Rabbi Kath Vardi (Menorah), Marc Levy (Jewish Representative Council of Manchester), Cathy Knowles (Menorah), Daniela Grudsky (Chargé d’Affaires, Israeli Embassy), Efrat Perri (Director of Public Diplomacy, Israeli Embassy), Marissa Goldstone (Sha’arei Shalom), Rabbi Charley Baginsky (Co-Lead The Movement for Progressive Judaism) and Eric Langer (Manchester Reform Synagogue)
Representatives of Manchester’s Progressive Jewish communities met with senior figures from the Israeli Embassy during a special visit hosted by Menorah Synagogue.
Daniela Grudsky, Chargé d’Affaires, and Efrat Perri, Director of Public Diplomacy, met with leaders from Menorah Synagogue, Sha’arei Shalom and Manchester Reform Synagogue, together with Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Co-Lead of The Movement for Progressive Judaism, and Marc Levy of the Jewish Representative Council of Manchester.
The discussion explored the current situation in the Middle East, its impact on Progressive Jewish communities in the UK, and the importance of hearing a wide range of voices from both Israel and the British Jewish community.
Cathy Knowles, Chair of Menorah Synagogue, said: “It was very useful for each of the three Manchester Progressive synagogues to share how the situation in the Middle East has affected their communities.”
Rabbi Kath Vardi added: “This was a very welcome and constructive meeting. Over the last year our synagogue has really appreciated hearing different voices from Israel, so we better understand and explore their perspectives.”
The meeting provided an opportunity for open conversation and strengthened connections between local Progressive Jewish communities and representatives of the Israeli Embassy.
Rabbi Charley Baginsky said: “Progressive Jewish life is rooted in communities across the country. It was deeply meaningful to be in Manchester, listening to local voices and seeing that same commitment from the Embassy to engaging with the breadth of Jewish life across the UK.”