The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish communities of Greater Manchester
24 November 2024
On the afternoon of Sunday 24 November, over 20 people braved the miserable weather to gather in Salford Civic Centre in Swinton. They were attending our annual “Loose Lawyers” panel event.
The format is very simple. Two Muslim and two Jewish lawyers give their responses to a single question, before taking comments and questions from the floor. This year’s question was: “Which Jewish or Islamic religious laws would England benefit from incorporating in her laws?”
Salford Civic Centre is the home of Salford City Council, and the event was opened by the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Councillor Tanya Burch. She congratulated the Forum on having organised 150 events over 19 years to bring Muslims and Jews closer together.
The Forum’s Jewish Co-Chair Cllr Heather Fletcher who is herself a solicitor, now non-practicing, chaired the event.
She explained that one of the Muslim panellists was unable to attend due to a family medical emergency. The other panellists were:
The panellists all emphasised the priority that Jewish and Islamic law both give to ethical behaviour, fair dealing, the preservation of life, protection of the environment, and the reduction of inequality.
One speaker half jokingly suggested that the Jewish prohibition of boiling a kid (young goat) in its mother’s milk could be applied in the UK to improve the nation’s health by banning cheeseburgers!
Another emphasised the development of Islamic finance which has strong principles about avoiding excessive contractual uncertainty and risk sharing between the financier and the person being financed.
Another reminded the audience of the priority Jewish law puts on meeting one’s family and marital commitments and its focus on children, some of which could be imported into English law.
There was a lively question and answer session followed by a vote of thanks given by the Forum’s Executive Committee Member June Rosen.
After the formal proceedings the participants shared tea, coffee and kosher cakes, since the Forum aims to get Muslims, Jews, and people of other faiths to get to know each other better.
Richard Cohen, who is from Essex and was in the North West to attend a meeting of the Board of Deputies of British Jews said:
“While such meetings do not pretend to move the tectonic plates of Middle East diplomacy, they do underline the Churchillian dictum that ‘Jaw Jaw is better than War War.’
The Forum celebrates its twentieth anniversary next year. Long may it smooth the wheels of interfaith dialogue. Thanks to Mohammed Amin for inviting me and we must set up a similar body in London.”
The Forum’s Company Secretary Tahara Amin who is Muslim said:
“The overlaps in Jewish and Islamic law that the panellists mentioned today remind us just how close the two religions are. While the details of how Muslims and Jews conduct prayers differ, their underlying religious principles (“theology” in academic language) are almost identical.”
The group photo above shows the panel seated at the front. From right to left (from the people's perspective):
Behind them are some of those who attended:
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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