Our museum first opened in 1984, housed in a Grade II* listed 1874 (former) Spanish and Portuguese synagogue in Cheetham Hill, one of the most diverse areas in Manchester.

Following a £6m redevelopment and extension our new museum includes a new gallery, vegetarian café, shop and learning studio & kitchen as well as complete restoration of our synagogue.

We hold over 31,000 items in our collection, documenting the story of Jewish migration and settlement in Manchester. The collection is considered by historians to be of national and international significance and our synagogue has been described by Historic England as “one of the highlights of Victorian Gothic architecture in the country”.

We connect Jewish stories to the world and to our society to explore both our differences and similarities and celebrate that which makes people unique and that which connects us all. In doing so we look to spark reaction and change and to make real the knowledge that there is more that binds us together than separates us.

We boldly explore and combine educational, cultural and artistic experiences to encourage those with whom we come into contact to feel and believe that we are all better together.

We make connections to make things better.