Running from 16 May-16 June 2026, Jewish Culture Month is a cultural coming together on a scale and depth not seen before, with more than 100 events across the country spanning food, comedy, art, architecture, fashion, music and much more. This landmark project brings together cultural institutions, community organisations, artists, chefs, performers and educators to create an accessible, vibrant and proudly public celebration of Jewish life in the UK.
At Kazky, we are super excited about Jewish Culture Month. It enables Kevin an opportunity to connect with his Jewish heritage, as well as educating himself more about the diversity of Jewish culture in the UK. Whilst for Larysa, it provides an opportunity to learn and engage with Jewish culture in the UK and Ukraine.
We have seen relatively little about Jewish Culture Month in the archives sector, so we have identified five things archivists to consider doiing.
1. Improve your knowledge of Jewish Genealogy
According to the Survey of Visitors to Archives 2024 one third of visitors to UK archive services are family historians. But how much do you know about Jewish genealogy? The brilliant Jewish Genealogy Society of Great Britain (JGSGB) are offering an Introduction to Jewish Genealogy (online). For those more advanced, there is also A Brick Walls and Brush Up Jewish Genealogy Workshop at the JGSGB Library.
2. Learn about Jewish archives in the United Kingdom
Some archive services are offering opportunities to explore their collections relating to British Jewish history, including The London Archives, Liverpool Record Office and Leeds. We will be taking part in this through the Stockport Jewish Heritage Trail: Online Launch which was created by Kevin and features archive collections from across the UK. These offer an opportunity for archivists to learn about the richness of Jewish archives in the UK and different record types. The Hidden Treasures website also has a fantastic set of resources about Jewish archives in the UK.
3. Attend a UK Jewish Film screening
UK Jewish Film presents an “entertaining and thought-provoking evening of some of the most outstanding British-Jewish short films commissioned by UK Jewish Film over the first quarter of the 21st century.” These are a mixture of dramas and documentaries and are ideal for film archivists or anyone interested in contemporary archives. There are screenings in London, Canterbury, Manchester, Norwich, Bath, and Chichester. They also have some films including their Dangoor UKJF Short Doc Fund winners2021-2023available via their online on demand service.
4. Learn about Jewish culture through creativity
Jewish Culture Month is full of creative events focusing on the diversity of UK Jewish communities. Our favourites in Manchester include Design your own Challah cover – Manchester Museum, The Table! Around the Museum (Manchester Jewish Museum) and Textile Art Workshop (The Whitworth). Check the Jewish Culture Month website to find out what is happening locally to you.
5. Mark Jewish Culture Month in the workplace
Jewish Culture Month have created a brilliant guide on how to mark Jewish Culture Month in the workplace: “a practical and visible way of recognising that Jewish culture is integral to Jewish life. For Jewish staff, this kind of recognition carries weight. At a time when antisemitism has reached record levels, celebration in public spaces sends a clear message: Jewish identity is valued here. Culture is not something to be hidden. Visibility becomes a form of reassurance and belonging. For colleagues who are not Jewish, Jewish Culture Month offers something equally important: an opportunity to learn, to engage and to connect. Jewish Culture Month is an invitation to employers across Britain to participate with confidence in sharing Jewish pride far and wide.”
Jewish Culture Month is designed to be an upbeat and positive celebration of Jewish life in the UK, aimed at promoting “less ‘oy’ and more joy”. However, it would be remiss of us not to recognise the awful increase of antisemitism in the UK. There are no educational resources about antisemitism specifically aimed at archivists in the UK that we are aware of, although anti-racism principles about listening, learning, holding yourself accountable and pushing for change do apply. In terms of learning, we recommend starting with the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Community Security Trust.
