Salford event challenges misconceptions about Haredi Jewish life

Community leaders, politicians and Jewish representatives gathered at Salford Civic Centre on 14 June for a discussion aimed at challenging misconceptions about Haredi Jewish life and encouraging greater understanding between communities.

The event formed part of the Board of Deputies’ Jewish Culture Month celebrations and Salford’s centenary programme. It featured a conversation between Owen Power, a deputy for York Liberal Jewish Community, and independent Salford councillor Andrew Walters, who represents Kersal and Broughton Park.

Organisers said the evening sought to highlight the diversity within Haredi communities, which are often incorrectly viewed as a single, uniform group.

Among those attending were Salford’s Ceremonial Mayor, Councillor Robin Garrido, Board of Deputies vice-president Jeremy Micholson, co-chair Dame Louise Ellman, fellow deputies, local councillors, community group leaders and members of Menorah Synagogue and Manchester Reform Synagogue.

Reflecting on the discussion, Councillor Walters said: “A thoroughly eclectic evening covering the nature of evil, drug policy reform, Jewish funeral rites, Enid Blyton, potatoes, mental health, linguistics, etymology, why we sway whilst praying, the difference between Chareidi and Chasidic, the pronunciation of the voiceless velar fricative (like the Scottish ‘loch’) and why ‘Ultra-Orthodox’ is a linguistic nonsense; orthodoxy is non-gradable, so it can’t take a qualifier.”

A British Sign Language interpreter was present throughout the event to ensure it was accessible to D/deaf participants.

Power said: “We were determined the event would be accessible, BSL interpreter Andy Higgins ensured it was, and we were delighted two D/deaf guests were able to fully participate in the event and share their experiences of feeling excluded from services and community life.”

The event was one of a series taking place across the country as part of Jewish Culture Month, which aims to showcase Jewish life, heritage and culture to wider audiences.