The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish communities of Greater Manchester
27 April 2025
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On Sunday 27 April, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of our incorporation with a gala dinner in the prestigious, and recently refurbished, Buile Hill Park Hall in Salford. It was attended by almost 60 people who had travelled from as far afield as Durham, Essex, Leicester, and Yorkshire to attend.
The dinner brochure showed the high regard in which the Forum is held. Its opening page featured a letter from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commending the Forum for its work.
The reputation of the Forum was also evidenced by the high-profile speakers. They were recorded and you can hear them below.
Co-Chair Mohammed Amin MBE opened the proceedings by welcoming the guests and making the proceral announcements. He then mentioned how the BBC had contacted him after the death of Pope Francis.
Amin then handed over to Co-Chair Cllr Heather Fletcher who is currently the Deputy Ceremonial Mayor of Salford who was Master of Ceremonies for the evening. She introduced the religious benedictions which were being given before the food.
Former Co-Chair Jonny Wineberg then gave a Jewish benediction and Executive Committee Member Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar gave a Muslim benediction.
The first speaker was Mrs Diane Hawkins DL JP, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. She informed the guests that she considered the work of the Forum so important that she attended every event that she could, despite the many pressures on her diary.
She mentioned that Buckingham Palace had written that the King had been heartened to learn of the Forum’s efforts to nurture greater understanding between faiths.
Phil Rosenberg, the youngest ever President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews talked about the impact of the Forum. In particular he recalled that in 2015 the Forum’s petition to Parliament about the importance of preserving kosher and halal slaughter received over 100,000 signatures in only nine days.
Former Chair of Religions for Peace UK Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra from Leicester had previously spoken at the Forum’s 10th Anniversary dinner.
He said that he was delighted to be back for the 20th Anniversary. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis who had been his fellow keynote speaker at the 10th Anniversary had not been able to return as he was at the 80th Commemoration of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. Shaykh Ibrahim was concerned about the massive increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia caused by the current conflict in the Middle East, and the pain that British Muslims and Jews are feeling.
Mark Guterman, son of the Forum’s late Co-Founder Henry Guterman MBE, recounted how his father had found refuge in the UK after Kristallnacht in Germany in 1938, and his lifelong commitment to antiracism, evidenced by the very long list of organisations that he had been deeply involved in, as well as co-founding the Forum.
Afzal Khan CBE, MP for Manchester Rusholme, was the Forum’s other co-founder. He was delighted by the progress that the Forum had continued to make after he stepped back from it after becoming an MEP and then an MP. Afzal mentioned that in the past two decades the Forum had organised over 170 diverse events bringing together Muslim and Jewish people, and people of other faiths, who otherwise would never have met.
Executive Committee member Qaisra Shahraz MBE JP FRSA proposed the Loyal Toast, and Executive Committee member June Rosen proposed a toast to the Forum, before the Forum’s Treasurer David Lewis JP gave the vote of thanks.
Dr Bilal Tahir, Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield who is Muslim and was attending his first Forum event said:
“Attending the Muslim Jewish Forum’s 20th Anniversary Dinner was an inspiring and deeply emotional experience. Engaging with Jewish guests and discovering the profound similarities between our faiths, especially in our shared values, rituals, and ethical teachings, was enlightening.
The evening's emphasis on peace and unity amidst global challenges instilled a renewed sense of hope for interfaith harmony. The heartfelt speeches and the spirit of mutual respect reaffirmed my belief that, even in difficult times, our communities can come together to promote understanding and cohesion.”
Robert Kanter, who is Jewish, has previously spoken about the history of Muslim Jewish relations in the UK at three Forum events. He said:
“The 20th anniversary celebration meal was enjoyable and meaningful. As well as being able to connect with familiar and new faces, the speeches captured the tone effectively. I was particularly impressed with the content and impact of Phil Rosenberg’s and Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra's speeches. They both conveyed the need to empathise with each other and to maintain solidarity especially in light of the tragic situation in Israel and Gaza.
It was great to engage with new visitors to the forum and we hope to take this forward by making further contacts and planning opportunities for dialogue and sharing company in the future. Thanks to all of the organisers; may you all go from strength to strength as the Forum continues its vital work.”
The photograph below shows current Co-Chairs Cllr Heather Fletcher and Mohammed Amin along with Former Co-Chairs Jonny Wineberg and Afzal Khan cutting the kosher anniversary cake.
The photo below shows the speakers and benediction givers. From left to right:
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The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish Communities of Greater Manchester