British Museum postpones lecture
on ancient Israel, cites ‘security concerns’
The British Museum postponed a talk on ancient Israel and Judah, citing security concerns after learning attendees planned to disrupt the event.
JNS
2
mins read time
Published by
JNS
Depiction of Jehu King of Israel giving tribute to King Shalmaneser III of Assyria, on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III from Nimrud, circa 827 BC, in the British Museum, London. Photo courtesy of Steven G. Johnson via Wikemedia Commons
Paul Collins, keeper of the British Museum’s Middle East department, was slated to deliver a lunchtime talk about “Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum” on May 28. The museum now states that the lecture, which was to be part of Jewish Culture month, has been postponed.
“Please note this event has been postponed,” it states. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Frightened Of Vandals?
David Wolfson, a member of the House of Lords who is an Orthodox Jew, shared a screenshot of what he said was an e-mail from the museum postponing the event.
“Important information about your booking,” the e-mail from the museum’s ticketing team states. “Due to security concerns, the Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum talk on Thursday May 28 has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
“If publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding,” wrote Wolfson, shadow attorney general.
In a separate statement, the museum said it had been “informed that a significant proportion of registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event.”
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Museum Caved?
“This decision was made to protect the event—not to diminish it,” it stated.
Alex Gandler, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London, stated that “it is shameful that historical and academic truths are being stifled by a grotesque, violent pressure campaign.”
“Those who need to be canceled are the violent criminals that are threatening,” he said.
“Jewish history under attack by extremists,” stated Michael Dickson, executive director of StandWithUS Israel. “The British Museum—one of the world’s most famous museums, founded in 1753—caved into them.”
Simon Sebag Montefiore, a prominent author and historian, stated that it is “dark times when a talk about ancient Judah and Israel at the British Museum is canceled for security concerns.”
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British Museum postpones lecture
on ancient Israel, cites ‘security concerns’
The British Museum postponed a talk on ancient Israel and Judah, citing security concerns after learning attendees planned to disrupt the event.
JNS
2
mins read time
Published by
JNS
Depiction of Jehu King of Israel giving tribute to King Shalmaneser III of Assyria, on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III from Nimrud, circa 827 BC, in the British Museum, London. Photo courtesy of Steven G. Johnson via Wikemedia Commons
Paul Collins, keeper of the British Museum’s Middle East department, was slated to deliver a lunchtime talk about “Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum” on May 28. The museum now states that the lecture, which was to be part of Jewish Culture month, has been postponed.
“Please note this event has been postponed,” it states. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Frightened Of Vandals?
David Wolfson, a member of the House of Lords who is an Orthodox Jew, shared a screenshot of what he said was an e-mail from the museum postponing the event.
“Important information about your booking,” the e-mail from the museum’s ticketing team states. “Due to security concerns, the Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum talk on Thursday May 28 has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
“If publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding,” wrote Wolfson, shadow attorney general.
In a separate statement, the museum said it had been “informed that a significant proportion of registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Museum Caved?
“This decision was made to protect the event—not to diminish it,” it stated.
Alex Gandler, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London, stated that “it is shameful that historical and academic truths are being stifled by a grotesque, violent pressure campaign.”
“Those who need to be canceled are the violent criminals that are threatening,” he said.
“Jewish history under attack by extremists,” stated Michael Dickson, executive director of StandWithUS Israel. “The British Museum—one of the world’s most famous museums, founded in 1753—caved into them.”
Simon Sebag Montefiore, a prominent author and historian, stated that it is “dark times when a talk about ancient Judah and Israel at the British Museum is canceled for security concerns.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
British Museum postpones lecture
on ancient Israel, cites ‘security concerns’
The British Museum postponed a talk on ancient Israel and Judah, citing security concerns after learning attendees planned to disrupt the event.
JNS
2
mins read time
Published by
JNS
Depiction of Jehu King of Israel giving tribute to King Shalmaneser III of Assyria, on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III from Nimrud, circa 827 BC, in the British Museum, London. Photo courtesy of Steven G. Johnson via Wikemedia Commons
Paul Collins, keeper of the British Museum’s Middle East department, was slated to deliver a lunchtime talk about “Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum” on May 28. The museum now states that the lecture, which was to be part of Jewish Culture month, has been postponed.
“Please note this event has been postponed,” it states. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Frightened Of Vandals?
David Wolfson, a member of the House of Lords who is an Orthodox Jew, shared a screenshot of what he said was an e-mail from the museum postponing the event.
“Important information about your booking,” the e-mail from the museum’s ticketing team states. “Due to security concerns, the Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum talk on Thursday May 28 has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
“If publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding,” wrote Wolfson, shadow attorney general.
In a separate statement, the museum said it had been “informed that a significant proportion of registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Museum Caved?
“This decision was made to protect the event—not to diminish it,” it stated.
Alex Gandler, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London, stated that “it is shameful that historical and academic truths are being stifled by a grotesque, violent pressure campaign.”
“Those who need to be canceled are the violent criminals that are threatening,” he said.
“Jewish history under attack by extremists,” stated Michael Dickson, executive director of StandWithUS Israel. “The British Museum—one of the world’s most famous museums, founded in 1753—caved into them.”
Simon Sebag Montefiore, a prominent author and historian, stated that it is “dark times when a talk about ancient Judah and Israel at the British Museum is canceled for security concerns.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
British Museum postpones lecture
on ancient Israel, cites ‘security concerns’
The British Museum postponed a talk on ancient Israel and Judah, citing security concerns after learning attendees planned to disrupt the event.
JNS
2
mins read time
Published by
JNS
Depiction of Jehu King of Israel giving tribute to King Shalmaneser III of Assyria, on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III from Nimrud, circa 827 BC, in the British Museum, London. Photo courtesy of Steven G. Johnson via Wikemedia Commons
Paul Collins, keeper of the British Museum’s Middle East department, was slated to deliver a lunchtime talk about “Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum” on May 28. The museum now states that the lecture, which was to be part of Jewish Culture month, has been postponed.
“Please note this event has been postponed,” it states. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Frightened Of Vandals?
David Wolfson, a member of the House of Lords who is an Orthodox Jew, shared a screenshot of what he said was an e-mail from the museum postponing the event.
“Important information about your booking,” the e-mail from the museum’s ticketing team states. “Due to security concerns, the Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum talk on Thursday May 28 has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
“If publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding,” wrote Wolfson, shadow attorney general.
In a separate statement, the museum said it had been “informed that a significant proportion of registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Museum Caved?
“This decision was made to protect the event—not to diminish it,” it stated.
Alex Gandler, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London, stated that “it is shameful that historical and academic truths are being stifled by a grotesque, violent pressure campaign.”
“Those who need to be canceled are the violent criminals that are threatening,” he said.
“Jewish history under attack by extremists,” stated Michael Dickson, executive director of StandWithUS Israel. “The British Museum—one of the world’s most famous museums, founded in 1753—caved into them.”
Simon Sebag Montefiore, a prominent author and historian, stated that it is “dark times when a talk about ancient Judah and Israel at the British Museum is canceled for security concerns.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
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© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios