A giant green pickle has been spotted bobbing through London, turning up at landmarks including the Tate Modern and Southbank Centre, to announce the launch of the UK's first Jewish culture month. The celebration, organized by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, aims to bring 'less oy and more joy' after challenging years for the Jewish community.
Festival Details
Beginning on 16 May, the festival will feature more than 150 events across the UK, spanning food, music, comedy, architecture, fashion, film, and literature. Participating institutions include the V&A Museum, National Portrait Gallery, JW3, the British Library, and the National Holocaust Museum.
Organiser's Vision
Liat Rosenthal, the Board's director of culture, education and communities, said the project emerged from conversations with artists and cultural workers who felt Jewish life had become increasingly defined by hostility, grief, and security concerns since the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel. 'For me, the response to antisemitism has to be this bold, proud, public moment,' she said. 'The history of British Jews is incredibly rich, and the contribution of British Jews to life across the UK spans not just arts and culture, but science, technology, innovation, psychotherapy, medicine and politics.'
She stressed that the month is intended for everyone, regardless of background or religion. 'Everyone should get involved, learn something and eat lots of food.'
Food and Culture
The festival's food programme includes a traditional Friday night dinner hosted by east London pickling company Shedletsky. Co-founder James Cooper noted the deep roots of pickling in eastern European Jewish traditions, linking ancient preservation techniques to modern deli culture. Natalie Preston, his co-founder, said food helps open conversations between communities, 'one of the ways we can hopefully break down these awful barriers that are being put up at the moment.'
Punk and Satire
At JW3 in Hampstead, an event titled L'Chaim / L'Chaos: 50 Years of Jewish Punk will explore the relationship between Jewish youth culture and Britain's 1970s punk scene. William Galinsky, JW3's director of programming, said outsider teen culture attracted young Jewish people in the 1970s, many of whom were the first in their families to go to university or choose different careers.
Other events at JW3 include Miriam Elia's satirical exhibition and book, 'Moses and the 613 Health and Safety Commandments.' Galinsky reflected on playwright Jack Rosenthal, who showed non-Jewish British audiences that Jews were just like them, a message as relevant today as in the 1960s and 70s.
Broader Understanding
The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) will run walking tours exploring Jewish histories outside London, including in Cardiff. Debra Barnes, head of next generations, said the month aims to broaden public understanding of Jewish life beyond trauma. 'If you mention Jews in Britain today, you think of antisemitism and attacks. It’s a very depressing outlook at the moment. But we don’t want to only be seen as victims, and we don’t want to hide.'
The tour ends at Wally's Delicatessen & Kaffeehaus, started by a Jewish refugee and now run by his grandson.
National Holocaust Museum
The National Holocaust Museum in Newark, Nottinghamshire, will host an event titled 'What Does it Mean to be Jewish?' featuring stories from young British Jews. Chief executive Abi Levitt said the exhibition celebrates Jewish life, displaying objects like Shabbat candlesticks, challah bread, and mezuzahs that children can touch and ask questions about. 'It’s about just bringing the Jewish world to people in this part of the country.'
