A massive rally in Manchester honored the victims of the synagogue terror attack and expressed solidarity with Israel and the hostages held in Gaza.
Thousands of people filled central Manchester on Sunday in a powerful display of unity, remembrance, and resilience — gathering for a rally in support of the Jewish community and in memory of the victims of the Yom Kippur terror attack.
The emotional event, held just days after the attack that claimed the lives of Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, outside the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue, also served to express solidarity with the families of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Attendees — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — arrived from across Manchester and neighboring regions, waving Israeli and British flags, holding signs that read “We Stand with Israel” and “Bring Them Home Now.” Together, they recited Tehillim (Psalms) for the souls of the murdered and the safety of the captives.
Organizers led the crowd in a moment of silence before reading Psalm 121 — “I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come” — symbolizing strength and hope amid tragedy.
“In these difficult days, we must stand together as one man with one heart,” organizers declared. “We must strengthen the bond between our communities and support one another.”
The terror attack — carried out by Jihad al-Shami, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian origin, — shocked the United Kingdom’s Jewish community. Al-Shami rammed and stabbed worshippers outside the synagogue before being eliminated by police at the scene.
Police have since arrested three suspects — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s — in connection with the incident. Authorities believe they may have aided or incited the attack, though their exact relationship to the terrorist is still under investigation.
The Manchester rally, described by local leaders as “a night of light in the shadow of grief,” underscored the Jewish community’s courage and unity in the face of antisemitic terror.
Participants said their message was not one of fear — but of faith and defiance:
“We will not bow to terror. We will not hide our faith. We stand with Israel — and we will stand forever.”
