A Decade of Jewish
Culture in the UK gerAlDine AuerBAch traces the milestones
it has developed an impressive international reputation through well-judged acquisitions and cutting-edge exhibitions. SpiroArk moved into a centre inMarylebone from where Robin and Nitza Spiro have continued to present an amazing programme of Jewish culture fromall parts of the world. The LJCC bought and refurbishedAnna Pavlova’s home in Hampstead in 2005, from where they continue to offer exciting courses, events and leisure activities for all. The JewishMuseumtripled in size in
F
romthe time of theMillennium, Jewish culture has been on the ascendancy in the UK. There was a new spirit of optimismand
organisations were bursting at the seams. New spaces were being sought by The Jewish Museum London,Ben Uri Gallery, London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC) and Spiro Ark. The Jewish Music Institute (JMI) had settled in on campus at SOAS, University of London and had presented a whole day of Jewish culture in the MillenniumDome as part of itsMillennium Festival in
2000.All were rearing to go. In 2001 the Jewish Culture providers sat
down together for the first time, sharing plans and aspirations. Fromthis positive synergy, Jewish Culture UK (JCUK) emerged – a Forumfor Jewish Culture Providers. Itmarked the recognition of a distinct Jewish Culture sector that contributes hugely to the vibrancy of Jewish life in London and beyond. Catching this swell, Jewish
Renaissance made its debut in the autumn of 2001 – enhancing knowledge and appreciation of Jewish culture and celebrating the developments of the next decade. In 2002 ‘JewishWhat’s Happening in London’, a colourful guide, financed by members of JCUK, was produced by Jewish Renaissance. It was distributed widely to museums, libraries, theatres and tourist centres. This became the biannual ‘Guide to Jewish London’produced by the Greater LondonAuthority from2005 to 2008. Ben Uri, which had become a ‘Museum
of JewishArt’, opened a gallery in St John’s Wood in 2002.With director David Glasser,
38 JeWish renAissAnce octoBer 2011
Camden Town inMarch 2010, combining its rich collection of Jewish ritual objects with memorabilia of the Jewish East End and presenting a rich vein of exhibitions and educational services. In 2004 DameVivien Duffield launched her vision for a JCC for London, which began by creating innovative programmes for Jewish people fromthe cradle to the grave. Foundations have now been laid for amagnificent new building in Finchley Road due to open in 2013. Programmes using appropriate London
venues have also blossomed. Jewish Book Week in 2012 willmove froma hotel in Bloomsbury to a prestigious new cultural centre near Kings Cross. The JewishMusic Institute has developed summer schools as well as supporting a full-time lectureship in the Department ofMusic at SOAS. The Brighton Jewish FilmFestival
became the national UK Jewish Film Festival in 2003 and has screenedmore films to ever-larger audiences. The Leeds Jewish Theatre Festival, founded in 2000, has become the Leeds Jewish International Performing Arts Festival and attracts top- rated overseas performers. This year it was joined by SMART, a new SouthManchester Jewish arts festival. Limmud, the pioneering cross-
communal Jewish learning programme, grows apace.Winter conference in Nottinghamdraws 2,500 participants and some of the world’smost dynamic Jewish educators and performers. ‘Day Limmuds’ take place all over the country and Limmud UK has inspired similar programmes in nearly 50 countries. In October 2002 the Jewish East End
Celebration Society (JEECS) was established by Clive Bettington. Its remit is to preserve what remains and record what has gone. It highlighted and used the four
remaining synagogues in the East End (now alas only three).Aftermany years of working on the Jewish built heritage, Sharman Kadish established Jewish Heritage UK, which receivesmuch respect and support fromthe wider heritage conservation community. Sharman’s work and publications, together with the Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage coordinated since 2000 by B’nai B’rith UK, and the SpiroArk’s J-Trails, have increased interest in synagogues and other traces of Jewish life all over Britain. In 2006 communities all over the UK
celebrated the 350th anniversary of the readmission of Jews to
England.Amongst the cultural presentations there was a high- profile dinner at theMansion House hosted by the LordMayor; a Civic Service at BevisMarks Synagogue with the Prime Minister, and a reception at St James’ Palace hosted by the Queen. One civic officemissing was theMayor
of London. JCUK worked for two years with the officers of theMayor, Ken Livingstone, who also wished to celebrate the contri- bution of the Jewish community to this great city. On 17 September 2006, in the wake of the RussianWinter Festival, Chinese New Year, Eid and Diwali on the Square, JCUK presented Simcha on the Square. In this groundbreaking event, Trafalgar Square became truly Jewish for the day. Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron spoke to the crowd, estimated at 25,000, who watched 215 artists, in bands, choirs and dance troupes, performing on a huge stage in front of the National Gallery. The culture providers had stalls introducing their activities to a huge new audience and 25 shofar blowers blew a fanfare for the
anniversary.MalcolmMiller played Rule Britannia on the Shofar under Nelson’s column. How British and Jewish was that? JCUKwent on to present Simcha on the
Square in 2007 and 2008 and, since then, the annual Klezmer in the Park,with family picnicking and dancing by the bandstand in Regent’s Park – sharing our culture in an open and freewaywith great bands, cultural displays and children’s activities. Jewish Renaissance has highlighted
vividly the personalities, issues and events in this explosion of activity and has been a significant partner as Jewish culture in the UK now takes its place as part of mainstreamBritish life.
geraldineAuerbach is founder and director of the JewishMusic institute and co-founder with rickie Burman, Director of the JewishMuseum, of Jewish culture uk – the Forumfor Jewish culture Providers
www.jewishculture.org.uk
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