We are a shul with a history – and we are also a shul with a
future. That future was the theme of Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner’s visit to
Jackson’s Row yesterday. As our rebuilding draws ever closer, we gathered
together to share our visions about our new home, and to be inspired by our
very inspirational Senior Rabbi.
Laura started by asking us who we all were. What emerged
from that was a picture of a hugely committed, caring community – diverse but
united in their hopes for our synagogue. Some members were born into the
synagogue, others were on the conversion course, about to join. Others have
given a lifetime of service to the synagogue, others were brimming with
enthusiasm to do just that. People led services, prepared kiddushes, did
security duty, looked after our web presence, sang in the choir, ran family
services, did outreach work – not to mention the President and his team who are
working tirelessly on finalising the new build. Laura was – to coin a phrase –
quite gobsmacked. She said our loyalty and continuity was something very
special. As indeed it is!
We then all talked about our new building, and how we saw
our community in the future. We all agreed we want a beacon synagogue – a
building which has prayer at its heart, but also will be the go-to place for
city-working and city-dwelling Jews. Laura stressed how we can exploit our
position in the city centre, and encouraged us to think of the new
opportunities change will bring. She said we can be a magnet for Jewish life in
Manchester.
What’s not in any doubt is that our new building will allow
us to do so much more than we can do at present. We will be able to hold all
sorts of events, cater for members and guests, house learning resources and –
ta-dah! – be able to park! The future looks very, very bright.
We also talked about the interim period, when we’ll be
without a synagogue building. Danny, our President, made it clear that a lot of
sound arrangements were already in place, and that we will continue worshipping
in the city centre and also that Rabbi and Mandy will have offices here. And of
course, Friday night services can be held in homes. As indeed they were last
Shabbat – we had services in both North and South Manchester which attracted 10
times as many congregants as usual – a big thank you to Sharon and Brendan and
Isabel and Peter for lending us their homes.
Even if we don’t have a permanent synagogue building for a
while, it became very clear from Rabbi Laura’s meeting with us that we have the
desire to keep our community life alive in the interim, and will more than rise
to the challenge of being in transit. Rebuilding? No problem - we’ve done this
before! And Danny and the Rabbi were
also able to assure us that the most treasured artefacts of our sanctuary will
be moving with us to our temporary home.
A huge thank you to Rabbi Laura, and kol hakavod to all of
us. To the future!
