Beth Henwood and Beth Williams, CCJ Campus Leadership Programme Managers, on their recent visit to Jackson’s Row Synagogue in Manchester

Slightly soggy from the Manchester rain we were met with the warmest greetings and smiles. Even on a day of such personal reflection and spirituality the welcome was evident. A member of the congregation helpfully gave us a service book, suggested where it would be good to sit, and gave us an inkling of what to expect. There was a somewhat sombre atmosphere as we entered the sanctuary, a gentle buzz of people welcoming one another but unspoken consensus that this was a deeply personal, special, and reflective day.

Service book in hand we took our seats. Stumbling through knowing when to stand and when to sit we were guided by the shuffling sounds of those around us and the English translations in the service books. There was a sense of some familiarity yet not in a way previously known. Texts were familiar, but we were experiencing them for the first time through sung melody and Hebrew. The tune, harmony, and melody of the congregation echoed around the sanctuary creating a beautiful sound.

It was inspiring to see the whole community considered and cared for. There were activities for the children, people joining online, and community members leading sung and read parts of the service via zoom. Inclusion and accessibility were evident. A young person who had recently had her Bat mitzvah read a portion of the Torah. She was understandably nervous but there was a tangible supportive atmosphere for her as she read. Alongside this a member of the security team read his portion on zoom. It felt like there was a deep sense of community spirit as these members of the congregation were celebrated for all they do and what they give to the wider community as they were called up to read.

The sense of reverence for God and a heart for repentance was thick. Through the service book with readings and passages read in both English and Hebrew, Rabbi Robyn helped everyone reflect on things that they needed to ask for forgiveness to God for. She read a poem that highlighted types of sin to help aid the congregation. This poem explored both the sin of doing things that are selfish and self-centred as well as not doing selfless things or acts that bring glory to God. What struck me most from the poem was the line about not loving yourself as your neighbour and recognising and realising how God sees your worth. I hadn’t considered this in this way before. 

There’s so much more to say as we continue to think about the day. But on a slightly lighter note, to conclude this reflection a question we’re still pondering is how the children’s showing of Finding Nemo was watched and discussed with a Yom Kippur theme woven through? Any thoughts are always greatly welcomed as we continue to learn and experience more.

To those that gave us that heartfelt welcome and radiant smile on your high holy day thank you.

To finish I leave you with a quote for contemplation from one of the poems shared in the service…

… for the mistake of not loving ourselves for being who we are
… for the mistake of forgetting that we are all connected in love to all that lives and breathes
… for the mistake of not seeing the divine image in all human beings, including ourselves.
(Al Cheit/For the Mistake by Rabbi Danny Newman)