Synagogue reopens two weeks after Manchester attack

The Manchester synagogue that was targeted in a car and knife attack has reopened for the first time since it happened.

Two people were killed when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, carried out the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on 2 October.

The synagogue’s congregation, together with members of the wider Manchester Jewish community, gathered in the main building to celebrate the festivals of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah earlier this week.

The BBC was invited into the synagogue, where leaders told how the community had regrouped and felt “comfortable and happy” to be back.

Rob Kanter, the synagogue’s vice-president, said there was “a really positive attendance” and that “a special effort was made to ensure that the Simchat Torah atmosphere was extra vibrant”.

Hundreds of people – including many of those who were present during the attack – joined together to dance with the Torah scrolls, a central tradition of Simchat Torah.

The festival marks both the completion and the immediate renewal of the annual Torah reading cycle, symbolising resilience and new beginnings.

One attendee described the atmosphere as “joyous and resilient”.

Rabbi Daniel Walker said: “I’ve been surprised by the question a few times, is the shul open?

“People seem to imagine that we wouldn’t be, we most definitely are. Many people were nervous of returning, understandably.

“And the vast majority were to able to come back and felt comfortable and happy and able to come back to this building. And this building remains that place of sanctity and holiness. And home.”

Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council for Greater Manchester and Region, whose father Alan Levy helped barricade the doors against the attacker, said: “The fact that such a holy place was attacked in a deadly terrorist atrocity is obviously something that resonates very personally with all of us.

“And there’s naturally grief and there is trauma and there is stress, but we need to try and move the narrative on now towards resilience and strength because we aren’t going anywhere and that is a message those who wish to do us harm need to hear loud and clear.”

Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed in the attack and three others were seriously injured after Al-Shamie first drove a car into a security guard, stabbed a congregant, before attempting to force entry into the synagogue, which had been barricaded by members of the community.

Mr Daulby suffered a gunshot wound after armed police officers responded to the incident and shot Al-Shamie dead.

A police bullet also struck another man, Yoni Finlay, who has since been released from hospital.

Andrew Franks was stabbed by Al-Shamie while helping provide security outside the synagogue. The third injured man, a security guard named only as Bernard, was hit by Al-Shamie’s car.