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A D/deaf Queer Jew, Passionate about Inclusion
The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition in Salford
The Board of Deputies Jewish Living Experience Exhibition was hosted by Owen Power & Pete Simms in partnership with Steve McAnulty & his team at Salford City Council’s Pendleton Gateway.
The Exhibition was held in Pendleton Gateway Salford M6 5FX from 12th-16th August 2024 culminating with a civic reception on the last day attended by the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford Councillor Tanya Burch, the Bishop of Salford, Salford councillors and representatives from community organisations including the NHS, Salford Council, the Doosti community, Salford Disability Forum, Salford Food Parcels, Salford Youth Zone, Pendleton Together Housing, Visible Outcomes and Salford Poverty Truth Commission.
The focus of the exhibition was to highlight the diversity of the Jewish community in Salford, bring communities together for conversations on inclusion over coffee and cake,
During the week, the exhibition was visited by members of the public and supported by visitors from the Jewish communities including Board of Deputies Vice President Jeremy Michelson, Deputy Michael Rubinstein and chair of Sha’ari Shalom Marissa Goldstone.
Owen Power is Deputy for York Liberal Jewish Community and a member of Liberal Judaism Board of National Officers. Owen and Pete Simms live in Salford are disabled and gay and are facilitators of This Is Me a peer led support group with a focus on intersectionality.
Inclusion and diversity were at the heart of the speeches at the civic event delivered with passion by the Ceremonial Mayor Councillor Tanya Burch, Councillor Andrew Walters from the Haredi community and Deputies Sheila Gewolb and Judith Prinsley.
Rachel De Silver, Josh Aro and Janet Taylor were there to answer any questions about Judaism.
The Board’s Engagement Manager Sara Radivan and Education Officer Anna Silver answered questions about taking the exhibition to other communities throughout the UK.
The exhibition is a great resource a way to break down barriers and support community cohesion. Up to now the main focus of the exhibition has been schools and school children, however, the Salford exhibition was “a pilot” as the focus was on adults, community services and groups and it turned out to be a resounding success. Of course there is a need for both models and as the Board’s new President Phil Rosenberg is determined to empower Deputies to deliver projects that meet the needs of their own communities, it would be a wonderful thing if each Deputy were to host the exhibition in their community in whatever way works best for them.