The Revd Clare Downing, Moderator of the United Reformed Church North Western Synod, has joined the Greater Manchester Faith Community Leaders in standing in solidarity with the local Jewish community following the heinous attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, on 2 October.
In the statement, the community faith leaders said:
“We stand in solidarity with the local Jewish community following a serious incident at a synagogue in north Manchester. This is an appalling attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.
“We share the Mayor of Greater Manchester`s thoughts: ‘We think of them and their families as they recover from this incident.'”
The leaders affirmed the work of the emergency services and asked people not to speculate on any aspect of the incident. They continued:
“We pray for the wider Jewish community who are understandably in shock.
“Today and every other day the faith communities in Greater Manchester actively stand together against hate and with our diverse communities.”
Clare added: “Please pray for the Jewish community of Manchester in the light of the Synagogue attack this morning. Pray too for those of all faiths and none, that all may continue to work for peace and community cohesion across the city and beyond.”
Crumpsall is a multi-cultural area in Manchester. The attack took place on Yom Kippur, which is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It is marked by a focus on atonement and repentance. The atrocity also comes five days before the second anniversary of attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Israel on 7 October 2023.
The United Reformed Church makes the following prayer available for all who may find it useful in private or corporate prayer:
With our Jewish sisters and brothers,
we grieve, mourn, and pray,
bringing to the Eternal One,
our pain and protest,
our tears and tenderness,
our fears and failures.
O Most High,
we lift to You all who live in fright and anger,
especially today the Jewish communities of Manchester;
bring peace and security,
tenderness – even in the face of tragedy,
and balm for the affliction of our souls.
With those praying and fasting, Risen Lord,
we long for redemption from hatred and terror.
We yearn for a just and equal world where all are safe,
whether in the street, at work, or at worship
in synagogue, mosque, temple, gurdwara, or church.
Guide with Your wisdom, Holy Spirit,
the police and security services as they investigate,
civic and religious leaders as they work for calm,
that none may exploit devastation to bring division,
so that believer and non believer alike may work together for the good of all.
Finally, Eternal God,
we remember before You those murdered today,
and their family, friends, and communities,
may your perpetual light shine upon them, and give them peace
as we seek to build a better world.
Amen.
The Greater Manchester Faith Community Leaders list of signatories is as follows:
Manjari Patel and the Revd Ian Rutherford, Panel Co-Chairs of the Greater Manchester Faith and Belief Advisory Panel.
Christian
From the Church of England: Rt Revd David Walker (Bishop of Manchester);
Rt Revd Mark Davies (Bishop of Middleton);
Very Revd Rogers Govender (Dean of Manchester)
From the Catholic Church of England and Wales: Rt Revd John Arnold (Bishop of Salford)
From the Methodist Church: Rev Katie Smith (Greater Manchester Plus Mission Area)
From the United Reformed Church: Revd Clare Downing (Moderator, North Western Synod)
From the Apostolic Pastoral Congress: Archbishop Doyé Teido Agama (Senior Pastor, Christian Way of Life Churches, and Former Presiding Prelate and Executive Director, Apostolic Pastoral Congress);
Bishop Clive Whittle;
From the Baptist Church: Nicolas Hookey (Head of Chaplaincy, Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, and chair-elect of GM Healthcare Chaplains Collaborative)
Muslim
Rabnawaz Akbar (Makki Masjid, Longsight)
Nilofar Siddiqi (Sufi representative)
Aftab Ahmad (Shi’a representative)
Sajjad Haider (Shi’a representative)
Amer Salam (al-Khizra Mosque, Cheetham Hill, UK Islamic Mission)
Zahid Hussain (Muslim community)
Hindu
Dr Kaushik Chakraborty (representative from Hindu Faith Community)
Prof Nawal Prinja (Trustee, Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple Manchester)
Nidhi Sinha (she/her), Founder, Sangha (Connecting People, Building Community)
Sikh
Jagtar Singh Ajimal
Sukhbir Singh
Jain
Suresh Mehta (Trustee, Jain Samaj Manchester)
Manjari Patel
Buddhist
Jill Brennan, (a member of Soka Gakkai International, endorsing this in a personal capacity)
Faith Network 4 Manchester
Rev Canon Charles Kwaku-Odoi DL (Trustee, Faith Network for Manchester)
GM Networks Connect
Revd Ian Rutherford, City Centre Minister, Methodist Central Hall, Manchester