Mount Meron: A Statement by Greater Manchester Faith Leaders

Saturday 8th May 2021

We hold the whole Jewish Community in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of all who were bereaved in the devastating incident at the foot of Mount Meron last week.

We stand in solidarity and grief with them as they observe Shiva – this period of mourning that immediately follows a death. Among those who died, we remember from our own region Moshe Bergman of Salford, and assure his family of our prayers, alongside those of the community that nurtured him. Through the tears that are being shed, may the memory of all who died be for a blessing – and may all the people who have been injured be granted a full and speedy recovery. We stand with you.

A Statement by Greater Manchester Faith Community Leaders, including

Christian (Presidents of Greater Manchester Churches Together who live within Greater Manchester)

From the Church of England:

Rt Revd David Walker (Bishop of Manchester)

Rt Revd Mark Ashcroft (Bishop of Bolton)

Rt Revd Mark Davies (Bishop of Middleton)

Very Revd Rogers Govender (Dean of Manchester)

From the Catholic Church of England and Wales:

Bishop John Arnold (Bishop of Salford)

From the Methodist Church:

Revd Andrew Lunn (Chair, Manchester & Stockport)

From the Apostolic Pastoral Congress

Archbishop Dr Doyé Teido Agama, Presiding Prelate and Executive Director, Apostolic Pastoral Congress, and Senior Pastor, Christian Way of Life Churches

From the Christhouse Bible Church:

Bishop Theophilus Akano, (Bishop, North Manchester, under Apostolic Pastoral Congress; Principal/Rector of Rhema Bible Institute UK)

Hindu

Prof. Nawal K Prinja, VOICE, an education project of VHP(UK)

Mrs Nidhi Sinha, Founder, Sangha (Connecting People, Building Community)

Dr Saraswati Sinha, (chairperson of SGMT and committee member of Indian Senior Citizens’ Centre)

Jain

Mr Suresh Mehta (Chair of Board of Trustees, Jain Samaj Manchester)

Muslim

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar (Welfare Officer – Manchester Council of Mosques (MCOM))

Mr Aftab Ahmed (Member of the Shi’a Muslim Community)

Mrs Nilofar Siddiqi (Member of Sufi Muslim Community)