Manchester Jewish Museum has opened the sealed jar discovered in the walls of their Grade II-listed Sephardi synagogue

Old coins, synagogue documents and newspapers dating back to 1873 have all been unearthed by Manchester Jewish Museum (MJM) in a 150-year-old time capsule. The sealed glass jar was first uncovered in 2020 in the museum’s Grade II-listed Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, while construction was underway for their new, neighbouring building. It was found in a wall beside the Ark (where Torah scrolls are kept) and notes from early synagogue meetings state that the capsule was buried exactly 150 years ago today, on Wednesday 11 June 1873.

“It was so thrilling opening the capsule and discovering what our synagogue founders decided to bury 150 years ago," said Alexandra Cropper, MJM's deputy chief and curator, who was present at the opening. She was joined by Eugenie Karen, a conservation officer from Manchester Central Library, who said: "Opening the time capsule was a rare treat, a whiff of Indiana Jones to liven up the daily routine. The paper objects were in remarkably good condition given their age. I only had to undertake light repairs to strengthen the manuscript where mould had weakened some areas."

The newspapers that were stored in the capsule includes the Jewish Chronicle, The Manchester Guardian (which became The Guardian in 1959), The Jewish World (which merged with the Jewish Chronicle in 1934) and the Manchester Courier, which folded in 1916.

All the objects found in the time capsule will go on display in MJM’s exhibition about the history of the synagogue. This is just one in a programme of events planned for 2024 to celebrate the building’s 150th anniversary, which also includes live shows and a special menu in the cafe featuring Sephardi recipes. There are also two workshops planned for 2023 (9 & 13 July), at which MJM invites participants to help shape a new time capsule that’ll reflect Jewish Manchester today and will be buried next year.

By Danielle Goldstein

Photos by Chris Payne

Find out more about Manchester Jewish Museum’s time capsule and 150th anniversary plans at manchesterjewishmuseum.com.