Where
Cheetham Hill in north Manchester. Jews began settling there in the 1780s.
What
"We are in a deconsecrated synagogue, which was built in 1874," says curator Alexandra Grime. The building is in a Moorish style, reflecting the origins of the early congregation who came from Corfu, Spain and Portugal."
Downstairs has been kept as it was, Grime points out, so visitors can see the pews, ark (where the torah scrolls are kept) and the bimah (the table on which the scrolls are placed during reading)." It was an orthodox synagogue, so the men and women sat separately. The women's gallery upstairs is now the permanent exhibition space.
Opened
1984. The museum was founded as the result of efforts by local historians and community members to commemorate Manchester's Jewish community. "It's our 25th anniversary this year, and on 25 March we are starting a year of events to celebrate," says Grime.
Collections
A large photographic collection of some 25,000 items dating back to the 1870s. An oral history collection covers prominent members of the community; stories of immigration and testimonies of the Holocaust - many children escaping from Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport settled in Manchester. The museum also has an object collection that ranges from household items to textiles, religious artefacts and pamphlets.
Help at hand
Four full-time and three part-time members of staff and a team of approximately 50 volunteers who work in the shop and act as guides and educators. The museum has school groups visiting nearly every day, so the volunteers are essential.
Budget
"Small," says Grime. "We are an independent charity. We do get a grant from the city council, but most income comes from admission charges, appeals, fundraising and bequests."
Visits
14,500 in 2008.
Highlights
"The building itself," says Grime. "It's spectacular, with big stained-glass windows. It always gets a reaction. And there is also the whole photographic collection, too."
Survival tips
"Every event must be thought out thoroughly. We can't afford flops. Think about your target audience and make sure you get the right people," advises Grime. Because of world politics, the museum does have to be security conscious. "Visitors need to ring a bell to be admitted to the museum. We are vigilant."
Sticky moment
The seder meal at Passover is a meal where particular foods and drinks are served. Diners are expected to drink four glasses of wine or grape juice. "Once we had 90 schoolchildren coming to one of our seder demonstrations and we realised that our grape juice had gone off," says Grime. "Someone had to make a dash to the local kosher deli for a crate of fresh supplies."
Current projects
An education suite is planned and, as most of the museum's visitors are not Jewish, it also wants to maximise its use as a resource for the Jewish community by offering genealogical and historical advice.
Cheetham Hill in north Manchester. Jews began settling there in the 1780s.
What
"We are in a deconsecrated synagogue, which was built in 1874," says curator Alexandra Grime. The building is in a Moorish style, reflecting the origins of the early congregation who came from Corfu, Spain and Portugal."
Downstairs has been kept as it was, Grime points out, so visitors can see the pews, ark (where the torah scrolls are kept) and the bimah (the table on which the scrolls are placed during reading)." It was an orthodox synagogue, so the men and women sat separately. The women's gallery upstairs is now the permanent exhibition space.
Opened
1984. The museum was founded as the result of efforts by local historians and community members to commemorate Manchester's Jewish community. "It's our 25th anniversary this year, and on 25 March we are starting a year of events to celebrate," says Grime.
Collections
A large photographic collection of some 25,000 items dating back to the 1870s. An oral history collection covers prominent members of the community; stories of immigration and testimonies of the Holocaust - many children escaping from Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport settled in Manchester. The museum also has an object collection that ranges from household items to textiles, religious artefacts and pamphlets.
Help at hand
Four full-time and three part-time members of staff and a team of approximately 50 volunteers who work in the shop and act as guides and educators. The museum has school groups visiting nearly every day, so the volunteers are essential.
Budget
"Small," says Grime. "We are an independent charity. We do get a grant from the city council, but most income comes from admission charges, appeals, fundraising and bequests."
Visits
14,500 in 2008.
Highlights
"The building itself," says Grime. "It's spectacular, with big stained-glass windows. It always gets a reaction. And there is also the whole photographic collection, too."
Survival tips
"Every event must be thought out thoroughly. We can't afford flops. Think about your target audience and make sure you get the right people," advises Grime. Because of world politics, the museum does have to be security conscious. "Visitors need to ring a bell to be admitted to the museum. We are vigilant."
Sticky moment
The seder meal at Passover is a meal where particular foods and drinks are served. Diners are expected to drink four glasses of wine or grape juice. "Once we had 90 schoolchildren coming to one of our seder demonstrations and we realised that our grape juice had gone off," says Grime. "Someone had to make a dash to the local kosher deli for a crate of fresh supplies."
Current projects
An education suite is planned and, as most of the museum's visitors are not Jewish, it also wants to maximise its use as a resource for the Jewish community by offering genealogical and historical advice.