Jewish Museum London to document UK impact of 7 October attacks

The Jewish Museum London has invited the public to share objects and testimony documenting the impact that the 7 October attacks have had on British Jews and the wider community.

The Hamas invasion of 7 October 2023 saw approximately 1,200 Israelis killed and 250 more taken hostage. The events triggered the ongoing Israel-Palestine war, in which approximately 42,000 people in Gaza have been killed so far. A year on, there has been an escalation of the crisis across the Middle East, while community tensions and cases of antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry have also risen sharply in the UK.

The Jewish Museum London is asking people to share collectible items, images, memorabilia, responses, and written or recorded thoughts that reflect how the events of the day and the year that followed have affected their lives.

A statement from the museum said: “Jewish Museum London recognises the importance of documenting how British Jews and the wider community have been impacted and subsequently responded to this moment in history, throughout the UK. 

“All offers will be considered against the museum’s collecting criteria for the purpose of future research, educational use, or potential display. As an organisation not affiliated with any specific strand of Judaism nor political stance, Jewish Museum London serves as a space where the diversity of views are respected and voices can be heard.”

The statement continues: “Whilst the museum aims to present the past in new ways, we equally understand the need to preserve the present, to continue the narrative for future generations.”

The museum's chief executive, Sally Angel, said: “Jewish Museum London is working closely with communities, organisations, and individuals across the UK to document how the events of 7 October, and its aftermath, are impacting Britain and British Jews. We want to provide a lasting record of people’s experiences in 2024 for future generations.

“The museum’s existing collection already holds invaluable material on British Jewish life, and this new initiative will build on that foundation and will be a resource for understanding the diverse experiences and emotions felt at this time.

"Your photos, posters, films, audio, objects, and artefacts, will help to ensure that this period in our history is preserved and remembered for future generations.”

Those interested in donating objects are asked to contact curation@jewishmuseum.org.uk or visit the museum’s collections web page for further information.

The museum tells the story of the Jewish experience in Britain through the centuries. It does not currently have a premises after leaving its former home in Camden last year.

The museum is continuing to run education and outreach programmes as it searches for a suitable new location, and is currently operating as a "museum without walls" with displays and exhibitions hosted in a range of other places.