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Remembering Henry COMMUNITY CHALLENGE In this personal tribute,Louis Rapaport , immediate past-President of the Representative The Rep Council'sAnnual Council, shares his personal memories of Henry Guterman MBE and urges others to come forward to carry on his important work. Charity QuizEvening The Jewish community my authority usually to little effect! that evening in fine spirits after hearing has suffered a great loss with the The record of Henry's involvement Henry's inspiring speech. 7.30pm Sunday 18 November '07 death of Henry Guterman. He was in so many organisations was I am sure that there is still so much unique in our community for the links tremendous. Henry worked with all the left unsaid about Henry and his life but Hilton Suite, Bury New Rd. he established between the differing different Faiths, welfare homes such perhaps my final memory was looking faiths in Manchester and beyond. as Heathlands and the Morris around the people who were present Call 720 8721 to book your table for a chance It was indeed a very sad moment Feinmann, Outreach, the Disabled at his funeral with Rabbis from all for all of us when he passed away last Living Association, The Jewish Youth sections of the Community and others to win £1,000 for your charity and May and particularly for me as I was Project, Police Committees and the representing the Muslim, Hindu and The Leslie Donn Challenge Cup one of Henry's oldest friends. Crown Prosecution Service and was Christian Faiths. There were also Henry Guterman came to this involved with Police Diversity Training. many present who were connected country shortly after Kristallnacht as a He was vice-Chair of Manchester with his many different interests in the important it is that we do not let the young man of 12 years of age. His Council for Community Relations, had city. many avenues of contact with the father was an executive in the soap a long association with the ZCC and Among the many messages of outside community, which Henry industry in Germany. Soon he found Media Response work and was condolence, which were sent to his opened, fail because nobody will take employment with Cussons and settled Chairman of the Trafford SACRE and family, were those from the Chief on the responsibility of following in his in Manchester with his wife and two a Governor of Burnage High School. Rabbi, The Israeli Ambassador, the footsteps. sons, Louis and Henry. He was president of this Council from Chief Constable of Manchester, the In the words of Rabbi Ellituv at the Henry had an extensive business 1986 to 1989 and a Delegate to the National Chairman of the Council of Shiva, “contacts with other faiths that career in the clothing industry working Board of Deputies. Christians and Jews and several never existed before in our In July, the Jewish Representative for several of the biggest names in the Henry's record of public speaking Bishops from the Community were established by Council joined with the Zionist country. He once went into the area. Henry and it is our duty to keep them Central Council in a public meeting handbag business with a factory in May I conclude by saying how open”. for a briefing on the boycott calls Hyde only to have a fire on the first day against Israel. A dynamic panel of a fireman's strike… was spearheaded by Lorna perhaps the only Jewish man to be Fitzsimons, Chief Executive Officer under-insured! Interfaith Action of BICOM. I first came to know him in the early Continued from page 1 She told the meeting that every 1950's both at the Country Club in member of the Jewish community Didsbury and at the Junior women were saying it was about time participating in a panel discussion with should be active in challenging what is Membership at Park Place and at and that they had been waiting for representatives of other faiths. happening. “This not about getting Jacksons Row . something like this for many years.” We were excited that Bnei Akiva angry, it is about getting organised,” Soon he became a member of the “There was a particular warmth with were able to work with us and present she told the meeting.” JM committee and gave me the first women visibly proud and excited, sessions to Year 8 pupils. Joseph “We cannot do something as insight into how frustrating it was to sharing surprisingly similar Finkelstein, Bnei Akiva Northern serious as this, of this magnitude, chair a meeting with him around the experiences. So many times women Fieldworker, said, “It was good that we without full support from the table. As one of his Muslim friends told were heard saying, ‘I never realised could go out and represent the community and that means both me, when he used to sit with Henry at that we were so similar’ as they shared community to young people, give a financial and in terms of time. It cannot the Muslim Jewish Forum and nine of their experiences. There was an positive impression of what Judaism is be left to the 'usual suspects' in terms them were in agreement on an issue, it overriding sense of wanting to reach about and allay some of the of funding - it has to be a community- then took an extra hour to talk Henry out and make the connections and the stereotypes that are presented by the wide effort.” round! intention is for more opportunities in media.” Ronnie Frazer, Founder and Before long it was decided to at anti-Racism meetings was quite the future.” With the continuing work of the Director of Academic Friends of Israel, propose Henry to be Chairman of the remarkable. He would travel all over Council with the Indian Jewish Schools Interfaith argued the case in terms of freedom of National Movement, the Youth the country to speak to Working Men's Association and Council of Christians speech. “This is not political, it is about Association of of Great Clubs, Trade Unions, Students and The Council also represented the and Jews as well as Muslim Jewish freedom of speech in academia. It is Britain. After much lobbying at the Church groups and consequently was Jewish community at High Forum, the Council is looking forward clear that the vast majority oppose an Annual Conference he was duly mentioned unfavourably in the web School 'Spiritual Awareness to more activities with other faiths. academic boycott because it flies in elected, and to this day, he is the only pages of the BNP. Such were his Conference' running several sessions To get involved, email the face of the deeply held principle non-Londoner to occupy that office. memories of the 1930's in Germany for young people in Year 12 and [email protected]. that academic freedom - the freedom Henry was also a prominent that his constant theme was that this to talk and engage with each other - is member of the Park Place Players, the must never be allowed to happen here valued by the British people.” drama group at Jacksons Row. Who in Britain. Doreen Gerson, Executive Vice- could forget his regular role as the His choice to share a platform with Chairman of Trade Union Friends of 'landed English Gentleman' who Ken Livingstone aroused much Israel, told the meeting of attending a would offer the drinks to his guests criticism from our community but Unison conference where she felt with the words…..vill you have a visky Henry was totally unrepentant there was little willingness to listen. or a sherry? maintaining that Livingstone, despite There was, therefore, clearly a need to Many are my memories of our not being a friend of Israel, was act locally to ensure that reasonable holidays together with our children in against racism and because of that he voices prevailed. our caravans at Abersoch. Especially maintained that he and Livingstone Joy Wolfe, representing the the time when the late Arnold Angel were allies in that cause. National Union of Journalists, urged all attempted to teach him how to sail. He was a very consistent letter Jewish journalists to ensure they were Henry still holds the British record for writer on behalf of the Media Above: Participants at the recent Muslim Jewish Women’s ‘Show & Tell Part II’. Below: members of the Union and to attend sailing a catamaran backwards! Response Group defending Israel Henry Guterman’s children, Mark Guterman and Estelle Morris, with some of his grand- meetings. She extended this to all With all these personal memories from attacks in the press and the children, Councillor Afzal Khan and participants at the Muslim-Jewish 6-a-side event. Unions, making it clear that any Jewish and knowledge it therefore came as media. He also regularly person who could be active in their no surprise to me when, at the first corresponded with National Muslim Union should do so and make their meeting of my Honorary Officers three leaders and refused to let them have voice heard. years ago, the first item on the agenda the last word when he felt they were Richard Gold, North West was the question 'what are you going wrong. Organiser of Engage, explained that, to do about Henry Guterman?‘ The manner in which he conducted “Contemporary anti-Semitism nearly “You are the President of this the defence of Israel in the debate with always appears using the language of community and not Henry” they the Rev. Stephen Sizer at Chester anti-Zionism.” The importance of said…but I knew better. There was no Cathedral was a very great credit to challenging those who espouse such way that I would be able to take away him. Previously in his talks around the bigotry was a theme for all participants. his role and the respect that he had country on behalf of the Archbishop of earned from so many organisations in Jerusalem, Rev. Sizer had rarely been Individually Campaign this city. So I learnt to live with it, challenged effectively, but all of us The key advice to all those within despite from time to time exercising who were present left the Cathedral on the community was to individually campaign by sending letters to your EVENTS DIARY MEP, MP, local paper and to the principals of local institutions with ! Sunday, September 2: Jewish Representative Council Meeting, Nicky Alliance Centre. 10.30 am. Neil Collins from the South Manchester Sports Club which you may be involved. speaking.All members of the community are welcome to attend. On 16th July 2007 Council Officers ! Sunday, September 9: ENGAGE Anti Boycott and Contemporary Anti-Semitism Public Meeting, Manchester Maccabi. 7.00pm to 10.00pm. Denis took part in a solidarity protest along with the ZCC in support of Gilad Shalit, Macshane MP (Chair 2005 All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry Into Anti-Semitism) and members of Engage in a Panel Discussion. Admission £5 by ticket th only. To reserve your ticket, email [email protected]. kidnapped 25 June 2006, Ehud Goldwasser and Ehud Regev, ! Monday, September 10: Zionist Central Council Annual General Meeting,Mamlock House. 7.45 pm for 8.00 pm. Speakers Lorna Fitzsimons of BICOM kidnapped 12th July 2006, and other and Professor Eric Moonman. Israel soldiers missing, unfortunately, ! Sunday, October 7: Jewish Representative Council Meeting, Nicky Alliance Centre. 10.30 am. Councillor Bernard Sharpe, first Jewish Mayor of Trafford, for longer. 250 people stood quietly speaking.All members of the community are welcome to attend. outside Marks & Spencer and ! Sunday, October 14: Jewish Historical Society, . 8 pm. The View from Nebo - Jewish North Wales by Sara Gremson. encouraged shoppers to sign their petitions. These soldiers must never ! Sunday, October 28: Manchester Jewish Federation AGM and launch of IIV ( Investing in Volunteers), . 2 pm . be forgotten. ! Sunday, November 4: Jewish Representative Council Meeting, Nicky Alliance Centre. 10.30 am.All members of the community are welcome to attend. The Council will continue to work ! Sunday, November 18: Community Challenge quiz., Hilton Suite. 7.30 pm. Book your table by calling 720 8721 or email [email protected] with the ZCC and encourage people to become more active. If you want to get ! Thursday, November 22: Medequip 4 Kids Shimmer Ball, Radisson Hotel, Manchester. 7.30 pm. Contact 798 1600 for details. more information, you can join the ! Sunday, November 25: Manchester Jewish Community Care Winter Bazaar, Nicky Alliance Day Centre. activists' email list. Send your details, name and email address, to FOR DETAILS OF ALL FORTHCOMING EVENTS, CONSULT THE COMMUNAL DIARY. CALL 0161 720 8721 OR EMAIL [email protected] [email protected].

The President and Honorary Officers and Executive of the Representative Council, together with the Editorial team of Rep-Presents, join in wishing the entire community a happy and healthy New Year. Dbs

It's Out Soon! The Rep Council's YEAR BOOK for 5768 (2007-8) This is your Community's own Yellow Pages a comprehensive, indexed wealth of information about all affiliated organisations. Full details at a glance of synagogues and other religious bodies, cultural, charitable, Zionist, youth and student groups, and much more. It's all here - phone numbers, emails, addresses, contacts, etc. Order now - price £7.00 - by phoning 0161 740 8721 or calling at the Council offices in the Jewish Community Centre on Bury Old Road.

Autumn 2007 Issue 17 Rosh Hashanah 5768 Addressing Representative Anti-Semitism In July, the Representative Council Launches Council welcomed John Mann MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into New Leadership anti-Semitism, at King David High School. The meeting was initiated by Ivan Lewis MP Project to discuss the Inquiry's recommendations. The Jewish Representative Council is addressing the concern of The panel of 14 MPs, none of whom diminishing leadership in the community with an exciting new are Jewish, found that a 'disturbing' rise in anti-Semitic attacks had been initiative. With £20,000 funding from the Faith Communities exacerbated by the situation in the Capacity Building Fund, the Council has launched 'New Barbara Goldstone, elected Council President in May Middle East. Leadership', which aims to produce a new generation of leaders Mr Mann called for action to tackle for the Jewish Community of Greater Manchester. this increase. He will be pushing for the New Officers and a New Outlook recommendations of the panel to be The intention is for these leaders to seek to reform them to make them May’s Representative Council elections saw half the Honorary heeded by the Government, including take on roles both within the more accessible to new leaders. a call for the Crown Prosecution community and externally, engaging An innovative method is being used Officers replaced and a new Council President. Barbara Service to investigate why fewer than with other faith groups and in the work with the appointment of Goldstone became only the third woman to hold the post. one in ten reported incidents leads to a representing the community to local Peer Community and Peer Youth Her manifesto had a strong already been submitted. prosecution. government. Workers, each for 6 hours a week, Education bent with an intention to Also elected to new positions were He commented how shocked he The project was launched with an from September. “We need to employ look for funding to employ an David Davis as Vice-President and; was at the cost to the King David event at Manchester Maccabi people from within the community who Education Officer as well as Philip Langer as Hon. Secretary. Schools for having to pay for their own Community and Sports Club in May, can engage their peers,” explained developing the work of the Speakers’ Shalom Goldblatt has recently been security and, to much support, argued where potential participants found out Jonny Wineberg, the Representative Panel. “We need to educate more non- co-opted also as Hon. Secretary. that the government should provide more about the initiative and put Council’s Project Officer who is Jewish groups about Judaism and the this. forward their ideas and concerns. developing the work. “They will have Jewish community in order to combat The full line-up of Officers is: He recalled that when his They discussed what the key issues the responsibility of motivating anti-Semitism,” she explained. President: Barbara Goldstone grandparents came to the UK at the were and what training could be individuals to participate in the project The commitment has already been Vice-Presidents: Dr Sydney Baigel beginning of the last century, they had provided. with a view to taking on communal David Davis backed up with actions as the Treasurer: Linda Jacobs no money or jobs and, when nobody Key among their concerns was the leadership roles. We're not looking for Speakers Panel is being reinvigorated else would help them, it was Jewish lack of analysis of the needs of the professionals to do this, rather we Hon. Secretaries: Philip Langer and applications for funding have Shalom Goldblatt people who supported them. This is community. Whilst the demography of want those with good communication where his respect for Jews comes the community is changing, they skills who understand what makes the from. wanted to see some research carried younger generation of Manchester Charles Braunstein, a student at out with their age group so that Jews tick.” King David High School, spoke about decisions on future strategy for the More Support Needed Inter-faith Action incidents where he and his friends had community could be based on fact not been attacked and intimidated with theory. Whilst £20,000 may seem a lot of money, much more is needed to keep projectiles being thrown at them and Barbara Goldstone, President of names being shouted from passing the Representative Council, said, “The the project running and increase its on Many Fronts cars. concern about our community's level of activity. Jonny is clear that this will not be a flash in the pan project and Yaar Zaron, Campaign Director of ageing leadership has long been One of the key areas of the Council’s work has always been the UJS, reporting on the campus voiced and the recent research believes that, as people get involved, strengthening the community’s links with other faiths. Last year potential funders will see the benefits situation nationally, stressed the need undertaken under the aegis of the saw major developments in this area with the Government’s for the local community to support the Community Commission has and look to support it. “The Jewish community in Greater Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund giving a small grant Jewish students. Ivan Lewis, the Bury identified it as a key issue to be South MP who is also a government addressed.” Manchester is a key player in inter- to the Council to expand its work. faith work as well as working alongside minister, stressed the importance of “Without communal leadership, all With this funding, the Council was work, bringing young Jews and the report and agreed that there was a our services are under threat, whether local authorities and agencies such as able to launch the first, annual Great Palestinians together, the Council the police and health services,” Jonny need for government action. they are about education, welfare, Manchester Inter-Faith Quiz, with used the funding to help them. The Council will continue to monitor Israel, youth or the elderly. We want to explained. “We have representatives participants from Christian, Muslim on all local SACREs and other local Women’s Event progress on this issue and report back ensure that all organisations, including and Jewish communities. The Second to our monthly meetings. the Representative Council, have a committees. However, many of those Annual Quiz is scheduled for The Council was also able to vibrant leadership for the foreseeable who undertake this work have been Wednesday evening October 17th support the Muslim Jewish Forum’s future who understand the strategic doing so for many years and new 2007. first Women’s event, the ‘Show and issues facing their organisations and leaders are needed to ensure this The Council supported the work of Tell’ at . With over 60 women New Support the community as a whole and have valuable work continues and the Faith Network for Manchester attending, this was a great success. The Council is now able to offer the wherewithal to address them.” develops.” (FN4M) in particular their ‘Are They The Forum recently held a second advice on fundraising and The project is targeting potential “This project will enable the Gambling with Our Future’ event, such event and the Council again developing your organisation to communal leaders in their late teens, Representative Council to improve its which launched a campaign to stop the identified funding to support the affiliated groups through our 20s, 30s and 40s and offering training, work in these areas, bringing in much- building of a Supercasino. The venture. Project Officer, Jonny Wineberg. coaching and opportunities for needed new blood along with their campaign recently came to fruition Aimee Banay led theContact organisation Lubavitch the and Council Habonim Dror are involvement within the community, in ideas. This will strengthen the with Gordon Brown putting the building for both events and said, “It was amongst those who have already inter-faith work and representing the Council's leadership, expand its work of the casino on hold. wonderful to see so many people from benefited. To discuss your needs, community to outside bodies. and improve its management as well When Windows for Peace was both communities coming together. contact Jonny on 720 8721 or email as delivering this for some of our looking for support to develop their The atmosphere was electric and [email protected]. Training Events affiliated organisations.” Continued on page 2 Training events will cover aspects “The training and development of communication skills, presentation proposed will lead to a better informed Contact the Council skills, chairing meetings, motivating and capable group who understand others, inter-faith work, managing the value of diversity in our community Jewish Representative Council of Greater budgets and fundraising. Those at the and can engage positively and launch identified the latter as a key effectively with their peers from other Manchester and Region issue and training will be delivered in faith backgrounds. The focus on Jewish Community Centre, Bury Old Road, the Autumn on fundraising from both women and young people will Forthcoming Training Events Manchester M7 4QY Trusts and Events. strengthen their leadership potential Tel/Fax: 0161 720 8721 Additional dimensions to the and enable them to better engage with Dealing with Jewish Community Issues E-mail: [email protected] project include the promotion of their peers in other faith groups and Monday September 17th, 7.30pm women's and young people's roles as support women's and young people's leaders in the community. Specific leadership throughout Greater Marketing Your Organisation ON THE WEB AT events for women will be run in Manchester.” www.jewishmanchester.org conjunction with the League of Jewish Monday September 24th, 7.30pm Get Involved Women and the project will identify Fundraising from Trusts Providing a quick and easy-to-use guide to your opportunities for them as leaders in the Anyone wanting to get involved in communal organisations community. Similarly, events for young New Leadership can contact Jonny Monday October 8th, 7.30pm people, 16 to 25, will be run in on 07930 534422 or email Contact us by phone, fax, post or e-mail conjunction with The Jewish Youth [email protected]. In Fundraising from Events To add your event to the Project. addition to potential new leaders, Monday October 15th, 7.30pm Communal Diary! Jonny would like to hear from current One further piece of work will be to For venue and further information email analyse the structures of the lay and professional leaders who Check the Communal Diary before arranging your [email protected] Representative Council and other would be willing to mentor these New event to reduce clashes with other functions, and organisations in the community and Leaders. we will publicise your event to all our delegates and their organisations.