Team
Rabbi
Rabbi Singer
Rabbi Singer was appointed to his current post in 1985. The whole Singer family, including the Rebbetzen, Daphna, and their five children have all, over the years, contributed significantly to the life of the shul and the community in general.
Born in London he studied for semicha at the Kollel in Beersheva, Israel. Rabbi Singer quips: “four of my children were born in Beersheva and my youngest, Mendy, in Jericho.” – actually he was born in Fairfield Hospital, Bury which happens to be, somewhat ironically, in an area known as “Jericho.”
When asked about his experiences in Israel, Rabbi Singer replied “I spent a lot of time in prison.” (Pause for effect)”Making visits to inmates,” he adds. He also made many visits to army camps to help soldiers have access to tefillin and provide general spiritual support.
He acts as a voluntary Jewish chaplain for the Pennine Acute Hospitals and as a member of the educational committee of Bury & Whitefield Primary School where he is a frequent visitor and teacher in the weekly Torah club.
He is also a teacher and when not at Bury shul, he can be found in front of a classroom in Broughton Park. He has been teaching the reception years in Tashbar Cheder for more years than he cares to remember!
His fortnightly ladies’ Tanya shiur has some very keen followers and has now been running for two years.
Rabbi Singer enjoys learning with several people including pre – wedding preparations and Barmitzvas.
A keen swimmer, he is a member of the Jewish men’s swimming club in the Abraham Moss Centre and aims to swim several miles a week.
His involvement in healing has been something that meshes well will his other duties and has been a great source of blessing.
Rabbi and Mrs. Singer enjoy their grandchildren and look forward to sharing future simchas with all their friends IYH.
Chazan
Modi Spitzer
I was born in London in 1983 into a Rabbinic family with a rich German/English tradition for Minhagim and Nusach Hatiffilah. I started leading services soon after his Bar Mitzvah.
I then went to Gateshead Yeshiva and spent a year in Israel at Midrash Shmuel Yeshiva. I then came back to the UK and did a degree at Manchester University and then took a post of Chazan in St Anne’s Hebrew Congregation. I have performed across the UK form Bournemouth to Newcastle and as far as the USA in synagogues and concerts.
I have also been guest chazzan at St Johns Wood Synagogue.
I now live in Manchester with my wife Esther and two children. I am the youngest honorary officer at the Manchester Beth Din and hold down a sales day job. I am passionate about communal life and I enjoy my duties in Bury immensely.
Chazan
Chazan Saunders
Chazan Yehuda Saunders was born in Jersualem, Israel after which he moved to Cardiff, South Wales where he lived until he was 12. His mother was an accomplished singer, concert pianist and music teacher and he spent much of his younger years developing his musical talent under her guidance, both in singing and by learning to play various musical instruments. At age 12 Yehuda moved to Manchester where he attended the Manchester Jewish Grammar School and after graduating high school he went on to learn in the illustrious Yeshiva of Gateshead. At age 21, Yehuda married his wife, Deborah (nee Burland) and they moved to Israel where they lived for 3 years. During this time, Chazzan Saunders learnt in the famous Yeshiva of Mir in Jersulam while also studying singing and chazzanus with several different voice teachers. Upon his return to England, Chazzan Saunders continued to develop his singing technique with a local voice coach. He currently resides in Prestwich, Manchester where he lives with his wife and 6 children. Apart from being the Chazzan in Bury Hebrew Congregation, Chazzan Saunders also works in the Jewish Day School as a teacher and curriculum coordinator
Board of Management Team
Ian Joseph (Chairman)
I have been a member of the Shul with Susan since 1988. I joined the executive in 2009 as Warden and after 4 years in that role was elected Chairman and have been in that position ever since. I am passionate about the Shul and its survival and developing the Shul not just as a place of worship but a community asset.
Harvey Kaye (Vice Chairman)
Member since 1973 joined council that year and been on the executive since 1975 holding various positions. Also chairman of parents committee for the cubs organising events. I am also chairman of the BHC @ 50 committee.
Brian Myer (Treasurer)
Shul member since 1969, former Chairman of the Board of Management for a 3 year period. Trustee and now Treasurer for the past 2 years with the major role of chasing up outstanding debtors, a seemingly difficult task but not without some success.
Stuart Kay (Honorary Secretary)
I was appointed to the Shul Executive as Hon Secretary at the time of the AGM in 2017, having previously been a member of the Board of Management. I also hold the role of the Shul’s Data Protection Officer.
My wife Linda and I have been members of the Shul for over 35 years. We have two daughters, Leanne and Rachel.
In addition to Shul duties I am also the Hon Treasurer of the Manchester Jewish Soccer League.
Motti Shayovitz
I was a Bio Medical engineer and I have recently retired after working for 25 years in the NHS . I have got 4 children. Two have made Aliya to Israel , one lives in Toronto and one lives in London . I was Shul Security officer for about 3 years ,and a member of the CST for over 12 years . I joined our Shul board about a year ago.
Aubrey Taylor
Together with his wife Shirley joined BHC as founder members in 1963. I have served the Community as joint Secretary, Building Fund member and15 years as CST trained Security Manager for the Shul and I am currently a Trustee.
Alan Padwell
I am a retired consultant pathologist. Qualifications, – MB ChB, FRCS, FRCPath. In the past I have lived and worked in Israel and New Zealand. Spent just over 9 years as a regular in (British) Army, retiring with rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I am married to Sue a retired nurse we have one daughter Louise who is a music teacher.
Susan Joseph
I have been a member of the Shul for 30 years. I am on the management team and sub committee called ‘Bit of a do girls’, who do all the fundraising events for Shul. I am Chairman of the Jewish Theatre Company who use the Shul as our home.
I am very keen on developing the Shul as a community centre.
Nicola Goldstone
I have been a Member of the Shul since I was young I used to belong to the youth clubs. I am now married with two children of my own. Myself and my husband have been members of the Shul for 9 years. I am on the Board of Management and run the children’s services.
Michael Rappaport (Shul Administrator)
Our Shul Administrator is Michael Rappaport. Michael is a mancunian ( actually an “ old mancunian” having attended Manchester Grammar School ) who lived in Toronto, Canada for 12 years returning to the U.K. in 1991 and settling in Sunnybank. He and his wife Miriam, along with their 4 children immediately joined the Shul and made the Shul a big part of their lives.
He began working in the shul office in 2010 as assistant to Mrs Merle Wilson and became the administrator on Mrs Wilson’s retirement in 2014 . .
Michael considers it a privilege to work for the community.