Jewish Museum

Jewish Museum Review

This fascinating museum on the history of the Jewish people in British contains precious little from before the 17th century-and with good reason. Judaism was outlawed in England for almost four centuries, until the Jews were finally allowed to settle once more in 1656. "History: A British Story" provides a general overview of this and other facets of the Jewish story in Britain over the centuries, through a mix of rare artifacts and interactive displays. The Holocaust Gallery features the incredible story of Leon Greenman (1910-2008), a British Jew who survived six concentration camps, including Auschwitz, to become a prominent anti-racism campaigner. Other highlights include a recreation of a street from the Victorian-era Jewish quarter of London's East End. There's a free overview of the collection on the ground floor, including a medieval mikveh (ritual bath), excavated a few miles from here in 2001.