A Century Strong    

Manchester’s Machzikei Hadass still has more to give

One hundred years ago, a tiny handful of principled men in Manchester, UK, decided to separate from the city’s Anglo-Jewish establishment and build their own independent citadel of uncompromising Yiddishkeit. They faced battle after battle but were ultimately blessed with success. Today, the demographics of Jewish Manchester are heavily in their favor

The beating heart of Manchester’s frum community is easy to find.

On a large corner lot, entered from Northumberland Street or Legh Street, the Machzikei Hadass shul hums with activity. Known locally as “MH,” it’s not a huge or dazzling edifice by today’s standards. But the streams of mispallelim coming and going, and the thick layers of signs stapled to its bulletin board, make it readily apparent that it’s the community’s flagship shul.

MH hosts around 40 minyanim daily, as well as the beis hora’ah, a mikveh, kashrus offices, and a hall. If you pass by on the right afternoon, you’ll see a chuppah set up in the front courtyard, and hear the strains of Od Yishama overflowing onto the street. At other times, levayahs leave from the parking lot. There’s something homey about the atmosphere, something that tells you that the people of this community know each other well, and share their daily lives in a manner still fairly close to the kehillah model of old.

In honor of the one hundredth anniversary of Machzikei Hadass, we sat down with Reb Elozor Reich, author and the kehillah’s historian, and his brother, Rosh Hakahal Reb Akiva Reich, both senior members of the kehillah who are grandchildren of one of its founders, to hear some more about the backstory of this iconic Manchester fixture.