The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opened for visitors in London on Thursday, but the historic moment has been partially overshadowed by the outrage over its only listed sponsor - billionaire entrepreneur and investor Igor Tulchinsky - and his links to Israel and the IDF.
The world-famous 70-meter-long Bayeux Tapestry depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
Since its creation, France has held the embroidery. However, following an historic agreement, France has agreed to loan it to the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
For the first time in almost 1000 years, the tapestry is back in London and viewable to the public as of Thursday.
Igor Tulchinsky, the only listed sponsor, presents the exhibition.
Tulchinsky is the billionaire founder and CEO of WorldQuant, a global quantitative investment firm. He was born to a Jewish family in Minsk, Belarus, which at the time was part of the USSR. He then fled the country with his family and immigrated to the US.
He told the publication Fortune that his parents, both accomplished musicians, were only allowed to leave Belarus with 1 ruble, worth anywhere between 20¢ and 50¢ according to black market rates.
While he does not speak often about it publicly, Tulschinsky has significant ties to Israel, and the first-ever WorldQuant office was in Ramat Gan. He is also a major supporter of Chabad.
Despite being worth around $1.7 billion and working in the heart of the technological revolution, Tulschinsky has chosen to sponsor an ancient tapestry.
Why has Tulschinsky chosen to sponsor an ancient tapestry?
Tulchinsky told Fortune that bringing history to the next generation of young people drives him to act, and that seeing something both physical and ancient sparks greater creativity and a deeper sense of what only humans can do.
“When you just give money to somebody, they take the money, they spend it, it’s gone,” he said. “When you give somebody a skill, the skill stays with them their whole life, and maybe a part of it gets transferred across generations, and so on. It’s like in business. I look for maximum output per dollar spent. In philanthropy, I also look for maximum impact for dollar spent.
“If you look deeply enough, [it gives you a] kind of respect and humility and understanding that perhaps in some ways those times were much more difficult and demanded strength and character that may not be in such demand today.”
However, it is not his philanthropy for Jewish groups nor refugee roots that has caused a storm.
What caused issues is Tulchinsky's funding of a community center in Efrat, which is a settlement in the West Bank - an area now under UK sanctions.
In November 2025, Tulchinsky unveiled a “therapy yurt” in Efrat’s Mondlak Center alongside Rabbi Efraim Duchman from Colel Chabad, Efrat Mayor Dovi Shefler and Keren Efrat (Efrat Foundation) leaders.
During the inauguration of the yurt, Tulchinsky dedicated the center to “Israel’s heroes,” and spoke of how important healing is for Israel’s future security.
“Just as we train our soldiers to run toward fire, we must train our citizens to run toward healing with the same courage,” he said. “Every survivor who stands back up again declares to the world: ‘You can wound us, but you will never break us!’”
Middle East Eye and various pro-Palestine groups cited Ed Miliband's recent announcement of sanctions on settlements, as well as his declaration that anything past the Green Line is now officially considered illegal by the UK government.
"So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this: You will face the full force of UK sanctions. Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country," said Miliband on Tuesday.
Tulchinsky owns Israel-based defense tech-focused venture capital fund
Additionally, MEE reported on Wednesday that Tulchinsky owns a defense tech-focused venture capital fund based in Israel headed by a recently retired army commander who has promoted the use of remote-controlled vehicles in Gaza.
MEE appears to be referring to WorldQuant Genesis, which launched in April 2026 in Tel Aviv. It focuses on early-stage research companies combining AI, robotics, and biotechnology.
WorldQuant Genesis is headed by Major General Saar Tzur, who retired from the IDF in August 2026 after 35 years. Tzur previously commanded the Northern Corps and served as Head of Maneuver Array.
Additionally, MEE spoke of an interview Tulchinsky gave to The Jerusalem Post in March 2026, where he said he had provided financial support to the Israeli army since the 7 October 2023.
CTech reported that the amount Tulchinsky has donated to Israeli initiatives since October 7 is approximately NIS 30 million.
Artists for Palestine UK called the British Museum’s decision to partner with Tulchinsky “outrageous” and "shameful"
“Given Tulchinsky appeared to be seeking to profit from Israeli military activities through his business interests, his sponsorship of the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition is shameful. How are ethical standards and international law not guiding factors in such decisions?" it added.
The Post reached out to the British Museum and Igor Tulchinsky for comment.