Stenecourt - Manchester Great and New Synagogue

בס"ד

Reverend Gabriel Brodie

Our Minister is Rev Gabriel Brodie. As you can see from the "history" section, Rev Brodie first joined Stenecourt in 1944 and has been with us ever since, probably one of the longest if not the longest serving Minister currently in Anglo Jewry.

It is true to say that Rev Brodie is Stenecourt. He continues to be the magnet that attracts so many people to join what he affectionately calls the "Stenecourt Family". He is responsible for the Shul being what it is today - one of the most popular, dynamic and forward thinking congregations in England.

In January 1999, when the new building was officially opened, our new Beis Hamidrash was named in his honour, in recognition of his 54 years of service to the Shul, and as a tribute to his exemplary leadership.

His wife Marga has also been a tremendous support to him and for many years was actively involved in the Ladies Guild of the Shul. In her honour, the Shul set up the Marga Brodie Educational Trust. Whilst in the course of the year the Shul will organise events in order to raise funds for the trust, donations to the trust are always gratefully accepted !

Each year, an award is made from the trust, to a young boy or girl associated with the Shul, in order to help finance their further Jewish education.

Anybody wishing to nominate a person considered to be a suitable recipient of such an award is kindly requested to contact a member of the Executive.

Rabbi Simmonds by Howard Gordon Photography

Rabbi Benjamin Simmonds

Our assistant Minister is Rabbi Benjamin Simmonds, he was born and grew up in Manchester. Rabbi Simmonds has always been well known by the Stenecourt family as his family were Stenecourt members when he was growing up. He attended Jewish Day School and Manchester Jewish Grammar School, where he was deputy head boy.

He then went to Yeshiva in Gateshead and returned to Manchester to study law. He studied for his professional qualification at Chester College of law and he is now qualified and practicing as a solicitor locally.

Rabbi Simmonds has been assistant Minister at Stenecourt since 2001. He gives many Shiurim and is very involved with the young people in the Stenecourt family. Rabbi Simmonds sermons and shiurim are looked forward to by all.

Rabbi Simmonds, or Rabbi Benji as he is affectionately called, is married to Anna, who was also born and bred in Manchester, and they are bringing up their own family in Prestwich.

Rabbi Simmonds is the editor of The Voice, the Manchester Beth Din Journal and he writes articles for Jewish Newspapers. Rabbi Simmonds is also interested in wine making, cricket and politics.