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Jews, Money, Myth

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Venue: External

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Jews, Money, Myth, a major new exhibition at Jewish Museum London, explores the role of money in Jewish life and its vexed place in relations between Jews and non-Jews, from the time of Jesus to the 21st century. It examines the origins of some of the longest running and deeply entrenched antisemitic stereotypes: the theological roots of the association of Jews with money; the myths and reality of the medieval Jewish moneylender; and the place of Jews – real and imagined – in commerce, capitalism and finance up to the present day. 

This cutting-edge exhibition reflects on over 2,000 years of history, drawing together manuscripts, prints, Jewish ritual and ceremonial objects, art, film, literature and cultural ephemera, from board games and cartoons to costumes and figurines. Exhibits from the museum’s collection are complemented by loans from Europe, North America and Israel. A highlight of the exhibition is Rembrandt van Rijn’s painting, Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver (1629) that is rarely seen in the UK. Contemporary and newly commissioned artworks, including a video piece by Jeremy Deller, reflect on the exhibition themes.

The exhibition has been developed jointly by the Jewish Museum and the Pears Institute for the study of Antisemitism. Anthony Bale, Professor of Medieval Studies, David Feldman, Professor of History and Director of the Pears Institute and Dr Marc Volovici, Pears Institute Early Career Fellow have acted as academic advisors for the exhibition.

A book, co-edited by Marc Volovici, accompanies the exhibition, with contributions from international scholars and artists exploring some of its key themes, including the literary historian and author, Stephen Greenblatt and writer and filmmaker, Roee Rosen. 

The Pears Institute is holding a series of public lectures and film screenings which explore themes from the exhibition, please visit here http://pearsinstitute.bbk.ac.uk/events/events-calendar/jews-money-myth/. 

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