The deadly bloodshed occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is the day when synagogues are at their busiest with many Jewish people gathering, even those who would not often attend.
As news of a terror attack at a Manchester synagogue broke, Jews across the city say they felt as if they were “risking their lives” to warn their loved ones about the attack.
The horrific incident unfolded at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on Middleton Road at 9.30am this morning. Sadly it claimed two lives and left four seriously injured. The suspect was fatally shot by armed police.
Greater Manchester Police later classified the attack as a ‘terrorist incident’, confirming it involved a car being driven into members of the public and a stabbing. The deadly violence took place on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.
This is the day when synagogues are at their fullest, with many Jewish people congregating, including those who don’t regularly attend. More devout Jewish individuals refrain from using electricity on this day, meaning they couldn’t watch the news or contact their loved ones.
Eli Hassell, 20, who resides near the scene of the attack, hurried to his local synagogue to inform his father about the horrifying news. He said: “I wanted to warn him, to either come home or just be vigilant.
“When I left the house I was scared walking down the street, wearing my kippa [Jewish skull cap]. I felt like I was risking my life to tell my father.”
According to Eli, an announcement was made at the synagogue, causing some people to leave. However, most would return later.
Nearby in Prestwich, Kate Lurie was making her way to The Shrubberies synagogue only to discover that her place of worship had been sealed off. She said: “I was locked out. I couldn’t get in the synagogue because I came afterwards and they wouldn’t let me in. They’d locked down completely.
“It’s the most important day of our year. It’s the holiest day of our year and to not be able to go into synagogue on that day felt completely isolating and completely ruined our day. All I’m thinking about is the people who have died and their families on this horrific, tragic day.”
Asked whether the attack made her want to turn back, she said: “We’ll never give into terror. We’ll continue practising our religion. We have to show defiance that whatever happens, we will be here,” her husband Michael added, “despite what happens in this country and the policy of the government to support Jewish people or not.”
Phil Geller, who also attends the Shrubberies on Bury New Road, got married at Heaton Park synagogue many years ago. He discovered the attack shortly after it occurred, but because he was observing Yom Kippur, he did not hear it on the news.
“We don’t watch TV or listen to the radio,” he explained, “but our neighbours suddenly came out into the street in their pyjamas and told us that something had happened to warn us. It was very disturbing. It’s actually the synagogue where my wife and I got married many years ago. It’s very distressing.”
However, despite the distress, he too was not deterred from attending his synagogue service on the holiest of days for Jews. He said: “I felt the opposite really, I felt I wanted to go. I felt we can’t be dictated to. You’ve got to go out and be resilient and show support with your community so I wanted to come.”
According to Anthony Dennison, who was at another synagogue at the time of the attack, the atmosphere inside was one of ‘devastation’. He said: “It’s hard to know what to say, It’s absolutely shocking.
“We were in here this morning and somebody came in and told us all about it, what had happened. Rumours were coming through during the course of the day. It was only a matter of time,” he added. “I think a lot of people will be very nervous and scared. It’s worrying times.”
Daniel Berke, a director of UK Lawyers for Israel, was heading home to break the Yom Kippur fast when he spoke to the M. E.N. “I found out about this when my brother called me at home this morning to say there had been a terror attack at Heaton Park shul. I used to teach security many years ago for CST so I rushed here, joined the security team.
“We knew this was going to happen. We’ve known it was going to happen for years. We do what we can to keep this community safe.The CST [Community Security Trust] work tirelessly, the police work tirelessly but terrorists only need to get lucky once.”
As he departed from the Shrubberies synagogue, he paused to shake hands with one of the security guards stationed outside, whom he hailed as ‘a hero’.
“These are two paid security guards,” he elaborated. “They’ve got families at home. I know them both.Security guards who work in a shop, they might have to deal with a shoplifter, they might have to deal with an aggressive drunk.
“Security guards who stand on Jewish synagogues risk their lives and we saw that today, one of them was badly injured. And they could have very easily packed up and gone home today and said this isn’t for me. They didn’t, they put themselves in exposed spots and made sure that people were safe going home. So they are [heroes].”
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