Seven weeks after a violent attack claimed two lives, the community at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester continues to grapple with profound feelings of insecurity, describing the ongoing situation as a 'real moral failing'.
A Community Forever Changed
Sitting on benches just metres from where the assault began last month, synagogue chairman Alan Levy recalls the terrifying events with painful clarity. Working security that day, he was the first to sound the alarm, rushing to barricade the doors as Jihad al Shamie attempted to force his way inside.
He points to a seat a few rows behind, once occupied by Adrian Daulby, one of the two men who lost their lives. 'I came running in here to make sure all the doors were closed - but that door was actually open,' Levy says, indicating a fire exit. He remembers how Daulby 'leapt up' to close it before running the length of the synagogue to help secure the front doors, where he was tragically struck by a police bullet.
'When I look at that seat now - and Adrian isn't sitting there - it makes me so sad,' Levy shares. 'It's difficult to say we feel safe, really. It's still so raw.'
An Outpouring of Support Amid Ongoing Fear
Despite the trauma, the synagogue recently opened its doors for Mitzvah Day, an annual event dedicated to helping those in need. Visitors were met with rows of sympathy cards filled with handwritten messages of support.
Event organiser Geraldine Simon showed an example of the community's compassion: two baby grows knitted by a local woman who included a note asking they be given to someone in need, stating 'tell the mother every stitch was knitted with love'.
Yet, this outpouring of support contrasts sharply with the persistent anxiety felt by congregation members. Both Alan Levy and his son Marc, head of Manchester's Jewish Representative Council, state that despite initial promises, they and other members still feel unsafe nearly two months after the attack.
A 'Moral Failing' and Plea for Change
'The fact is, we're sat here now inside a synagogue behind gates with security outside,' Marc Levy states. 'And the fact that's still needed is a real moral failing.'
He expresses deep disappointment that the attack did not become the turning point many had hoped for. Despite increased security and an enhanced presence from Greater Manchester Police—who have now agreed to fund repairs after officers broke in during the attack—the threat of antisemitism has not diminished.
Marc makes another urgent plea: 'We make another plea in the aftermath of our friends and family being targeted - people need to be careful with their language.'
He reveals troubling questions are now being asked within the community: 'Whether our children and grandchildren will still be as welcome in this country as our family have been for generations now. And the answer is, unequivocally - no they won't be.'
