‘Surprise’ as Jewish Culture Month clashes with the Omer

Speaking at a Limmud event to discuss how plans for the cultural fixture would evolve, she said: “[The month] should reflect all parts of the Jewish community. At the moment, it feels exclusionary.”

Creeger, who is one of Limmud’s programming directors, added: “It would be like opening Limmud registration on a Saturday morning. This is avoidable discomfort.”

Saying that she was looking forward to being part of the cultural programme once the Omer ends, she later told the JC: “I was surprised at the decision date-wise. I think it’s an odd choice.”

Her views were echoed by an audience member, who said: “It’s about respecting all parts of the Jewish community. If we are running the first ever Jewish Culture Month, we have to enable the whole community to get involved.”

Another person attending the discussion said that she found the overlap with the Omer “offensive”.

Jeremy Michelson, vice president of the Board of Deputies, responsible for culture, education and communities, who was hosting the Limmud panel, said: “Some people keep 33 days of the Omer and some people continue until the third of Sivan. It’s not straightforward.”

A member of an Orthodox synagogue, Michelson added: “I will have to go to the Board with a few questions and also talk to my own rabbonim.”

He said that the dates were, however, unlikely, to change, and that programming might focus on non-musical cultural events until the end of the Omer.

A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies said: “Jewish Culture Month begins with a short run up to the festival of Shavuot and the celebration of the giving of the Torah, which centres our Scripture as a key part of Jewish culture.

“Also, whilst for some musical performances may have to wait until the second week, almost all other kinds of Jewish culture can start from the beginning, and the dates mean that we can start sharing cheesecake with our friends and neighbours from the get-go.

“Given the nature of the Jewish calendar, no part of the year is completely without its complications. But of course, that’s part of Jewish culture, as indeed is the discussion about the dates."

Panellists Creeger, story-teller Daniel Cainer, William Galinsky from JW3 and Liat Rosenthal, cultural month coordinator, said they hoped it would provide an antidote to the surge in antisemitism and highlight the positive contributions the Jewish community had made to the UK’s cultural landscape.

I hope we can encourage Jewish people, in whatever cultural field they work in, to say unapologetically: ‘This is who I am. This is what I do

Michelson said: “Unless the RE curriculum has been developed well, secondary school pupils tend to only learn that Jews have suffered though history. [Board of Deputies’ President] Phil Rosenberg said the month should be about ‘less oi, more joy’, particularly at a time when the Jewish community is under more pressure than ever.”

Creeger, who had a show cancelled at the Edinburgh Fringe in the summer, said: “Historically, Jewish people have been hugely recognised and respected as creators of culture. They created theatre and cinema from the ground up. In the last few years, there have been waves of hostility towards Jews working in those media…with a desire to create shame among contemporary Jewish artists unless they are willing to stand up and say they stand of the ‘right side’ of history.

“Jewish Culture Month is about reclaiming pride in our ethnicity. I hope we can encourage [Jewish] people, in whatever cultural field they work in, to say unapologetically: ‘This is who I am. This is what I do.’”

Galinsky, who is responsible for putting on the pantomime and the huge outdoor mural at JW3, said that while American Jews and “Limmud Jews” were “very out and proud”, he hoped the month of celebration would be an opportunity for UK Jews to be “more out and proud” too. “We felt that Jews weren’t telling their story very well...A Jewish cultural month is a massive opportunity to get cultural materials out through different networks.”

Image: (left to right): William Galinsky from JW3, songwriter Daniel Cainer and comedian Rachel Creeger