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13 January - Annual kosher meal.

Why this Forum was created

Islam and Judaism are closer to each other than any other two religions. However many Muslims and Jews grow up in Britain knowing little about the other community. In 2004 a group of us decided that, even if we couldn’t change the world, we could do something to bring the two communities together locally, and set up the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester.

Our mission is set out in paragraph (3) of our Memorandum of Association which is reproduced below:

“3. The objects for which the Forum is established are to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish Communities of Greater Manchester; to educate members of the Muslim and Jewish Communities in relation to their shared values and common Abrahamic tradition, heritage, history and culture; and to promote better understanding within the wider community of the interests and values that are common to the Muslim and Jewish Communities.”

There are two main reasons for doing this

1. Muslims and Jews have many common interests which are better pursued if we act together. Some are listed below.
2. Learning more about each other, and making new friendships, enriches us as individuals as well as making our city a better place.

Some common interests of Muslims and Jews

• The right to hold religious beliefs
• The right to manifest religious practices
• The retention of religious humane methods of animal slaughter for food in the United Kingdom
• Campaigning for faith schools
• The retention of male circumcision
• The right to have religious observances respected by public bodies and the wider community
• The provision of acceptable methods of post mortem examinations

Some of the things we have done

We engage in practical activities to increase mutual understanding which participants enjoy. These are often educational, but whatever we do needs to be enjoyable, as otherwise people won’t come! Some examples are:

• Visiting mosques and synagogues
• Holding celebrations for religious festivals like Eid and Chanukah
• Group visits to Krakow, Auschwitz, Granada and Cordoba, Marrakech, Dubrovnik, Paris, Brussels and Lisbon.
• Several of us went on a study tour of Israel and the West Bank organised by the Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine.
• Informal dinners, which allow time for unstructured conversation
• Talks on matters such as our respective approaches to finance, marriage and divorce, funeral arrangements etc
• Monthly faith dialogues in partnership with the Faith Network 4 Manchester
• Faith awareness sessions in schools and youth groups
• Bringing women together to celebrate International Women’s Day

Our annual accounts, give full details of the events organised in each year.

Becoming a member

We welcome new members. You can download a membership form from the "Join us" page.

Joint Declaration Against Hate

We are signatories. Click thumbnail for larger image.

PDF version

Crowded places guidance

Many Muslim and Jewish organisations are responsible for crowded places, such as schools, mosques and synagogues.

We recommend the guidance published by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office.

Reporting suspicious activity

In an emergency, call 999.

Otherwise, the national freephone number for suspicious activity, such as people who may be scouting your premises, or suspected terrorists, is 0800-789-321.

Reporting hate crime

In an emergency, call 999.

Otherwise, report hate crime to the police by calling 101.

You can also report antisemitic hate crime to the Community Security Trust and anti-Muslim hate crime to Tell MAMA.

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