Hounslow Council has called off an educational exhibition on Jewish life.
The council cancelled the exhibition on the safety grounds, in light of rising tensions surrounding conflict in the Middle East.
The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition, run for 40 years by the Board of Deputies for British Jews, is designed to teach non-Jews about Jewish tradition.
The exhibition had originally been arranged to take place between 20 November and 1 December at the Council’s headquarters and would have been open to all primary schools in the Borough.
However, the Council informed the Board of Deputies that it planned to postpone the exhibition three days before it had planned to open.
Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews Edwin Shuker, stated that current increases in antisemitism and hate crime demonstrate just how important the exhibition was, saying that: “at a time of hugely increased antisemitism around the country it is baffling that any council would choose to cancel an exhibition with the potential to provide context and understanding.
“We have asked for a meeting and been refused. The Jewish community will not accept being marginalised.”
Since 7 October, around 2,000 schoolchildren have visited the exhibition across the UK, events which, according to a report in The Times, took place without disruption.
Other Jewish figures of authority have been quick to criticise the councils decision.
The Special Envoy for Post Holocaust issues, Lord Pickles, tweeted that Hounslow Council ‘should show some leadership’:
Hounslow Council should show some leadership during difficult times. Getting to know your Jewish neighbour better is the best way to counter #Antisemitism @BoardofDeputies
Jewish exhibition for primary pupils axed over ‘safety fears’https://t.co/3aPMtX7Teo
— Lord (Eric) Pickles (@EricPickles) December 7, 2023
