The significance of Jewish Book Week’s opening-night event is conveyed by its title: Arts in the Age of Boycotts.
The very fact that the biggest Jewish cultural event of the year begins by tackling cultural sanctions against Jewish artists and institutions speaks not just to widespread bigotry over the war against Hamas, but something deeper and, sadly, historically recurrent.
But we begin in the recent past. In May 2024, a major Amsterdam concert hall cancelled performances by the Jerusalem Quartet. The decision prompted widespread protest from both Jewish and non-Jewish musicians, with pianist Danny Driver and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani leading a petition against the move.
This opening-night event at Jewish Book Week (JBW), featuring Driver alongside cellist Gemma Rosefield, will analyse the events surrounding that outrage and explore how they fit into the big picture of a politically and culturally polarised world.
How can art maintain its integrity when the forces of politics and ideology seek to compromise it? Arts in the Age of Boycotts will look to answer that question, not just by addressing how art can transcend political boundaries but, by taking place at JBW, it will itself will be an anti-boycott act that brings people together, regardless of background or belief, to celebrate intellectual disagreement in the best Jewish tradition.
Despite today’s challenging and sometimes hostile environment, JBW, staged by the Jewish Literary Foundation at Kings Place in King’s Cross and online, is designed to be just that: a moment to take pride in our habit for intellectual engagement and diverse thinking. With that in mind – and the fact there will be 90-plus events – here are my must-sees:
1. Arts in the Age of Boycotts (March 1, 7.45pm) – Our opening night event, featuring a stellar performance and panel discussion as a reminder of the power of art and culture.
2. Elena: A Hand-Made Life (March 9, 5pm) – Miriam Gold will discuss her Wingate Prize-shortlisted book, exploring identity and personal history through words, illustration and collage.
3. Bearing Witness: Documenting 7 October and its Aftermath (March 2, 8pm) – A vital talk on the importance of documenting the events of October 7, offering unparalleled insights into a pivotal moment in contemporary history.
4. Mindless: What Happened to Universities? (March 4, 12.30pm) – Experts discuss the challenges to academic freedom and intellectual diversity in today’s universities.
5. The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz (March 9, 3.30pm) – A powerful exploration of the extraordinary women who played music in the depths of hell.
6. Iran in Focus: Proxies, Power, and Nuclear Ambitions (March 5, 8.30pm) – A conversation on the shifting geopolitical dynamics of Iran, and their impact on the Middle East and beyond.
7. Dunkirk & Blitz: Making History Matter (March 5, 8.30pm) – A fascinating look at two key moments of the Second World War and their portrayal in books and film, from Joshua Levine, the author whose work inspired Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, and Steve McQueen’s Blitz.
8. Trump 2.0: What’s Next? (March 8, 7.45pm) – Experts from the UK, the US and Israel discuss Trump’s second term, with analysis into how his second presidency might shape America’s domestic and foreign policy.
9. Robert Popper: The Elsie Drake Letters (March 6, 8.30pm) – Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper introduces us to his eccentric alter ego, Elsie Drake, as she pens a series of hilariously bizarre letters to the great and the good.
10. Being Human (March 5, 7pm) – Are our emotions and behaviours shaped by biology alone? Are we truly less psychologically healthy than past generations? Two leading medical experts pose pressing questions.
11. Mad Magazine: Warping America’s Brain (March 4, 6,30pm) – A lively discussion on the cultural impact of Mad magazine and its influence on American humour and politics.
12. Food for Good (March 2, 2pm) – Cook for Good CEO Karen Mattison will join a compelling conversation on the power of food to bring people together. What could be more Jewish?
The full programme is here
