British Museum postpones Jewish culture month lecture over protest fears

The British Museum postponed a scheduled lecture on the archaeology and history of ancient Israel and Judah, originally planned for Thursday in its BP lecture theatre. The event, led by Dr Paul Collins, keeper of the Middle East department, was part of the UK’s first Jewish Culture Month, running until June 16. It would have explored artefacts from the ancient kingdoms, including the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Maccabean revolt. Less than 24 hours before the event, the museum announced its postponement after learning that a ‘significant proportion’ of registered attendees intended to disrupt the talk. In a statement, the museum acknowledged the importance of lawful protest but said it had a responsibility to ensure events proceed safely for speakers, staff, and visitors. Security discussions led to the decision to delay the lecture until early next month, with plans to livestream it for wider accessibility. Criticism of the move came from multiple quarters, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who urged the government to intervene and called the decision counterproductive to combating antisemitism. Historian Simon Schama described the postponement as cowardly, while Jewish commentators like Jonathan Sacerdoti condemned the ‘cancellation of Jews and Jewish events’ in Britain. The Board of Deputies of British Jews also expressed regret at the disruption attempts. The museum reiterated its commitment to supporting Jewish Culture Month, stating it would provide a space for exploring history and culture without disruption. Former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, chair of the British Museum, shared the museum’s statement on social media, advising against speculation. Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow attorney general, David Wolfson, disagreed with the postponement, calling it the ‘wrong decision’ at the wrong time.