The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish communities of Greater Manchester
On 29 October 2023 Mothers Against Violence organised a free multicultural event at Manchester Cathedral to fight antisemitism, racial prejudice and hate crimes across Greater Manchester. Mohammed Amin spoke about Islam and Manchester’s Muslims, and Cllr Heather Fletcher spoke about the work of the Forum.
Heather spoke about the Jewish teaching of "Hachnasat Orchim" (hospitality) as displayed by the prophet Abraham, and the need to welcome refugees, some of whom were her ancestors.
On Saturday 8 October 2022, Caritas Diocese of Salford organised an event to increase awareness of hater crime. Heather spoke about how the Forum brings people together.
At Adam Day 2022, Co-Chair Heather Fletcher and Executive Committee Member Qaisra Shahraz received awards for their long-term support of Adam Day. Our Co-Founder Afzal Khan CBE MP also received an award.
The Royal College of Defence Studies recently brought a group of its students to Manchester for a week.
As part of that, on Monday 6 December 2021 they had a session with our Co-Chairs Mohammed Amin and Cllr Heather Fletcher about Greater Manchester’s faith communities and the role of the Muslim Jewish Forum.
The page contain's Mohammed Amin’s presentation and Heather Fletcher's speaking notes.
This year the theme was “Equality through the Power of Prayer.” The page includes the text of Heather's speech and a video recording of the full event.
Each day during Ramadan 2020, the Foundation For Ethnic Understanding asked a Muslim to record a Ramadan message for the FFEU's worldwide audience. Our Executive Committee members Mohammed Amin and Qaisra Shahraz were honoured to be contributors, and their videos can be watched on the page.
The University's Muslim Chaplain Imam Rashid Musa arranged for Co-Chairs Mohammed Amin and Cllr Heather Fletcher to speak to students at the University's Faith Centre. The presentation was recorded and can be watched on the page.
The Holocaust stands out because the Nazis wished to exterminate all Jews, regardless of their age or innocence or loyalty to the German state. The Holocaust is the reason we have the word “genocide” and the post-war Genocide Convention. Holocaust Memorial Day also commemorates the other internationally recognised genocides of Cambodia, Rwanda, Srebrenica, etc. Mohammed Amin had a 22-minute appearance on the Islam Channel, alongside a Jewish guest to explain why everyone should commemorate the Holocaust.
This rally was held to counter one organised by the Football Lads Alliance. Rather than give that group more publicity, Heather chose to give examples of Muslims and Jews cooperating in Manchester, London and nationally.
In this short speech at Khizra Masjid, Heather talked about her first visit to a mosque, and the importance of getting to know people from different communities.
Our Co-Chair explained the concept of "Achdut" (togetherness) and in particular seeing the spirituality in other people, even though they are different, and feeling at one with them. She emphasised how the Forum does this throughout the year, not just after tragedies such as the Manchester Arena bombing.
The Ramadan Tent Project aims to hold iftars around the UK which are open to people of all faiths and none. Our Co-Chair Mohammed Amin was asked if he would speak about the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester at an iftar to be held at Manchester University, and was delighted to do so on 14 June 2017.
Co-Chair Mohammed Amin gave a short 5 ½ minutes speech on 4 September 2016 explaining how being involved with the Forum has changed his life, and why he believes the Forum has succeeded.
53 minute interview recorded on 3 August 2016. The first 31 minutes are about the EU Referendum, where the Forum has no view, but then it concentrates entirely on the Forum. The embedded recording is configured to start at that point.
Our Co-Chair spoke explained why the concept of "Hachnasat orchim" (welcoming the stranger) is so important to Jews, and its relevance in today's Britain.
Co-Chair Mohammed Amin's article in the Winter 2015/2016 issue of the Council of Christians and Jews magazine. The magazine's theme was the trilateral relationship between Christians, Jews and Muslims, both in the UK and overseas.
Heather explained the Jewish concept of mishpacha (family) and how this can be extended to all of humanity, which is Adam Day's key message. She also highlighted examples of Muslims and Jews working together.
Speakers for Schools is a charity which organises prominent people to give free talks to state schools. Our Co-Chair Mohammed Amin has been doing speaking engagements for them since January 2015. While most of the talks so far have been about lessons from his personal journey and career, Hazel Grove High School asked him to talk to their sixth form about the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester.
On 27 February 2015 Jonny Wineberg and Mohammed Amin wrote a blog on the Board of Deputies website about what they have been doing to protect the right to practice shechita and halal slaughter in the UK.
The Forum's Jewish Co-Chair Heather Fletcher was invited to speak on behalf of the Forum at the launch of the Manchester Council of Mosques in the Great Hall at the Town Hall on Sunday 22 February 2015. She explained how the Forum enabled Muslims and Jews together on issues of common interest, and how it had broadened her own Muslim contacts.
Both of our Co-Chairs, Jonny Wineberg and Mohammed Amin, were part of a three person panel discussing religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue. The format meant that much of the discussion was about the history of the Forum and its achievements.
Our Company Secretary Heather Fletcher was asked to contribute to this column. She chose to write about the twinning between a Muslim and a Jewish school, and how the Muslim Jewish Forum developed.
Dr Peter Bell MBE was a founder member of Leeds Concord back in 1976 and served as General Secretary until his death in 1999. Since 2010 Leeds Concord has held a lecture in his memory. It was a great honour for David Berkley and Mohammed Amin to be asked to jointly give the 2013 lecture. They chose to talk about what they have learned from their experiences with the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester.
This is based upon a speech about the Forum that he gave at a conference on "Moving beyond the Rhetoric: Increasing Trust and Respect between Faiths, Beliefs, Cultures and Communities” which was held in parallel with the Global Peace and Unity Event on 25 October 2010.
The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish Communities of Greater Manchester
