The Jewish community of Greater Manchester came together on Monday 31 August for a deeply poignant and moving commemoration marking the deadly Yom Kippur terrorist attack, held at Heaton Park Synagogue, the location where the attack took place.

The commemoration brought together 850 people, including members of the Jewish community, elected representatives, key stakeholders from across Greater Manchester and civic dignitaries from across the region.

The significance of the occasion was reflected in the attendance of senior political, civic, policing and community figures, alongside print and broadcast media from both local and national outlets, who were present to report on the commemoration and hear directly from community leaders, the families of those murdered and representatives of the Synagogue.

Among the notable guests were The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government; Flo Eshalomi MP; Minister for Faith; Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, Police and Crime Commissioner, Kate Green; Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Ephraim Mirvis; Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson; Chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, Mark Adlestone OBE and Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Israel, Chris Cantor.

Their presence demonstrated the strength of the relationship between Greater Manchester’s Jewish community and its wider political, civic and public affairs partners while the attendance of national and local media underlined the wider significance of the commemoration.

The event provided an opportunity to remember the victims, reflect on the devastating impact of the attack and demonstrate the strength, resilience and unity of Greater Manchester’s Jewish community.

The family of Melvin Cravitz spoke, alongside representatives of Heaton Park Synagogue, providing an especially powerful and personal reminder of the lives lost and the profound impact the attack has had on families, the congregation and the wider Jewish community.

The JRC expressed its gratitude to all those who attended and supported the commemoration, and particularly to the families of those murdered and the synagogue representatives who played a central role in ensuring that the victims were remembered with dignity and respect.