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Time Capsule Discovery

Time capsule

As building work on our building project nears completion ready for its Spring 2021 opening, our builders have made an astonishing discovery of a time capsule hidden in the historic synagogue’s walls.

The glass jar, complete with its wax seal intact, was discovered by a builder hidden deep in a wall cavern next to the Museum’s Ark (the holy cupboard which houses the Torah Scrolls).  Filled with money, synagogue papers and newspapers, these original artefacts are dated from around the time when the synagogue was first founded in 1873. Early synagogue minutes show records of the capsule being laid in the cornerstone of the original building.

Our CEO Max Dunbar said, “This timely discovery comes at an apt and symbolic time when millions of Jewish people around the world prepare for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, the Day of Atonement, a reflective and thoughtful time of year when many observers look backwards as a means to move forwards.  We are thrilled and overwhelmed by its discovery and look forwards to showing it off in our collection when we re-open next Spring.”

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Our Chanukah Appeal

On behalf of the whole museum team, we'd like to wish you a peaceful holiday season and a happy Chanukah. Your support in these difficult times has been more important than ever and in this article we’re sharing details of how you can help us continue our important work. Also, be sure to read to the end for a sneak peak of our exciting plans for our 150th anniversary in 2024! 

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On Sunday, 3 December, we invite our audiences for the final show of our Synagogue Nights season: the Manchester premiere of the award-winning documentary film "Out of Exile. The Photography of Fred Stein". In this interview we talked to the movie's director, Peter Stein about telling stories through film, music and what we can take away from the Fred Stein's story.

Synagogue Nights 2023

This autumn, Synagogue Nights are back with a packed programme of events, spanning multiple genres, including film screenings, musical concerts and a range of gigs from experimental folk to Ladino song. The season celebrates Jewish stories in all their diversity and showcases young talent, from Manchester and beyond.