Sherman Community Lecture in Jewish Studies 2026

Description: As tensions and anxieties rise in Jewish communities over the growing threat of antisemitism, what is happening to British Jewish life and the place of British Jews in wider society? Key factors including demographic trends, sociological forces, technological developments and political dynamics are all shaping Jewish perceptions and realities, and in a rapidly changing world it is increasingly difficult for Jews to find their bearings. In this lecture, Dr Jonathan Boyd draws on the latest data to paint an empirical picture of life within the British Jewish community today, to examine what Jewish identity looks like at present, and to assess how it may evolve in the years to come. In so doing, he works to make sense of contemporary challenges, and share considered thoughts on how, and indeed whether, Jewish life in the UK has a sustainable future.