A brand-new exhibition titled "Cricket and the Jewish Community" has recently opened at the MCC Museum, located at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, which holds the distinction of being Europe's oldest sporting museum.
The exhibition marks the inauguration of the Community Gallery, formerly known as the Brian Johnston Film Theatre. This dedicated space will now showcase rotating displays highlighting the connections between different communities and the sport of cricket.
Curated in collaboration by two Jewish MCC Members, Zaki Cooper and Daniel Lightman KC, renowned authors of the book "Cricket Grounds from the Air," and the MCC Heritage & Collections Department, the exhibition delves into the captivating narrative of the Jewish community's relationship with cricket.
The exhibition encompasses the stories of notable international and first-class cricketers hailing from Australia, England, Ireland, South Africa, and the West Indies. It also sheds light on cricket's grassroots level involvement in Israel and the Maccabiah Games. Through the use of cricket apparel, equipment, artwork, books, videos, and other relevant materials, the exhibition vividly portrays the significant contributions made by the Jewish community to the sport of cricket. It also explores the presence of anti-Semitism within cricket and its impact on Jewish cricketers.
The introductory text for the exhibition eloquently highlights the significant contributions made by Jews within the realm of cricket, spanning various roles both on and off the field. It reads as follows:
“Jews have contributed at all levels of cricket, both on and off the field of play. Jewish male cricketers have played Test cricket for Australia and South Africa, and perhaps more remarkably for the West Indies. Jewish batters have scored centuries for the West Indies as well as for Ireland and Scotland. Female Jewish players have been capped by England, Australia and Ireland. Jews have been umpires, administrators, journalists, patrons and have helped to develop the commercial side of the game. They have captained their countries, been Presidents of MCC and even baked cakes for Test Match Special.”
Zaki Cooper and Daniel Lightman, who co-curated the exhibition with MCC, said: “The exhibition is about Jews and cricket and hopefully brings to life how a small minority fell in love with the great game and used it to build community and to frame their sense of identity. It is a story not only about recurring prejudice and the frustration and elation of sport but also of integration and belonging. We hope that people who come to see it enjoy it and it leads to other communities telling their cricketing stories.”
The exhibition, which will run until 2025, covers the following sections: Jewish Cricketers and Influencers, Cricket, Anti-Semitism and Identity, Notable Characters, Grassroots, Maccabiah Games and Israel.
