We are a vibrant Reform Jewish congregation right in the heart of Manchester and cater for a wide social, age and religious spectrum.
We offer a broad range of activities. . . .
Regular Shabbat and festival services
Pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes
Adult and multi-faith educational activities
Social activities for people of all age ranges, from youth, through young adults to older members
Conversion classes
Synagogue visits for schools
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Rabbi Robyn
Rabbi Robyn has a deep passion for community building, text study and social justice. Being the first female rabbi in Manchester allows her to continually fly the flag for a progressive, relevant, meaningful community in the heart of our city. In a previous life, Rabbi Robyn completed a degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Newnham College, Cambridge and was a human rights lawyer specialising in public and asylum law.
Rabbi Robyn believes that religious communities must open their doors and be committed to the fight for justice in our society. To that end Manchester Reform Synagogue is a members institution of GM Citizens which brings diverse communities across Greater Manchester to campaign on a broad range of social and economic issues.
Rabbi Robyn is also a co-founder of Tzelem: the Rabbinic Call for Social and Economic Justice in the UK. Being part of the One Love team at St Peter’s House Chaplaincy for Manchester’s Universities, is a very rewarding role. Rabbi Robyn is particularly proud of the community’s involvement in Manchester’s annual Pride Parade – championing and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. Rabbi Robyn tries to bring all of this work into the fabric of Jackson’s Row identity as an active city-centre community, committed to Reform Judaism in the UK.
Rabbi Robyn is also keen to build a textured community which, through its engagement with Torah and texts, and through spiritual practice, is active in the world. Rabbi Robyn loves to teach and study and pursues her own academic journey. She also has recently written a chapter in the book Mapping Faith: Theologies of Migration and Community as well as various journal articles.
Because of the pride in Jackson’s Row community and the importance of hearing progressive voices in the wider community Rabbi Robyn is committed to her media work and often appears on BBC Radio Manchester, Good Morning Sunday with Pause for Thought, Radio 4’s Beyond Belief and has had appearances on the One Show, Sky News as well as contributions to other radio and television programmes and print outlets. Rabbi Robyn was named in the Jewish News/Jewish Leadership Council’s 40 under 40 leaders in the community in 2020.
Above all, Rabbi Robyn loves being in community. She looks forward to welcoming you into Manchester Reform Synagogue as it continues to build a community that cares for one another across the generations and contributes to a flourishing progressive Judaism in the heart of Manchester.
(She/Her Pronouns)