The decision of a west London council to postpone an exhibition on Jewish life has been described by Jewish communal leaders as “outrageous”.

Hounslow Council, which is twinned with Ramallah and al-Bireh on the West Bank, said that its last-minute suspension of the Jewish Living Experience – a travelling exhibition which has been hosted by the Board of Deputies for over 40 years – was due to “significant heightened risk to personal safety” because of events in Israel and Gaza.

But since October 7, around 2,000 schoolchildren have visited the exhibition in Borehamwood in Hertfordshire and in South Wales, where, according to a report in The Times, the events took place without any disruption.

The Board said that the council’s decision was both “outrageous” and “baffling”.

Edwin Shuker, vice-president of the Board of Deputies, said: “The Jewish Living Experience exhibition is carefully designed to inform and educate non-Jewish children and adults about our way of life.

“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.”

The exhibition had been planned to take place between November 20 and December 1 at the council’s headquarters and would be open to all primary schools in the borough. Dignitaries were to attend an opening ceremony and other faith communities due to visit the exhibition.

Hounslow is twinned with Ramallah and al-Bireh on the West Bank (Photo: hounslow-ramallah.org)

A spokesperson from the Board of Deputies said that Hounslow Council “pulled out on the Friday, two days before the exhibition was due to run. When asked why, they said it was for safety concerns but would not elaborate.” 

The spokesperson said the Board would be meeting with the council early next year.

A spokesperson for Hounslow Council said the borough was “one of London's most diverse boroughs and we cherish and celebrate this diversity.

"However, due to increased reported levels of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other hate crimes, there is significant heightened risk to personal safety across London and consideration of this had to take precedence, in order to keep exhibitors and visitors to the event safe."

The exhibition, she empahsised, was ”not cancelled but postponed. We have been in contact with them to try to arrange a meeting in early January with a view to identifying a suitable date and location to hold the exhibition.”

Hounslow Council’s decision to abort the exhibition comes in the wake of another London council - Havering - initially opting to have a chanukiah on display for only one night because of “escalating tensions”. Following complaints from Jewish communal leaders and also from the Muslim Association of Britain, Havering Council has now installed a chanukiah for eight days.