Everyone at The Christie has been deeply saddened by the horrific events last Thursday morning at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, a terrorist attack that targeted Jews practising their faith on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
We have spent the past week reflecting and understanding what this means for our staff and patients and our thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected, including the bereaved, the injured, our Jewish colleagues and patients, and all their loved ones.
We have heard from both colleagues and patients over the past few days that current events are making them feel uneasy, anxious and sadly also unwelcome in both their communities and place of work.
The care of all of our local community, especially our staff, patients and their families, is a priority and it is important to us that everyone feels safe when they need our care and support, regardless of their background, religion, perspective or differing life experience.
The Christie is an organisation that is proud to welcome staff and patients from all over the world – people of many different ethnic, faith, cultural and social backgrounds. We want to make it clear that we stand together against prejudice and will not tolerate any antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and any other forms of discrimination.
If you are feeling unsafe or worried, remember that support is available. Our chaplaincy services are available to offer confidential emotional and spiritual support to anyone affected by this incident. This service is inclusive and available to people of all faiths and none and can be a valuable source of comfort and reflection.
Department 57 at our Withington site has a chapel and multi faith quiet room available and there will be a chaplain on site this week.
It is also pertinent that this week, to mark the Jewish festival of Sukkot (6 to 13 October), a sukkah (temporary shelter) has been erected in The Christie garden at the Withington site for the use of Jewish patients, carers and staff. Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the sukkah, and special harvest prayers of thanksgiving are said, as well as prayers for peace in the world.
Let us continue to be a source of strength, hope and peace for those we look after here at The Christie and for each other and work together to support each other in these challenging times.
