Manchester Synagogue Attack

Iam64

I hesitate to fuel the anger and often disagree with FGT, here’s the but. Can anyone remember when our Jewish communities caused trouble?
I do know some so frightened by increasing anti semitism, they’re considering moving to Israel. Desperate times

I agree that Jewish people in our country are neither violent nor provocative.

It is political, and I'm cross that the fall-out of whatever goes on several thousand miles away spills over into our country. Especially in a religious context.

I don't know what Jewish people have to do to feel safe.

Don't talk don't talk. That always makes things so much better.

I can not imagine what it feels like yo be a Jewish person at the moment, and I have thought that for quite a long time.

The Jewish community is very, very small compared to other minorities. I agree, it would be a tragedy to lose their presence either here in Britain, or in wider Europe. Wherever they've settled they've always come with a wealth of contributions in so many fields, punching well above their weight. Just wishing to live their lives and follow their religion without causing any problems with their host country. How awful for them to have what seems to be an omnipresent veil of a hostile prejudice, whilst in some quarters being hotly denied along the lines of "it's not racism, it can't because mostly they're deemed white" but nevertheless it exists in the form of an ethnic prejudice, given they are often blamed for some of the world's ills all wrapped up in spurious nonsense such as "they control the world of banking" or even worse "well they killed Jesus" Can any of us imagine having to flee country after country and still meet with subliminal and at times very overt hostilities as described in the experiences of three generations of Hadley Freeman's family in her excellent book "House of Glass".

Plummeting new depths mentioning Mosques.

As I said in a deleted post Didsbury Mosque very quickly issued a statement expressing sadness.

Radio Manchester is expressing that in Manchester hate will not win, and yet I read what I read here.

Saying "hate will not win" is a platitude every time some person decides they will kill some person/s unkown to themselves because of what they think or feel they represent, in suceeding in that act of hate in that instance hate has triumphed, it's won.

I felt as if the presenter was ramping up the Manchester is Better than This rhetoric. Perhaps fearing more violence and unrest.

Some people are floundering around and don't know what to say. But I don't think sneeky comments about Mosques are the way forward at all.

My heart goes out to the whole Jewish community. As Allira says above, Jews came to this county for sanctuary. I fear far too many uninformed people conflate being Jewish with being pro the destruction of Palestine. and this feeds into the growing tide of antisemitism. I have Jewish friends who now are careful where they go and when. Can't believe this is happening after the lessons of World War II.

I imagine that despite some comments to the contrary on here most community leaders, politicians, and religious leaders, as well as Jewish people and those from other groups, will not want to talk of hatred and division, but to mourn the dead and pray for peace.
That doesn’t mean anyone is aiming to silence a debate but to be respectful at this particular time.

I was born in Manchester and remember going to the Whit walks in Heaton Park. I went to my friend's wedding in this synagogue. I worked in Crumpsall, at the North Manchester General Hospital as I began my NHS career many years ago. There was a large, long standing Jewish community in Prestwich and Cheetham Hill Road going back many years. I had friends in both areas and, to me at least, everyone seemed to get on ok. We forged friendships based on fun, laughter, shared experience working together as young adults and what religion we each worshipped did not make any difference. None of us then, as individuals, were responsible for any atrocities elsewhere in the world, cased by religious difference and I'm not sure why that should change...

My heart goes out to all and everyone the local community affected by this terrible incident. 💐💐

Babs03

I imagine that despite some comments to the contrary on here most community leaders, politicians, and religious leaders, as well as Jewish people and those from other groups, will not want to talk of hatred and division, but to mourn the dead and pray for peace.
That doesn’t mean anyone is aiming to silence a debate but to be respectful at this particular time.

Well said Babs03.

Exactly, Babs03. A dreadful ,sad incident.My thoughts are with the community .

Latest:
2 people have been arrested at a house in Crumpsall, less than a mile away from the synagogue in which 2 Jewish people have died after being stabbed.

The hero rabbi at the door blocked the entrance of the terrorist to the synagogue. Such bravery. He will have saved many lives in Manchester I imagine.

surfsup

I don’t understand why mosques are even brought into this discussion. There’s a lot of misinformation on here.

As someone who has lived close to a synagogue for over 15 years I should add that security and a police presence has been a constant for many years.

It’s quite obvious that many of you are blissfully unaware of just how much anti Jew hatred there is in the UK. It’s ramped up since 7/10/23 but it’s always been there and it’s despicable.

Indeed, I lived near Golders Green, London, in the 1970/80s and there were attacks on the Jewish community by the far right Nationalist Front.
I believe this was the beginning of Synagogues being protected.

Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police said it was “thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside, as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access”.

He added: “There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack.”

The suspect was shot within seven minutes of the first call to the emergency services and two people have since been arrested over the attack, he added.

A photograph earlier emerged of the terrorist wearing what appears to be a bullet proof vest and a possible bomb.

It is not clear if the device strapped to him was a viable explosive device but a bomb disposal unit was sent to the scene.

The terrorist was wearing what has turned out to be a fake suicide bomb belt. Obviously hoping it would keep him safe from being shot - banking on being arrested.

On tonight's BBC radio 4 news someone from the Jewish community was interviewed. I can't remember his exact words but basically he said this attack was an attack on everyone in the community . Which, of course, it is. He also talked about it being a time for people to come together, which of course, is exactly what should happen. For anyone to make statements about the followers of other religions or places of worship is IMO putting fuel on a fire and shows little respect for those who have died. This is not the time to show prejudice or hatred, if we do, the perpetrators of this vile attack will have won.

foxie48

On tonight's BBC radio 4 news someone from the Jewish community was interviewed. I can't remember his exact words but basically he said this attack was an attack on everyone in the community . Which, of course, it is. He also talked about it being a time for people to come together, which of course, is exactly what should happen. For anyone to make statements about the followers of other religions or places of worship is IMO putting fuel on a fire and shows little respect for those who have died. This is not the time to show prejudice or hatred, if we do, the perpetrators of this vile attack will have won.

Agree.
There is too much hatred, why add a lighted match?

Babs03

foxie48

On tonight's BBC radio 4 news someone from the Jewish community was interviewed. I can't remember his exact words but basically he said this attack was an attack on everyone in the community . Which, of course, it is. He also talked about it being a time for people to come together, which of course, is exactly what should happen. For anyone to make statements about the followers of other religions or places of worship is IMO putting fuel on a fire and shows little respect for those who have died. This is not the time to show prejudice or hatred, if we do, the perpetrators of this vile attack will have won.

Agree.
There is too much hatred, why add a lighted match?

I dunno? Some sort of deep seated need for attention perhaps.

Strange times from a person who claims to liev a small life and be a Humanist.

The lighted matches happened a long time ago, they included calls for global intifada, etc.
So it might be that people's definition of hate are different to yours.

foxie48

On tonight's BBC radio 4 news someone from the Jewish community was interviewed. I can't remember his exact words but basically he said this attack was an attack on everyone in the community . Which, of course, it is. He also talked about it being a time for people to come together, which of course, is exactly what should happen. For anyone to make statements about the followers of other religions or places of worship is IMO putting fuel on a fire and shows little respect for those who have died. This is not the time to show prejudice or hatred, if we do, the perpetrators of this vile attack will have won.

Well said foxie48

foxie48

On tonight's BBC radio 4 news someone from the Jewish community was interviewed. I can't remember his exact words but basically he said this attack was an attack on everyone in the community . Which, of course, it is. He also talked about it being a time for people to come together, which of course, is exactly what should happen. For anyone to make statements about the followers of other religions or places of worship is IMO putting fuel on a fire and shows little respect for those who have died. This is not the time to show prejudice or hatred, if we do, the perpetrators of this vile attack will have won.

Well said! Now is the time to mourn the victims.

Jess have expected this for a long time now. The weekly hate marches, and that is what they are, have been allowed to continue. The uneducated have joined in and now social media is awash with evil Jews, good Palestinians.

Take a look at what is taught in Gaza schools. Young children are taught to hate Jews. Look at Hamas' charter.
They want to obliterate Israel and all Jews. And so many useful idiots are taking the side of terrorists. It's shocking.
Imagine if we had neighbours that loathed and despised us. Who wished to annihilate us. What a way to have to live your life. Imagine if 300 youngsters were terrorised, abused killed at Glastonbury. Then imagine another 1000 of our residents were butchered. Would you not want retaliation.
What happened after Pearl Harbour? USA went after the Japanese. Managing to kill 100 thousand in one day. 9/11? We certainly went after revenge for that. But israel aren't allowed to. Baffling.

And if you really want to talk about genocide, there's plenty going on worldwide. Just take a look and see what's happening in Nigeria. But we don't care. Hardly gets a mention in the news. Of course not. Islam versus Christianity. Not a Jew in sight. So nobody's interested.

Keir Starmer has now given a speech about how protected the Jews will feel after today. Words fail me.

to the families and friends of those who have died and to those injured who are in hospital now.

Reka You are clearly from the USA (you say "WE certainly went after revenge for that (9/11)

Keir Starmer speaks for the UK. If it had been peaceful Muslims being attacked outside their mosque, he would have spoken of protecting them - ALL the inhabitants of the country deserve to be protected from random acts of violence. That is civilisation.

Any attack calls for punishment of the perpetrator and protection of those attacked, but NOT for revenge. After the October attacks, Netanyahu's reaction has been more than punishment of the terrorists, it has been genocide against all Palestinians. The Old Testament doctrine of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", carried out to these extremes, results only in the relatives of those killed for revenge embarking themselves on a campaign of killing multiple numbers in retaliation, snowballing until the whole world becomes blind and toothless.

There is the beginning of an end to the carnage between Isreal and Hamas. It still needs negotiation and compromise, but it could bring peace at last and a chance to rebuild trust and neighbourliness. Speaking approvingly of revenge is inappropriate and inflammatory.