‘Pathetic cowardice’ – British Museum postpones celebration of Jewish culture over antisemitic protest fears
Simon Schama branded the decision “cowardice”. BBC journalist John Simpson called the move “pathetic”. Simon Sebag Montefiore said it reflected “dark times”
The British Museum has postponed a Jewish Culture Month event over fears that antisemitic protesters planned to disrupt the event, in a decision likely to intensify concerns over the ability of Jewish events to take place in Britain without intimidation.
The event, titled “Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum”, had been scheduled to take place on Thursday as part of the UK’s first nationwide Jewish Culture Month. It was due to feature a lecture by Dr Paul Collins, the museum’s Keeper of the Middle East Department, examining the archaeology and history of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah through artefacts held by the museum.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the British Museum said it had been informed that “a significant proportion” of those registered to attend intended to “deliberately disrupt the event”. The museum said the decision to postpone had been taken to protect the audience.
The museum insisted the decision was “not to diminish” the event and said it intended to reschedule the lecture at a later date.
A source close to the museum told Jewish News: “We are rearranging the planned event for Jewish Culture Month, and it will take place at the British Museum on a different date. Whilst we don’t comment on operational issues, after discussions with the event organisers, we agreed that precautions were needed to ensure that the event is safe and secure for staff, visitors and attendees.”
Jewish Culture Month, launched this year by the Board of Deputies, was intended as a month-long celebration of the Jewish contribution to British life, involving more than 100 events across the country spanning music, food, literature, comedy and history.
Participating institutions include major national venues such as the V&A, Tate and Southbank Centre.
The postponement prompted fierce criticism from Jewish figures and free speech campaigners, who argued that publicly funded cultural institutions risk appearing unable to host even historical or cultural discussions connected to Jewish identity without yielding to threats of disruption.
Historian Simon Schama branded the decision “cowardice”. Veteran BBC journalist John Simpson called the move “pathetic”. Author Simon Sebag Montefiore said the postponement reflected “dark times” while David Wolfson KC wrote: “If publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding.”
The Board of Deputies said: “It is highly regrettable that individuals have sought to deliberately disrupt a Jewish Culture Month event celebrating Jewish cultural heritage at the British Museum. Jewish Culture Month has seen many of Britain’s great cultural institutions partner with us in celebration of British Jewish culture, community and creativity, and we will not allow the actions of extremists to prevent the British public from enjoying these events. We will be working with our partners at the British Museum to reschedule this event as soon as possible.”
Community leader Shimon Cohen said: “The British Museum prides itself on being a ‘meeting place for cross-cultural exchange and engagement and to remove barriers to participation’. They declare how they ‘build relationships with community partners that deepen both collection and community knowledge, celebrate the contribution of our communities, and affect positive societal change’. One community does not count. The Jewish community is now exposed to terror plots, arson attacks, stabbings, and abuse. Synagogues and Jewish schools around where I live have security guards and police patrols, with families constantly fearful. And what is the reaction from a leading museum, funded by the UK Government and owned by the UK public? That anything connected with Jews is simply not worth the risk. Why has our country descended into mob rule? Why are we signaling that intimidation, vitriolic abuse, and violence against Jews works?”
The British Museum can “celebrate the contribution of our communities” except the Jewish community. Instead, their message is clear: let them cower, be cancelled, and be exposed, through the cowardice of our passivity, to ever more hatred, and why? Simply because Jews don’t count!
The British Museum has not said which groups were believed to be planning protests, or whether police advice contributed to the decision. However, it is understood members of an organisation called Jewish Artists For Palestine were among those registered to attend.
The lecture had been listed as sold out before its postponement.
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