Manchester Jewish Museum is located in the premises of an old Victorian building of 1874. Situated on Cheetham Hill Road formerly this building was a Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. After majority of Jewish population left Manchester the building was not well maintained. The impressive Moorish style architecture and the colorful stained glass windows amaze and inspire the visitors. Jewish Museum in Manchester was renovated and again re-opened for the public in March 1984.
Valuable collections of Manchester Jewish Museum
Visitors come to this museum to see various kinds of objects related to Jewish culture and everyday life. These objects give an insight into Jewish culture and traditions and help us to understand the community of Jews. Many objects that are preserved in this museum are in the memory of Holocaust. Various objects that bear significance with Jewish life are carefully preserved in this museum. The museum houses an extensive collection of Jewish textiles like Torah mantles, ark curtains, Challah (bread cloths), tallism (ritual shawls), wedding dresses. Silverware, candle sticks, spice containers. Furniture like the synagogue reader's desk, kitchen utensils and cobbler's materials are also showcased in this museum.
Photographic Archive of Manchester Jewish Museum
The Photographic archive in this museum was established during the 1970s. Some of the original photographs have historical value.Since then, the museum has built a base of around 25,000 images
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including both negatives and contact prints.These photographs nurture us with information about the Jewish community living in Manchester. Variety of topics are covered by this museum including portraits, work, school like, religion, weddings and also leisure and recreational activities.
Library of Manchester Jewish Museum
The well stocked library inside the museum consists of 1,750 pamphlets and periodicals and over 970 books. Books covering a wide variety of subjects like anti fascism, war, anti Semitism, Jewish literature and various aspects of Jewish life and synagogues are stocked in this library.
Permanent Exhibition in Manchester Jewish Museum
The permanent exhibition in the woman's gallery is a pictorial representation of the history of Jewish Community living in Manchester, more than 200 years old. A typical kitchen of the Jewish community has been recreated. The dinning table is set accordingly for a Sabbath meal. Visitors to this exhibition can lift telephone handsets to listen to the recorded voice of old Jewish members. The contribution of Jewish community to the art and culture of Manchester and their participation in various social activities are vividly shown.
The Jewish museum is easily accessible by all modes of public transport. Address of the museum is 190 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 8LW. Jewish Museum at Manchester also allows group visit with prior bookings.
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