British Museum Postpones Jewish Culture Event Over Protest Fears

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The British Museum has postponed a lecture scheduled as part of the UK’s inaugural Jewish Culture Month after concerns were raised that protesters planned to disrupt the event.

The lecture, titled Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum, had been due to take place today (Thursday 28 May) and was to have been led by the museum’s senior curator Paul Collins, keeper of the department of the Middle East. 

In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the museum said it had been informed that “a significant proportion” of registered attendees intended to disrupt the event.

“Following discussions with organisers and security partners, a joint decision was taken to postpone the event to a later date,” the statement said, adding that the decision had been made “to protect the event—not to diminish it”.

The move has prompted criticism from commentators and politicians, who have argued that cultural institutions should not allow threats of disruption to determine programming decisions.

Responding to an X post from chair of the British Museum George Osborne, historian and author of The Story of the Jews Simon Schama wrote: “Absolutely the wrong decision—sends a terrible message”.

Responding to the same post, Reform UK MP and former Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman wrote: “Wrong call. You’ve given in to the bullies, to the mob and to the extremists.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which is organising Jewish Culture Month, described attempts to disrupt the lecture as “highly regrettable” and said the month-long programme would continue across the UK.

A post from the organisation read: “Jewish Culture Month has seen many of Britain’s great cultural institutions partner with us in celebration of British Jewish culture, community and creativity, and we will not allow the actions of extremists to prevent the British public from enjoying these events.”

The writer Ben Judah, a former special adviser to the UK’s Foreign Office and Minsitry of Justice, defended the museum. In an X post, he wrote: “The museum caught wind of the planned shenanigans and postponed the event so it can go ahead better protected at a later date.” 

He added: “Surely that is a better outcome than a viral moment, encouraging copy cats, which those seeking to protest Jewish history sought?”

Jewish Culture Month, launched this year, brings together more than 100 events across museums, galleries, libraries and arts venues around the UK. Participating organisations, including Tate and The Victoria and Albert Museum, will host talks, performances, exhibitions and workshops focused on Jewish history, literature, music and visual culture. 

The British Museum said it remained “proud to support and host events recognising Jewish Culture Month” and reiterated its commitment to “education, scholarship and cultural dialogue”.

The postponement follows disputes over protests, cancellations and institutional neutrality at museums and arts organisations across the UK since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war, following the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. Several venues have faced criticism either for cancelling Palestinian-related events or for failing to protect programming around Jewish culture from disruption.

The postponement also takes place against a backdrop of growing antisemitism in Britain. The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Jewish hate incidents in the UK, recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025—the second-highest annual total on record.

CST said levels of anti-Jewish hate have remained significantly elevated since October 2023, with many incidents linked to tensions surrounding the Middle East conflict.

The British Museum has said the lecture will be rescheduled “when it can take place in an environment that properly safeguards both the audience experience and the integrity of the programme itself”.