Councillors from the North West learn about Jewish community at Manchester seminar

Jewish concerns from antisemitism to Israel and social care to community sustainability were shared with councillors from throughout the North West at a seminar held at King David High School in Manchester.

The event was organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews Regional Manager Sara Radivan and Manchester Jewish Representative Council (JRC) Chief Executive Marc Levy.

More than 60 people from across the region attended, coming from as far afield as Cumbria and Fylde. There were sessions on the Manchester community, Israel, social care, the Strictly Orthodox community and small and dispersed communities, as well as an introduction to Judaism. There was moving testimony from Holocaust survivor Tomi Komoly. Also speaking were:

• CST’s Regional Security and Incidents Manager Jonny Basger
• St Anne’s Synagogue’s Rabbi Danny Bergson
• Friendship Circle Founder Esty Bruck
• Herschel Weiss Children’s Centre Director Michelle Ciffer
• King David High School Executive Head Teacher John Dalziel
• Fed CEO Mark Cunningham
• Special Spirits Director Chaya Einhorn
• Jewish Orthodox Forum Chair Meir Factor
• Lancaster and Lakes Jewish Community Secretary Fiona Frank
• Whitefield Hebrew Congregation Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag
• Liberal Judaism Board Member and Salford Resident Owen Power
• Bury South MP Christian Wakeford
• Manchester Jewish Community Care CEO Michelle Wiseman
• Manchester Maccabi Board Member Bernie Yaffe

Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Amanda Bowman said: “ Whether councillors represent large numbers of Jewish residents or only a handful, it is critical to understand their needs. It was fantastic to have such a great turnout who came to learn and engage on the needs and concerns of the Jewish Community.”

JRC Chief Executive Marc Levy said: “We place a huge emphasis on working with elected representatives from across Greater Manchester and the surrounding regions.

We were therefore delighted to join communal partners to facilitate an excellent seminar with such a large number of elected representatives from local government.

“Seminars like this are important to enable us to continue advocating on all critically important issues on our communities agenda.”

Ends

Photo: L-R Michelle Ciffer Director Hershel Weiss Children Centre; Marc Levy CEO, Manchester Jewish Representative Council; Amanda Bowman, Board of Deputies Vice President; Sara Radivan Regional Manager, Board of Deputies; Ed Horwich Director, Jewish Small Communities Network