Moved to tears as Manchester remembers
Marcy Lever, 14, who was in the Manchester Arena during last year’s terror attack, is overcome with emotion at a King David High School assembly at which girls shared their memories of the night
THE RABBI who gave a reading at Tuesday’s memorial service for the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing said the day had been “highly-charged and emotional”.
Rabbi Warren Elf, formerly of Manchester Reform Synagogue, recited Yizkor — the memorial prayer for the departed — in English at the Manchester Cathedral ceremony marking the anniversary of the atrocity.
He was asked to participate in his capacity as community development officer for the Faith Network for Manchester. Leaders from other major faith groups also delivered readings, as did a representative of Manchester’s Humanist community.
The memorial service was followed by a mass sing-along Albert Square and at 10.31 in the evening, bells across the city rang to mark the time of the attack.
“The entire day was very symbolic, cathartic and very moving,” Rabbi Elf told the JC. “It was certainly highlycharged and emotional but I think it struck the right tone.
“There was a very strong sense of loss, and of tragedy. Everyone was very aware all day of the 22 people who were murdered in the attack. The fact is there are still hundreds of people getting over their injuries, both physical and psychological.”
The Jewish community was also represented at the ceremony by Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, the Manchester Reform minister, and Sharon Bannister, president of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester.
Rabbi Ashworth-Steen said memorial events had reinforced the need to “work pro-actively” on interfaith projects. “The city has a great strength and resolve. My take-away from the day was that even though it was really sad and painful, and I shed quite a few tears, we will recommit our energies into outreach and interfaith work.”
There was a very strong sense of loss, and of tragedy’