The JRC hosted the Jewish Community Awards sponsored by Beaverbrooks the Jewellers on Thursday 29th May.
The event was designed to highlight the immense contribution of communal charities, their staff, charities, volunteers and trustees across Greater Manchester and region. Ion total, around 200 nominations were received for the following Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner – Mark Adlestone OBE
Rising Star Award
Winner – Josh Glynne
The Fed’s Big Birthday Appeal Award
Winner – Gavriel Lurie
Special Recognition Award
Winners – Mark Schweiger and Michaela Nesbit
Friend of the Community Award
Winner – Imam Dr Nasser Kurdy
Volunteer of the Year Award
Winner – Rosemary Hamburger
Volunteer Team of the Year Award
North West Friends of Israel
Sporting Achievement Award
Winner – Colin Samuels
Professional Team of the Year Award
Winner – Manchester Jewish Museum
Communal Employee of the Year
Winner – Chavi Chein
Posthumous Award for Volunteering
Winner – Richard Hyman
The Metro Mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Andy Burnham, presented Mark Adlestone with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Other Awards were presented by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, the Lord Mayor of Manchester and members of the wider Jewish community.
The judging panel comprised:Gabrielle Adlestone (Chair), Daniel Rosenberg, Jude Moryoussef, Rabbi Daniel Walker, Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, Christian Wakeford MP and Cllr Richard Gold.
The winners and nominees were celebrated at a large ceremony at the Hilton Suite. There was a capacity crowd of over 320 people in attendance who saw a slideshow highlighting the work of those nominated. Guests were entertained by comedian Bennett Arron, who was also the MC for the event.
All guests received a brochure with personalised letters from the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, Metro Mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Andy Burnham and Chair of the JRC, Mark Adlestone OBE.
Raphi Bloom, the Chair of the Awards Committee and JRC Management Board member said:
“It has been such an honour being tasked with organising an event to showcase the very best of our community. At what is obviously a challenging time for our community, it is more important than ever to focus on an celebrate our immense achievements.
Undertaking this role, it has been humbling to see the selflessness of those volunteers who give their time and effort to care for individuals who may be vulnerable. i have also once again seen the scope and depth of our communal infrastructure that is understandably recognised as the beacon of best practice across society.
Given the volume and quality of the nominations, it will have been an extremely difficult task for our judging panel to select a winner.
On behalf of the organising committee and the JRC, I would like to wish mazel tov to all the winners whilst also recognising the effort of those who were nominated.”
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, wrote:
“I am delighted to send my best wishes to everyone involved in the Greater Manchester Jewish Community Awards.
Britain’s Jewish community continues to contribute and shape our nation’s identity. I know these Community Awards will recognise a wide variety of incredible achievements by the nominees. The Awards highlights the fantastic work being carried out across all sectors of society. The nominees proactively advocate for the Jewish community and demonstrate outstanding commitment in their field, whether paid or voluntary.
I am extremely proud of the contributions that the Jewish people make to the UK in so many areas of our daily lives, and the Jewish Community Awards is a fantastic celebration of this work. Mazel tov to all the nominees and please accept my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of each award for all you have done and continue to do within your communities.”
Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Andy Burnham, who was present at the Awards said:
“As Mayor of Greater Manchester, it is my privilege to once again celebrate this year’s Greater Manchester Jewish Community Awards with you. It was a great honour to attend the last Jewish Community Awards and present a Special Recognition Award to Ike Alterman BEM who has dedicated many years to raising awareness and educating the people of Greater Manchester about the Holocaust. I have met Ike many times and each time am moved by his powerful testimony which must be heard forever.
Throughout 2024, I also had the opportunity to visit a wide range of Jewish organisations, networks and projects, seeing first-hand the commitment and support provided to communities. I would like to thank everyone in the Jewish community for the hard work and contribution to our shared life in Greater Manchester and particularly the work of the Jewish Representative Council, including Mark Adlestone and Marc Levy for their continued leadership and friendship.”
