Manchester Jewish Museum

Once again, synagogues and Jewish historic sites will be open all over the country.  There will be Heritage Trails, guided walks, a tour of the Houses of Parliament, led by Lord Janner and a host of exciting events associated with this year’s theme, ‘Art in Judaism’.    We celebrate the reopening of the magnificently refurbished Jewish Museum, with a tour of the Museum and a talk on their first exhibition, ‘Illuminations’, showing unique Hebrew treasures from the Vatican and  British collections.    Not to be missed, too, is the exhibition at the Ben Uri Art Gallery, ‘Cross Purposes’, showing in historic and artistic contexts striking, yet sensitive, interpretations by leading artists of the impact of the crucifixion on the Jewish people, including ‘The Apocalypse en Lilas, Capriccio’, the Gallery’s newly acquired picture by Chagall.

The Museum of London, which is now the proud owner of new £20m Galleries of Modern London, is holding several events and there will be an unusual opportunity of a tour of their London Archaeological Archives and Resource Centre.   The London Metropolitan Archives is organising a day-long conference, ‘Simcha’, focusing on art, music and theatre in London’s Jewish communities.  The art theme will also be explored at the British Association for Jewish Studies’ Annual Conference at Southampton University, entitled ‘The Image and Prohibition of the Image in Judaism’.

New exhibitions include ‘Photographs of the Old Jewish East End’, to be opened by Dr. Bill Fishman at the Bancroft Road Library in Tower Hamlets and ‘Ritual Textiles of the 21st Century’ at the Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue.    An exhibition at the Manchester Jewish Museum, ‘In the Red’ illustrates the influence of the Ashkenazi community housed in the 1840s-built Red Bank estate and the Museum will also be participating in the Cheetham Multi-Faith Festival as will the Higher Crumpsall and Higher Broughton Synagogue.

‘Klezmer in the Park’ will be returning to Regent’s Park for a fun-filled afternoon with toe-tapping music and a picnic on the grass (or a deck chair if you’re lucky!).

Other musical events include a New Year Concert and an Operetta Evening at the London Jewish Cultural Centre; and a Multimedia Presentation on ‘The Meaning of Selichot’ at the New London Synagogue.

We welcome on board for the first time this year the beautifully renovated Hampstead Synagogue;  the Wiener Library, where there will be a talk and a tour of the Library Collections;   the newly-built Birmingham Progressive Synagogue which is holding an art exhibition of works by Jewish artists and their own members;  and Southgate & District Reform Synagogue, where there will be a Study Evening.

Jewish Care Homes will be marking Heritage Days with various events and Reminiscence Teas, whilst Nightingale House will be offering a tour of the Home and a talk on the late Lord Wandsworth.
Many other activities will also be taking place throughout the UK - this is only an overview of what is on offer, which we hope you will discover and enjoy. The full programme can be found in our leaflets.

For further details, contact 0759 907 7869, email: bbukjewishheritage.org, or go to www.jewisheritage.org (the latter for details about events on the Continent) or Click here to download the PDF