1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

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Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region
Tel/Fax: 0161 720 8721
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Issue 28
Spring 2015
The Omer 5775
Representative Council Initiative
gets 135,000 to protect Shechita
On February 12, Sharon Bannister, President of The Jewish Representative
Council of Greater Manchester & Region became aware of a House of
Commons debate scheduled for February 23 in Westminster Hall to consider
an e-petition to “End non-stun slaughter to promote animal welfare”.
This petition was started by Sally
scientific
evidence
showing
around
required
10
months
100,000
to
gather
signatures.
the
Our
facebook and emails and the great
of religion in Britain.
care about animal welfare and the
response of the Jewish and Muslim
freedom of religious practice.
communities and our friends.
What was most gratifying was
required
website of the pre-eminent animal
promoted by the BVA. It had taken
how the strength of feeling shown
than
the
100,000 signatures.
welfare
That same evening Sharon and
Council
Vice-President,
Jonny
academic,
Sally
Burnell’s
started
in
petition
April
to
2014
ban
marketing
the
some
and
more
Jewish
and
and so many others others who truly
was
received
Council
ban. It was signed by Jews, Muslims
properly. It included a link to the
when
practised
targeted
the
and others who care about freedom
had
( B VA ) ,
is
excellent
Muslim Jewish Forum, along with
and
Association
suffering
between
to
days had overtaken the petition to
religious
of
due
Representative
minimisation
slaughter
was
in 9 days, not months, and after 10
Veterinary
British
survey
cooperation
Strategy
the
the
petition reached the 100,000 target
Burnell, Director of Policy, Media &
at
135,000 signatures. The success of
through
Having achieved this amazing
impact, the Council hopes that
the
Dr
through the petition was
strength of feeling the petition has
Temple Grandin. It also
reflected in the debate in
demonstrated will cause the BVA
made
Westminster
Hall,
and FSA to focus on improving their
clear
that
Wineberg, rang Mohammed Amin,
abattoirs frequently fail
where it was referred to
monitoring of slaughterhouses and
the Muslim Co-Chair of the Muslim
to
several
wider treatment of animals, rather
Jewish
animal
Forum
Manchester,
to
of
Greater
suggest
a
joint
petition supporting the protection of
religious slaughter in the UK and
effectively
stun
e f f e c t i v e l y,
thereby
causing
suffering.
dissemination
agreed. Jonny prepared the draft,
Mancunians,
Amin finalised and uploaded it onto
petition
the
picked
e-petitions
by
was
up
and
Jewish
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions.
The
petition
emphasised
shared
the
very
MP,
to
practices
communities.
We
the
our
know
two
that
appalling
of
Parliament and its institutions will be
the
more difficult but hope that it will
incidence
and
improved
European
have contributed to some extent.
If you want to help further this, or
monitoring by the Food
other,
Safety Agency.
the
attack
of
influencing
for
organisations
at
Hollobone
continuing
who took on board the
need
the
live
religious
quickly
Muslim
was
than
stuns
national
also
p r o p o s e r,
failed
by
It
debate’s
the
website and by 8am on February 13
petition
the
times.
seemed to influence the
Philip
Starting from initial
EU. Without any hesitation, Amin
G o v e r n m e n t ’s
the
campaigns,
contact
us
and
As the closing date
widely
approached, the petition
office@jewishmanchester.org
had
call us on 0161 720 8721
among Jews, Muslims
The petition topped the Government’s e-petition list in March 2015
received
over
e
m
a
i
l
by
a
t
or
Awesome Advocacy
The Representative Council, in partnership with the ZCC
and Stand With Us, held a hugely successful Israel
Advocacy Event with Neil Lazarus of Awesome Seminars
in March.
The previous evening, Neil had
Israel
activists.
Neil
kept
the
updated an audience of over 70 at
audience totally engrossed with his
South Manchester Synagogue on
different
the latest situation in
minds
Israel. At the
tactics
to
and
using
opened
more
their
effective
Bnei Akiva Bayit, he challenged the
methods
next generation of Israel advocates
any current situation between Israel
to
and the Palestinians
rethink
their
approach
to
campaigning.
discussion
regarding
Neil's book, 'The New Five Rules
Neil’s initial gambit was to play
devil’s
of
throwing
anti-
read for anyone getting involved in
participants
and
this work and if you go to his page at
giving them little time to gather their
www.awesomeseminars.weebly.com
thoughts.
you can join on of his online webinars.
Israel
advocate,
of Effective Israel Advocacy' is a must
rhetoric
at
As
the
evening
progressed, he ran through a range
of
communication
strategies
for
methods
engaging
with
and
anti-
Contact zcc.man@zen.co.uk to
get more involved as part of a new
advocacy group.
Sir Richard Leese spoke at the December meeting of the Jewish Representative Council, a month after the historic
announcement of devolution to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
THE COUNCIL'S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Sunday May 10th 2015 10.15am
Guest Speaker:
VOLVED WITH
ET IN
OUR
G
N
A
WO
C
R
U
O
Chief Inspector Umer Khan
Officer with responsibility for Cohesion at Greater Manchester Police
K
Y
Neil Lazarus speaking to a rapt group of seminar participants
For venue details, contact office@jewishmanchester.org
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16
1
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C
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720
8721
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The whole community is invited to attend
2
A Bishop for all
The new Bishop of Manchester, The Rt Rev David Walker,
shares his thoughts on his return to our City and
relationships with our community.
Returning to Manchester in late
of all backgrounds were able to visit
2013, to take up my post as its new
the death camp of Auschwitz and to
bishop, has brought a very welcome
share their stories with their fellow
return to living in a place in which the
students
Jewish community plays a visible
representatives
and significant part. I'm grateful to
certainly
the
something of the individual impact
Representative
Council
for
quickly making my wife Sue and
of
myself
feel
welcome.
community
back
helped
Shoah,
home.
me
but
That
understand
nothing
could
to
have fully prepared me to realise
homes and community events soon
what it meant in terms of a whole
showed
community.
that
good
Visits
the
and
relationships
have been built up and sustained
between
the
Council
and
my
predecessors.
My
first
to
Israel,
in
time that the six million who were
almost
were
not
unimaginable
just
an
number
of
November 2014, took advantage of
individuals but the greater part of an
the direct flights that now operate
entire
between Manchester and Tel Aviv. It
grandchildren
will remain one of the highlights of
escaped
my life to date. I had seen pictures of
survivors, as will be their children
many of the places we visited before,
and grandchildren yet unborn.
yet it was surprisingly moving to be
people.
or
for
the
London
most
significant
events
in
my
religious tradition.
One
of
the
The
children
of
those
survived
and
who
are
also
It was an extraordinary privilege
able to touch the locations of some of
me
to
attend
a
ceremony
r e c e n t l y,
most
emotionally
"Righteous
among
the
who had hidden and protected Jews
during the Holocaust. Not least, I
gather there day and night, knowing
was struck by the enormous efforts
that I was also praying alongside
still
those who have come to that holy
those deserving to receive it, even
spot
70 years after their bravery.
over
two
thousand
being
undertaken
to
It has also been a privilege to
I prayed were the same stones that
stand alongside Jewish and other
were
faith
touched
by
those
great
leaders,
in
response
to
the
teachers and holy ones, Christian
Paris massacre and for Holocaust
and
names
Memorial Day. We are stronger as
have travelled down the intervening
faith communities, and Manchester
centuries and still inspire us today.
is stronger as a city, when we unite
alike,
whose
The mixture of joy and tension
around
the
core
values
that
different religious traditions all seek
I witnessed first hand, brought home
to express, and work for the peace,
to
constant
wellbeing and flourishing of both our
proximity and fear of antisemitism
own people and all those who we
that is as much a part of modern
live among.
something
as
range,
the
'simulation'
Claytonbrook.
a
The group were shown the firing
the
Unit,
armoury
room,
range
Whittle- Head of Firearms Training
and
expertise. They reflect the variety of
for
communities
Johnson.
within
a
particular
advice
with
from
them,
Critical
when
incidents.
dealing
For
the
GMP
The
Inspector
visit
headed
experience
by
the
a
IAGs are made up of people with
of
up
with
and
and
Sergeant
David
meeting for the extended group at
North
Manchester
Headquarters
Inspector
during
Alan
Police
which
Kelly
Chief
made
a
presentation on 'Stop and Search'.
Shaun
Chief
Inspector
Patrick
McKelvey explained, “The visit to
group
gained
a
detailed
The Firearms Training Unit by the
understanding of the very intensive
North
training
allowed
process
and
had
the
Manchester
them
to
IAG
gain
members
a
greater
Jewish community, this is incredibly
opportunity to handle different guns
understanding
important to ensure we can respond
(after strict safety procedures) and
Firearms officer in policing and the
to issues affecting our community.
learn in what circumstances they (or
professional manner in which they
Several
tasers) would be used.
are deployed. The members asked
Jewish
Representative
Council members serve on IAGs,
with
Executive
members
Filis
This visit dealt with the decisions
that
have
to
be
made
in
split
am
Tony Walker serving on the one for
in to preparing those involved. This
involvement
North Manchester.
was
understanding.”
the
regular
IAG
role
of
which was the purpose of the visit. I
seconds and the training that goes
by
the
lots of very challenging questions,
Rosenberg, Barbara Goldstone and
followed
of
very
pleased
and
with
their
their
greater
of
it
the
has
been
for
As Bishop of Manchester, part of
countless generations; and is part of
my role is to stand up for all those
Manchester as much as the Middle
who would place faith at the heart of
East.
both private and civic life. In my
In my time as a bishop in Dudley
second year I feel I am getting to
I was privileged to work with a local
know you all a little better, I hope that
MP, Ian Austin, whose father is a
will allow me to better discharge the
holocaust
responsibilities to which I have been
survivor.
Ian
worked
tirelessly to see that schoolchildren
in conjunction with
'Victours‘
cordially invite you to
our
that is the Jerusalem of today, which
life
at
identify
years. The stones I was touching as
Jewish
held
Nations"
and pray alongside the crowds who
me
was
Training
where
at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Jewish
session
Firearms
Ambassador Daniel Taub presented
awards to the descendants of those
well
The
in
charged experiences was to stand
for
Chief Inspector Patrick McKelvey reently arranged for several members of the North
Manchester IAG (Independent Advisory Group) to attend a familiarisation session in order
for the group to understand some of the aspects of the training of armed police, writes
Barbara Goldstone.
area, so that the Police can request
It came home to me for the first
exterminated
trip
Training to Fire
Beth Shalom
called.
June 28th 2015
8.30am prompt - 7:00 p.m.
Cost £20 (pre-payable) includes transport and entrance
The Bishop on a visit to King David High School earlier this school year
Ensuring Education
Barbara D Goldstone, Education Committee Chairman,
reports on recent developments.
This past few months, due to the
Tr o j a n
Horse
Birmingham,
intensified
schools.
situation
OFSTED
their
visits
to
area
we
are
looking
to
address
in
through our work on local SACREs
has
(Standing Advisory Committee on
faith
Religious Education).
Their main concern is the
We
have
representation
on
law and attitudes in modern Britain
SACREs
today.
Manchester Local Authority areas:
Unfortunately, our own faith
schools
have
s u ff e r e d
some
backlash due to their own religious
curriculum, and we are working with
our
colleagues
at
the
Board
of
Deputies to address some of the
concerns about religious sensitivity.
We are also concerned by the
fact that many people, ignorant of
our
religious
into
schools
practices,
are
going
talking
about
the
Jewish religion. We seek to ensure
that those going in to schools are
appropriately
qualified
and
competent to do so.
Greater
Bury: Mrs Barbara Goldstone
Please bring packed lunch, or a vegetarian lunch can be
provided for a further £8.50 which must be pre booked
th
Please R.S.V.P. by June 14 to
office@jewishmanchester.org
Tel No: 0161 720 8721
Bolton: Mrs Hilary Lewis
Oldham: Mr Marcus Irving Keller
Rochdale: Rabbi Tony Walker
in partnership with
Stockport: Carole Weinberg
Trafford: Mrs Sandra Stewart
Salford: Mr Alex Klein
Manchester: Rev. David Braunold
Tameside: Mr Michael Lowe
Wigan: Rabbi Arnold Saunders
Macclesfield: Mr Frank Vigon
Anyone
wishing
to
discuss
matters of religious education, or
should contact the Chair or ViceChair of the Education Committee,
particularly at senior levels, we have
Barbara D Goldstone and Jeremy
seen
Michelson
large
religious
ten
education,
a
in
all
Coach will leave from a North Manchester venue
get involved in our education work,
Due to the lack of specialised
teachers
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
in
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment
decrease
in
those
taking the subject. This is another
respectively,
Council office.
via
the
RepPresents can be downloaded from
www.jewishmanchester.org/RepPresents
where you can also find up-to-date articles on the Council’s work
3
Salford Interfaith From the President
debates the future
‘FAITH, Fervour and Fanaticism: the next generation’ was
the intriguing topic under discussion at the Salford
Interfaith Network (IFN) annual meeting at Pendleton
Gateway on February 19th, writes Judith Hayman.
Chair of Manchester Council of
Christians
and
Representative
Jews
Council
and
Friend
of
the Community 2014, Revd Canon
Steve Williams, said: “Good fervour
proud
of
being
fundamentalist
in
one sense as I need passion and
fervour
to
pass
on
faith
to
my
congregants.’’
Salford City College tutor and
embraces G-d in the other person
Chaplain,
whilst bad fervour is when you only
“When
see G-d in yourself. G-d is bigger
fanaticism?”
than us.”
Islam was a moderate religion and
Tu r n i n g
from
fervour
to
that
Imran
Kotwal,
does
the
love
He
asked:
turn
to
explained
Prophet
that
preached
n o t e d :
moderation. He said that the notion
“Fundamentalism is something we
that not enough was being done to
see in people other than ourselves.”
stop
f a n a t i c i s m
h e
fanaticism
in
mainstream
quoted
mosques was wrong. He said most
theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who
Muslims were radicalised through
rose to prominence in the 1930s as
the internet and foreign influences.
a vociferous opponent to Nazism.
He did not witness radicalisation in
Niebuhr said: “A tendency to claim
the
G-d as an ally for our partisan values
community in his town, Bolton.
Revd
and
Williams
ends
is
the
source
religious fanaticism.”
saw
the
humour
of
all
Rev Williams
of
the
older
25,000
strong
Muslim
The meeting was convened by
Salford
IFN
Council
chairman
past
and
President
Rep
Barbara
generation speaking for the younger
Goldstone. The aim of the IFN is to
when
build
he
quoted
theologian
John
friendship,
goodwill
and
Courtney Murray who said: “I don’t
understanding between people of
know
different
what
I’ve
said
until
I
understand what you’ve heard.”
Rev Williams spoke of the part
between
Christians
and
dialogue
on
Salford
his
Christian
Higher
Arnold
Saunders
Crumpsall
and
and
IFN
beliefs,
Muslims,
Jews
action.
member
through
Founder
Irfan
Syed
spoke of a sports initiative involving
motivation to ‘embrace the other’.
Rabbi
and
especially
the Tiaze community in France had
influencing
faiths
of
Higher
Broughton Synagogue said: “I am
Israeli teenagers visiting Salford. He
said:
“People
do
not
appreciate
There are many trials and
tribulations of being the
President in 2015 writes
Sharon Bannister.
that the need for such measures
Being President of The Jewish
one: ceremonial and administrative.
quickly
vanishes
It
and
function
h o n o u r,
delight
a
and
an
very
a
The role of President is a dual
Manchester
is
as
is wrong in this instance.
Representative Council of Greater
Region
although
realist, my head insists that my heart
is
the
President’s
to
be
representative
of
occasionally a duty to be borne with
Manchester
and
fortitude!
Community,
to
ceremonial
the
visible
the
Greater
Region
attend
Jewish
external
I have talked before about my
events where invitations have been
illustrious predecessors and I am
extended, to host events of our own,
sure that they in their time must
to be seen in the wider community,
have felt just as proud and pleased
to participate in Civil events and to
to have been chosen as President,
ensure
whilst
represented.
enduring
some
of
the
experience.
from
During the nearly 100 years of
the
C o u n c i l ’s
Community
existence,
has
thrived
our
and
that
as
This
Jews
we
are
in the Diplomatic Service may be not
be
anything
beyond possibility – except that to
prizegiving
lighting
candles
Holocaust
ceremonies,
at
Day,
at
International
meeting
with
continues
to
expand
its
H e b r e w,
which
activities. The Bogdanov lectures on
Reprsentative
the
can
Holocaust
Gaster
and
project
the
are
Moses
just
two
examples; and a visit to the Centre’s
website
is
recommended.
persuade
As
regards
appears
numbers
of
reasons
University,
is
impeded
by
hope
those
and
the
others
involved
to
reconsider.
Negatively, the Centre, like the rest
the
we
Council
to
of
be
students,
a
decline
Jewish
unknown.
there
in
students,
On
the
the
for
other
administrative decisions which help
hand, there seems currently to be
neither teaching nor research. A key
no problem of anti-semitism, though
example of such a decision is the
it is always necessary to be vigilant.
well
requires
of
gigantic
knowledge,
skill,
faith leaders, mayors and visiting
wisdom and not least time, none of
continues to be highly valued by
dignitaries
which
National and Local Governments,
speaker at one of our communal
civil and religious organisations and
organisation’s AGMs. In addition the
the wider community too. We can
job entails being a member of the
in
rightly hold our heads high in any
Board of Deputies of British Jews
inability
company and my experiences as
and
delegates to vote on Constitutional
President have not only confirmed
Council.
this
but
respect
astonished
shown
and
me
by
warmth
also
the
There
with
workings
to
the
being
Jewish
the
main
Leadership
is
of
also
the
the
internal
Council
explained
in
the
job
interview!
As I write this President’s piece
the
aftermath
change,
are
to
I
of
the
attract
am
Council’s
sufficient
saddened
that
the
sterling efforts of many people over
and
the past two years have not yet seen
which I have been received at every
Community,
monthly
real change in the way we run the
event and function I have attended
meetings of the full Council plus the
Council. The need for change was
in my capacity as President.
Executive
chairing
the
plus
the
first suggested 15 years ago so I
meetings
plus
suppose that the fact that we now
global
discussions with local and national
have firm proposals ready for a full
antisemitism has sadly continued.
politicians, council officials, police,
Council
The highly visible presence of police
other
fielding
achievement. I hope that we may
around our schools and institutions,
Press enquiries and all the other
quickly find some way around the
supplementing our own volunteers
questions
impasse and that the Council can
is both a comfort and a frightening
thrown your way.
Since
the
RepPresents,
last
the
edition
rise
in
of
development. It is my fervent wish
Honorary
meetings
Officers
communal
and
leaders,
queries
that
get
Put all that together and a career
Israel until they visit it.”
one to end the teaching of modern
all
experience, oratory ability, patience,
The news from Manchester University is both positive and
negative, reports Harry Lesser.
Positively, the Centre for Jewish
it
measures
the
News from Campus
Studies
do
vote
smoothly
on
move
is
some
towards
kind
our
of
next
100 years.
own volunteers is both
a comfort and a frightening
development. It is my
fervent wish that the need
for such measures quickly
vanishes although as a
realist, my head insists
that my heart is wrong in
this instance.
The role of President is
a dual one: ceremonial
and administrative. It is the
President’s ceremonial
function to be the visible
representative of the
COMMUNITY SHERMAN LECTURE 2015
th
Sunday, 26 April at 7.30pm
Professor Amy-Jill Levine
Speaking of the Middle East:
Jews and Christians in Dialogue and Dispute
at the
Manchester Jewish Museum
This is a FREE event.
For more information see www.manchesterjewishstudies.org
4
Get
the
Vote
Out
GENERAL ELECTION 2015
CHEADLE CONSTITUENCY HUSTINGS
Monday 27th April
The Council is working in
partnership with several
organisations to ensure our
community has every
opportunity to quiz
candidates in the
forthcoming General
Election.
Three
major
former
parties
MPs
will
be
at
from
the
the
first
You are invited to a local hustings for the Cheadle Parliamentary Constituency.
All seven declared candidates have confirmed their attendance
We hope you will join us to discuss and explore key issues with the candidates
Yeshurun Synagogue, Coniston Road, Cheadle
event on Monday 20th April along
with
a
representative
of
the
7.30pm to 9.30pm
Matthew Torbitt
Mark Hunter
Helen Bashford
Independent
Liberal Democrats
Independence from Europe
Shaun Hopkins
Martin Miller
Drew Carswell
UKIP
Labour Party
The Above and Beyond Party
new
Party on the block, UKIP. Ivan Lewis
is looking to retain his seat and,
possibly,
become
a
Minister
in
a
Labour-led Government.
Meanwhile
Conservative
Graham
Party
is
Brady’s
looking
to
return to power, but the Chair of the
1922 Committee has shown no sign
Mary Robinson
of
Conservative Party
wanting
a
Government
post.
Liberal Democrat Andrew Stunell, a
former
Minister
in
the
Coalition
If you wish to submit a question to be put to the candidates, please email jonny@fn4m.org
3 or 4 questions will be asked from those submitted and then questions will be taken from the floor
Government, will not be returning to
parliament as he is retiring from the
Commons.
Looking to upstage them all will
be Ian Henderson, who is hoping
handful for the Chair, our
that
own Jonny Wineberg.
a
UKIP
become
an
surge
MP.
will
see
These
hm
We hope that as many
special,
North West hustings will be chaired
of
by Angela Epstein, who is not known
possible will turn out for
for being short of an opinion herself!
these events and ensure
A week after these hustings, the
our
that
community
issues
as
important
to
Representative Council will partner
both our, and the wider,
with
community are addressed
one
of
Synagogues,
our
affiliated
Yeshurun,
and
two
by
candidates.
We
also
local interfaith groups, to host a local
hope that everyone able
hustings
seven
will use their vote wisely
declared candidates for the seat will
on May 7th and encourage
be participating, which should be a
others to do so.
for
Cheadle.
All
Winners of our Annual Community Challenge Quiz were Outreach, seen
here receiving their trophy from Council President, Sharon Bannister
FREE training for Faith and
small voluntary organisations
Faith Network 4 Manchester is holding several
training sessions in the next 2 months
Please visit us at
www.fn4m.org/content/training
for more information.
Community Engagement
Improving the say local people and organisations have in services
Wednesday 22nd April 2015, 6.30pm-9.30pm
Activity Planning
Increasing capacity and capability to plan and deliver effectively
Wednesday 29th April 2015, 6.30pm-9.30pm
Supervising and Appraising
Increasing effectiveness of performance management and support
Wednesday 6th May, 1.00pm-4.30pm
Group and Team Work
Learn how to use effective team working skills
Tuesday 12th May, 6.30pm- 9.30pm
Introduction to Fundraising
Maximising chances of eliciting support from grant making bodies
Wednesday 20th May 2015, 11am-4.30pm
All sessions at
Manchester Multifaith Centre
77 Thompson St, Manchester M4 5FY