The British Museum recently chose to postpone a lecture on Jewish history after being informed that a significant proportion of those registered intended to disrupt the event.
It was on the afternoon of Thursday, 28 May, that Britain’s foremost museum had planned to host the lecture “The Ancient History of Israel and Judah”, to be delivered by Dr Paul Collins, head of the institution’s Middle East department.
The lecture was part of a series of events connected with Jewish Culture Month, BBC reported when the postponement was announced.
The museum stated that the decision had been taken to “protect the event, not diminish it”. Following criticism, it later announced that the event would take place “early next month”.
The British Museum promised that new registration details would be published shortly and announced that the lecture would be live-streamed, but no updated information can be found on the museum’s website.
The initiative came at what is a difficult time for Jews in Britain.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews announced last year that it would launch the very first Jewish Culture Month, featuring more than 100 events across the country celebrating Jewish history and culture.
The cultural month began on 16 May and follows several antisemitic attacks in London that led to the terrorism threat level being raised to “substantial”.
When the British Museum announced the decision to postpone the lecture, it stated: “In recent days, we have been informed that a significant proportion of those registered were individuals who intended deliberately to disrupt the event, prevent others from participating in good faith and undermine the purpose of the programme.”
The organisation Campaign Against Antisemitism said in a statement that “once again, the antisemitic mob has secured a victory” and that “in Britain today, one cannot have a Jewish Culture Month”, BBC reports.
“Soon enough, there may not be many Jews left in modern Britain either, given the proportion who say they are considering leaving the country,” their statement on X added.
“The Prime Minister recently spoke about how Jews are being bullied out of the arts: now we are seeing it at the nation’s leading museum.
“We are still waiting for a courageous institution to stand up and say that the Jew-hating mob will not prevail on their premises.
“One wonders whether there is anyone left in Britain today who will do so.”
“British Jews should leave Britain unless the Labour government is replaced,” said Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, in June last year.