London exhibition to challenge stereotypes about Jews and money

Published: 8 February 2019

Last updated: 4 March 2024

Director of London's Jewish Museum Abigail Morris stresses importance of providing 'safe space to consider and challenge such stereotypes, if we are to combat hatred'

THE JEWISH MUSEUM has announced a major new exhibition on the role of money in Jewish life and its “often vexed place in relations between Jews and non-Jews”.

The collection – named Jews, Money, Myth – will examine the “myths and reality” of Jews’ role as medieval money-lender, and the place of Jews, real and imagined, in modern capitalism.

Abigail Morris, the director of the Jewish Museum, said: “Myths and stereotypes have origins, and this exhibition draws on objects from over 2,000 years to go to the roots of Jewish practices around money.

“At the same time, it shows how certain dangerous, even deadly, interpretations emerged and still proliferate around the world.

“As a museum dedicated to the history and culture of Jews in Britain, we are more aware than ever of the importance of providing a safe space to consider and challenge such stereotypes, if we are to combat hatred and challenge ignorance.”

FULL STORY London's Jewish Museum to stage exhibition that challenges stereotypes about money in Jewish life (Jewish Chronicle)

Photo: Abigail Morris, director of the Jewish Museum (left), and an image from Nazi propaganda book Der Giftpilz, which means the Poisonous Mushroom (Jewish Museum London)