Nearly a year after two men were killed while defending a synagogue in Manchester, members of the Jewish community revealed that the sense of fear and vulnerability has not eased, with the rabbi of the attacked congregation warning that rising antisemitism and a failure to address the “core problems” have left British Jews feeling increasingly unsafe.
According to Rabbi Daniel Walker of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, the Jewish community is now in an even more difficult position than it had been immediately following the attack, as members prepare to commemorate those killed and injured in the violence.
“I think we’re actually almost in a harder position than we were even immediately after the attack. I think the sense of vulnerability has grown. It hasn’t diminished.”
Rabbi Daniel Walker
The comments come as the Heaton Park Jewish community prepares to mark the attack that claimed the lives of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on 2 October 2025.
The two men were killed as they attempted to defend their synagogue from attacker Jihad al-Shamie. Three other people were injured during the assault, which sent shockwaves through Manchester’s Jewish community and prompted renewed concerns about antisemitism and the security of places of worship across Britain.
Rabbi Walker described the period since the attack as “a year of difficulty and of grief and of pain,” noting that subsequent incidents targeting Jewish people elsewhere had compounded the trauma experienced by the Heaton Park congregation.
“Something has gone seriously wrong in our society. I think we’re dealing with symptoms. We’re extremely grateful for the increased security, but I don’t think there’s really any evidence of anyone dealing with the core problems. And on the contrary, in many ways, those may have become worse over the last months.”
Rabbi Daniel Walker
The concerns have emerged against the backdrop of a series of attacks targeting Jewish people and property in different parts of the world.
In Sydney, Australia, 15 people were killed in a shooting at a Chanukah celebration on Bondi Beach. In Britain, Jewish targets have also faced attacks, including arson incidents in London involving Hatzola emergency medical service ambulances.
Two Orthodox Jewish men were also stabbed after leaving morning prayers in Golders Green in April, adding to concerns over the safety of visibly Jewish people in public spaces.
According to a recent report, violent hate crimes targeting Jewish people, including harassment and assault, have risen by nearly two-thirds since 2022.
Meanwhile, the British government has pledged to continue confronting anti-Jewish hatred.
According to Cabinet Minister Angela Rayner, the government would “not allow hatred to drive people from their communities, to make them afraid to live and practise their faith freely or to divide our country.”
She added that, “antisemitism is a poison, and we won’t stop fighting it until every Jewish person can live their lives fully, and free from fear.“
Heaton Park Community Remembers Attack Victims Amid Security Fears
The Heaton Park congregation will hold a memorial service to honour those killed and injured in the attack, with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Mayor of Manchester Bev Craig among those expected to attend.
The commemoration comes ahead of the first anniversary of the attack on the Jewish religious calendar. Because the assault took place on Yom Kippur, the community will observe the anniversary according to the Jewish calendar rather than the corresponding date on the secular calendar.
Yom Kippur falls in September this year, when private prayers will be held at the synagogue in remembrance of those affected.
However, the community has also chosen to hold a public memorial before the Jewish High Holy Days, allowing wider society to participate in remembering the victims and survivors while drawing attention to the continuing concerns over security and antisemitism.
Rabbi Walker noted that the service would provide an opportunity for the congregation to ask difficult questions about what must change to prevent similar violence from happening again.
“I think it will be a time when a lot of our community will be asking ourselves and the rest of society how we’re going to make sure this doesn’t happen again. I don’t think that’s been done yet. I don’t think the community feels secure enough yet, for good reason.”
Rabbi Daniel Walker
The attack has left lasting emotional scars, particularly among those who experienced it firsthand. Beyond the physical injuries sustained, the incident has influenced how members of the congregation return to their place of worship and engage in communal religious life.
In this sense, the Heaton Park memorial is not only about remembrance but also about affirming the values the community wishes to uphold.
READ ALSO: Fernandes Scores Hat-trick as Manchester United Ease Past Ipswich Town
