Jewish Museum

Jewish Museum Review

The focus is on the history of the Jewish people in Britain from medieval times to the present day, although most of the exhibits date from the 17th century—when Cromwell repealed the laws against Jewish settlement—and later. The collection is spread over four galleries. "History: A British Story" provides a general overview of the Jewish people in Britain over the centuries, through a mix of rare artifacts and interactive displays, including a re-creation of a Victorian street from what was then the Jewish quarter of East London. The Holocaust Gallery focuses on 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 galleries devoted to historic ceremonial artifacts, and one of the world's largest collections of Jewish art. 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.