Business Details
42 Years
experience
Explore Jewish Heritage & Culture in Manchester
Manchester Jewish Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to exploring how we are different, together. Established in 1984 within a Grade II* listed 1874 Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, we reopened in 2019 following a 6m redevelopment. Our mission connects Jewish stories to the world through a nationally significant collection of 31,000 items documenting Jewish migration and settlement in Manchester. We combine educational, cultural, and artistic experiences in a historic setting, fostering connections through exhibitions, events, and community programs.Our restored synagogue serves as both a museum exhibit and performance space, while our modern facilities include a learning kitchen and gallery. Accredited by the Arts Council, we engage over 12,000 people annually through school workshops, cultural festivals, and volunteer opportunities. Our work demonstrates that shared human experiences outweigh differences, creating common ground for diverse audiences. As a registered charity, we rely on memberships, donations, and partnerships to preserve this historic site and its stories for future generations.
Services
Museum Exhibits
Educational Workshops
Cultural Events
Venue Hire
School Programs
Community Groups
Volunteer Opportunities
Gift Shop
Caf
Guided Tours
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- We offer unique insight into Manchester's Sephardi Jewish history through our Grade II* listed synagogue.
- Our nationally significant collection documents 150 years of Jewish migration and settlement.
- We combine educational workshops with cultural events in a restored Victorian Gothic building.
- Our team delivers award-winning community engagement programs connecting diverse audiences.
- We provide accessible learning experiences through our purpose-built educational facilities.
Associations and certifications
- Accredited Museum
What people say
Unique cultural experience
Beautifully restored synagogue
Engaging educational programs
Welcoming atmosphere
Diverse events
Services
Museum Exhibits
Our permanent exhibitions explore Jewish migration through three themes: Journeys, Communities, and Identities. The 31,000-item collection includes historic artifacts and immersive digital installations. Visitors experience the restored 1874 synagogue as part of the exhibition.
Educational Workshops
We deliver curriculum-linked workshops for schools focusing on Jewish culture and history. Programs include 'Synagogue & Stories' and 'Holidays & Challah' with hands-on activities like film-making and baking. Sessions can be combined for full-day visits.
Cultural Events
Our event program features food workshops, film screenings, and storytelling evenings. Recent events included 'Jewish Flavours of Italy' cooking classes and Holocaust survivor story-sharing sessions. The museum hosts cultural festivals year-round.
Venue Hire
The restored synagogue and modern facilities accommodate weddings, conferences, and cultural performances. The space combines Victorian Gothic architecture with contemporary amenities. Capacity ranges from intimate gatherings to 150-person events.
Community Programs
We run creative groups for artists, textile enthusiasts, and local residents. Programs focus on cultural exchange through music, art, and storytelling. Participants contribute to exhibitions and community-led projects celebrating diversity.
People
Gemma Meek
Interim Chief Executive & Programmes Manager
Gemma leads our strategic direction and cultural programming. With extensive experience in arts management, she oversees exhibitions, events, and community engagement initiatives that align with our mission to connect Jewish stories to the world.
Josh Jones
Curator
Josh curates our exhibitions and manages the 31,000-item collection. He specializes in Jewish heritage interpretation, ensuring our displays authentically represent Manchester's Jewish history while remaining accessible to diverse audiences.
Richard McCarthy
Caf and Retail Operations Manager
Richard manages our vegetarian caf and retail space. He ensures our food offerings and merchandise reflect Jewish cultural traditions while providing welcoming hospitality to all visitors.
Julia Grko
Marketing & Fundraising Manager
Julia leads our marketing strategy and fundraising campaigns. She develops membership programs and donor relations to sustain our operations and community outreach initiatives.
Sabera Khan
Finance and Administration Manager
Sabera oversees financial operations and administrative systems. She ensures our fiscal sustainability while supporting the team with operational infrastructure to deliver our charitable objectives.
Questions
What are the museum's opening hours?
We're open daily from 10am to 5pm, with final admission at 4pm.
How much does entry cost?
General admission is free, though special events may have booking fees.
Are school visits available?
Yes, we offer curriculum-linked workshops for schools with advance booking.
Can I host events at the museum?
Our venue hire includes the synagogue and modern spaces for weddings and conferences.
How can I support the museum?
Support through memberships, donations, or volunteering helps preserve our historic site.
Is the museum accessible?
Yes, we have step-free access and facilities for visitors with accessibility needs.
Videos
Reviews (6)
David Weinberg
Jan 22, 2022
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My first time since the renovations. I enjoyed the new displays and spent a lot of time reading and listening to the stories.
Shaun Carr
Sep 19, 2021
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If you've yet to visit since the refurb, it's definitely worth another trip! I really love how they have brought the history of the building and the people who lived in the area to life. This is achieved through immersive storytelling, personal artifacts and a range of clever multimedia. It's also worth a trip to the caf, where there's a wonderful vegitarian selection suitable for any palate. We rate the vegan bagel with shmear & carrot lox.
Mary Collins
Sep 06, 2021
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Love the new refurbishment of the museum! And love the new cafe! I think it's really helped you, to modernise the museum space - to open up and reach out to more people - to tell the story of Jewish Manchester and people's stories.
Looking forward to returning and seeing your autumn events!
Looking forward to returning and seeing your autumn events!
Edward Hackett
Aug 25, 2021
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We had a fantastic experience at this museum, which was a highlight of our visit to Manchester. The volunteers are welcoming and extremely knowledgeable about the exhibits and the history of the Jewish people in Manchester. We learnt so much from the volunteer who we spoke to, who was enthusiastic and generous in sharing her expertise on various items in the museum. The extension is full of fascinating artefacts offering insight into a wide range of personal stories of those who have made up this community, and is very much in keeping with the beautiful synagogue. We ended up spending a few hours
Badge Bunnyuk
Aug 19, 2021
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Had a great day, booked on to the screen printing workshop, which was really relaxed and nice. Loved the cafe and the museum was really powerful and interactive, lots of audio stories and photos. Probably better for slightly older kids.
Aaron Fletcher
Aug 18, 2021
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The Jewish Museum is one of the best ways to spend any morning or afternoon. Its jam-packed with so much local Jewish heritage and really gives you a great insight to Manchesters wonderful Jewish community and how it formed in Cheetham Hill & spread across North Manchester. With physical objects, written stories, videos and audio monologues, there are many different ways to learn and take in the information. If you need a hand with anything; the extremely knowledgable volunteers are on hand to help with a wealth of knowledge. If they arent sure on a question, they wont mess you around
