The rabbi who gave a reading at Tuesday’s memorial service to 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 chosen to participate in his capacity as the community development officer of 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 highly-charged 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.
