks, all while a horned shadow looms in the distance.

7pm. £16. Manchester Jewish Museum, M8 8LW. www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com

THEATRE

until Thursday 8 July 2027

Art and Music Insights

Explore the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete in a new play inspired by the Greek mythology of the Minotaur. Text, movement and shadow-play feature in a performance following Rena Depas, a young girl who watches helplessly from her hiding place as her family is rounded up and loaded into trucks, all while a horned shadow looms in the distance.

1.30pm. £75, £10 per session. Menorah Synagogue, M22 4RZ. www.menorah.org.uk

Sunday 25 October & Sunday 29 November

Jewish Genealogy Drop-In

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain (JGSGB) makes their monthly visit to Manchester Jewish Museum. Drop in and ask them any questions you have about your family roots and heritage.

12pm. FREE. Manchester Jewish Museum, M8 8LW. www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com

Sunday 1 November

Klezmer Tune Club & Klezjam

A klezmer workshop for all abilities and instruments. Led by Daniel Mawson and Richard Fay, explore the traditional instrumental sounds of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews and compose a new arrangement. Followed by a causal, inclusive open folk session for players, listeners and minglers alike.

10.30am. FREE. Manchester Jewish Museum, M8 8LW. www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com

WORKSHOPS

HAMPSHIRE 

Wednesday 28 October

Not Only for Ourselves: The Jewish Council for Racial Equality

Dr Joseph Finlay discusses the history of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) as part of Black History Month. Founded in 1976, JCORE was the primary, if not only, British Jewish group campaigning for social justice, migrant rights and anti-racism. Learn about JCORE’s Black-Jewish Forum, which took place in the 1990s and 2002, and how Jews have fought against racial discrimination throughout history. Read more about JCORE in the Autumn 2026 issue of JR.

6pm. FREE. ONLINE & University of Southampton, SO17 1BF. www.hiasjcore.org

TALKS

LANCASHIRE

MUSIC

 

Monday 30 November & Tuesday 1 December

Bob Dylan

A chance to see legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan live. Throughout his six-decade career, he’s experimented with folk, blues, rock and many other musical styles. 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 UK stages, performing in London (3-8 Dec), Birmingham (26 Nov) and Sheffield (27 Nov).

7.30pm. From £95.45. Blackpool Opera House, FY1 1HU. www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk  

MIDLANDS

Thursday 26 November

Bob Dylan

A chance to see legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan live. Throughout his six-decade career, he’s experimented with folk, blues, rock and many other musical styles. 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 UK stages, performing in London (3-8 Dec), Sheffield (27 Nov) and Blackpool (30 Nov & 1 Dec).

7.30pm. From £85. BP Pulse Live, Birmingham, B40 1NT. www.bppulselive.co.uk

MUSIC

Friday 25 – Wednesday 30 December

Limmud Festival

Immerse yourself in Jewish life at one of the UK’s biggest celebrations of Judaism, with an unparalleled line-up of speakers, fascinating sessions and a vibrant, inclusive community spirit. From renowned educators to award-winning performers, Limmud Festival unites some of the best in Jewish talent to create an unforgettable experience.

Times vary. With accommodation: £819-£1129, £719-£970 (Sat-Wed), £645-£864 (Sun-Wed); Festival only: £42-£140/day. Hilton Birmingham Metropole, B40 1PP. www.limmud.org

WORKSHOPS

OXFORDSHIRE

Monday 9 November

Shesh Besh: The Arab Jewish Ensemble

Musicians from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Israeli-Arabic artists come together to celebrate dialogue, hope and humanity that defies borders. Shesh Besh uses the vibrant sounds of the Middle East, classical pieces and original compositions to express how music can unite and connect people across divides. Read more about Shesh Besh in the Autumn 2026 issue of JR.

7pm. From £10. Central Oxford location revealed upon booking. www.ipofoundationuk.com

MUSIC

SCOTLAND 

Wednesday 28 October

An Intimate Conversation with God: A Talmudic Narrative of Personal Struggle

Educator Leah Rosenthal leads a session exploring the thoughts and feelings of Amora Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat, a central Talmudic character who experienced loss and suffering before emerging stronger and deeply committed to his religious role.

6.30pm. ONLINE & Scotland location provided upon sign up. www.jcc.scot

WORKSHOPS

SUSSEX 

Brighton and Hove Jewish Community, Hove

The Brighton Jewish Art Exhibition

A presentation of works by Brighton and Hove’s local Jewish community, plus the chance to meet the artists, connect with likeminded others and enjoy a relaxed, interactive afternoon at the Jewish centre.

1 November

BN3 4AD. 01273 750333. www.bnjc.co.uk

art

Sunday 22 November

Annie Hall

Watch Woody Allen’s 1970 romantic comedy Annie Hall and enjoy a delicious three-course, kosher meal. The film follows neurotic, sensitive, Jewish New York funny man Alvy Singer, as he reflects on his relationship with aspiring songstress Annie Hall through a series of flashbacks. Discover their ups and downs of their journey, including their different backgrounds, ambitions and insecurities through a lens of humour and emotional honesty.

6.15pm. £6 (without food), £26 (with food). Ralli Hall Community Centre, BN3 3TH. www.rallihall.com  

FILM & TV

Sunday 25 October

Brighton Walking tour with a Jewish Twist

Marc Gardiner leads a walk through central Brighton discussing the area’s Jewish history, which has spanned three centuries. Hear about how Jews experienced life there, exploring key sites, institutions, events and the former residents that helped shaped the seaside city, including the Jewish MPs and mayors.

10.30am. £20. Brighton Railway Station, BN1 3XP. www.bnjc.co.uk

WALKS

Sunday 18 October

Celebrating 30 Years of Israeli Dancing

Choreographer Ilai Szpiezak celebrates 30 years of Israeli dance with this dance class. No prior experience necessary.

2pm. £10. Ralli Hall Community Centre, Hove, BN3 3TH. www.rallihall.com

WORKSHOPS

WARWICKSHIRE

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Compton Verney, Warwick

The Pattern of Life: Enid Marx and Modern British Design

Millions of people came into contact with the work of Enid Marx (distant cousin of Karl), who designed seat patterns for the Tube, yet her name is not widely known. In this first retrospective of the London-born artist, visitors can see her fabric prints, notebooks and works-in-progress.

Until 3 January 2027

ART

YORKSHIRE 

Holocaust Centre North, Huddersfield

Between Life and Death

Discover the experiences of Holocaust survivors and rescuers from 15 European countries in this travelling exhibition, which was originally displayed at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. The work pays extra attention to diplomats who used their power to help those affected by the atrocities and explores the courage of those involved.

Until 29 October

HD1 3DH. 01484 471939. www.hcn.org.uk

The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Marc Chagall: The Circus

Uncover the life and work of Russian-French modernist Marc Chagall. The Hepworth brings together the complete set of lithographs from his 1967 series Le Cirque, which depicts scenes from a circus, alongside related paintings and essays by the artist. Though full of colour and joy, Chagall’s writings that accompany the pieces unearth a sense of loss, featuring memories of his Chasidic Jewish upbringing in Vitebsk (now Belarus) before he, along with millions of other Eastern European Jews, was forced to flee his homeland during the 20th century.

21 November 2026 – 25 April 2027

WF1 5AW. www.hepworthwakefield.org

ART

Friday 27 November

Bob Dylan

A chance to see legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan live. Throughout his six-decade career, he’s experimented with folk, blues, rock and many other musical styles. 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 UK stages, performing in London (3-8 Dec) and Blackpool (30 Nov & 1 Dec).

8pm. From £122.50. Utilita Arena Sheffield, S9 2DF. www.utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk

MUSIC

until Saturday 10 October

Present Laughter

A revival of Noël Coward’s 1939 play, which for the first time stars a woman in the lead role of megastar Garry Essendine (now Geri). Tracy-Ann Oberman embodies Geri as she’s about to embark on a tour of Africa and finds herself weighed down by the adoration of fans and lovers, not to mention her estranged husband. Can she separate herself from her stardom – and does she even want to? See this touring production to find out.

7.30pm, 2.30pm (Wed & Sat only). From £15.60. Grand Opera House York, YO1 9SW. www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york

THEATRE

available indefinitely

Sheffield Jewish Heritage Walking Trail

Download the Jewish Heritage Walking Trail app and head to Sheffield’s city centre, where you’ll virtually explore the stories, images and soundscapes related to locations steeped in Jewish history.

FREE. Sheffield City Centre, S1 2DJ. www.jewishheritagesheffield.co.uk

WALKS