The Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, Lord Mayor of Manchester, Eddy Newman and the leader and communal Rabbi of the Sephardi community, Joseph Dweck, were amongst special guests present at the official opening of Belong Morris Feinmann, Didsbury’s specialist Jewish care village.
The opening ceremony saw the unveiling of a unique timeline installation which displays the work of Morris Feinmann, who devoted his life to supporting Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, and details the history of the Morris Feinmann home, which was initially developed to house Jewish refugees following World War Two.
Belong has partnered with the Morris Feinmann Trust to develop the new £12 million care village on behalf of the Jewish community, in place of the original home which stood on the site. The new facility provides world leading dementia care and a range of related services. It comprises six households, each catering for people in their own en-suite facilities, opening onto a private lounge, dining room and kosher kitchen. It also includes independent living apartments and a hub of facilities, including a kosher bistro, synagogue, exercise studio, hair salon and library.
Deborah Baker, General Manager of Belong Morris Feinmann, said: “It was wonderful to mark the official opening of Belong Morris Feinmann by welcoming so many special guests, dignitaries and residents to the village. It really is a state-of-the-art development and since opening in June, has proved very popular with the Jewish community, in terms of care facilities and as the venue for a wide range of activities in the village centre.”
Rabbi Ellituv, chaplain of Belong Morris Feinmann, added: “I have been pleased to have a major input in promoting the Jewish culture in the new village. Remembering the history and ethos of the home has been vital in its development and the timeline installation acts as a poignant reminder of the origin of the Morris Feinmann Trust.”
