Hundreds of people and events from London's Jewish history are commemorated on a remarkable new mural*.
It must be the only artwork in creation to feature Benjamin Disraeli, Sigmund Freud and Ann Widdecombe. Such is the eclectic nature of the London Jewish Mural. The towering nine-storey artwork now beautifies a previously blank wall beside the JW3 cultural centre on Finchley Road.
The work takes the form of a Yiddish theatre straight from the 19th century East End. It takes a while to see the boxes, stage and seating, however, as every inch is packed with characters and objects. You could view this image a hundred times and not spot everything.
"What's the significance of the bus stop?", I ask the artist Leon Fenster. It's a nod to Palwin wines, he tells me. This Kosher brand produces varieties 4, 4A, 10 and 11 — said to be named after the bus routes that once ran past the company's Whitechapel offices. That's the kind of geeky detail you'll find if you spend time examining this vast canvas.
Some faces are easily recognised. On the far right we see David Baddiel up a ladder, marking a tally on a wall — a reference to his book Jews Don't Count. Maureen Lipman can be seen centre-left grappling with a couple of phones. It's a nod to her character Beatie who featured for many years in BT commercials.
Some of the subjects need a bit more puzzling. The tiger and rabbit (top right), for example, are taken from famous books by children's author Judith Kerr. The Beatles make an appearance thanks to their Jewish manager Brian Epstein, who steered their early look and style. (Indeed, the whole montage artwork might be compared to Peter Blake's famous Sgt Pepper album cover.) Even Elizabeth I makes an appearance, watching the trial of Rodrigo Lopez, her famously Jewish personal physician.
The artwork was installed on 12 July 2024 by a team of abseilers who had to battle with the wind to pin it down. Fully unfurled, the banner transforms this once blank wall into something that will bedazzle those passing by on the bus, as well as visitors to JW3.
William Galinsky, Director of Programming at JW3 says: “London has a diverse Jewish community, with history and stories to match. Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that rich tapestry is shared with the whole of London. What better way to be loud, and proud of our heritage, than by putting it up on the side of our home for the world to see? Leon has captured the depth and breadth of Jewish London in a beautiful artwork that we hope will create countless conversations about multicultural London.”
The artist has provided an interactive key to his masterpiece. Click anywhere on the image here to discover who or what it represents.
The London Jewish Mural is a joyous, playful celebration of hundreds of years of history. You can view it for yourself at the JW3 cultural centre, 341-351 Finchley Road NW3 6ET.
*Pedant's note: Yes, we know it's not strictly a mural, because its printed onto a sheet rather than applied directly to the wall. We're using the term because it is used by the artist and JW3 in the name of the artwork, the London Jewish Mural.
