Over 100 Jews, Muslims and Christians discuss Islamophobia and anti-Semitism
Over 100 Jewish, Christian and Muslims people came together at the Jewish Museum in Manchester to discuss anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Hosted by a number of interfaith organisations last Thursday, the event saw two panels discuss the sensitive issues with an array of expert speakers.
Chaired by the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) director, Dr Jane Clements, the first panel included Dr Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust, Dr Mustafa Baig, from the centre for the Study of Islam in the UK at Cardiff University, and Prof Philip Alexander, University of Manchester 
The second panel, chaired by Dr Micharl Ipgrave, CCJ chair, included Imam Qari Asim of Leeds Makkah mosque, and the head of RE at King David School, Rabbi Benjamin Rickman. Also speaking, was Yasmeen Akhtar, Three Faiths Forum (3FF) Programme Manager, David Arnold , CCJ Manchester Co-Chair, Pasha Shah, Chair, the Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine.
Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko of the Council of Christians and Jews praised the event for bringing people together to speak about issues which they had previously not had the opportunity too.
Writing on the Jewish News Interfaith channel, she said: “we can’t avoid discussing these two evils anymore, and it is ever more powerful when we are able to discuss them together, to hear one another and to examine our innermost selves.”
Rabbi Benjy Rickman told Jewish News: “When we learn to listen and are brave to reach outside our own community we can make a world worth living in. More unites than divides and we are our brothers keepers, in difficult time and in times of joy.”
Imam Qari Asim said: “We must join hands and heads to eliminate prejudice, bigotry and intolerance from our society – whether it be anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred or hatred towards other minority communities. There should be no place in Britain for any kind of prejudice and hatred.”
The event was hosted by the International Abrahamic Forum (IAF), in partnership with CCJ, 3FF and the Manchester Muslim Jewish Forum.
Opening remarks were made by Rabbi Ehud Bandel (co-chair of IAF), whilst closing remarks were made by Francesca Frazer who is IAF Coordinator and on the advisory Council of CCJ.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
