Manchester shul attendance rises after terror attack as community shows defiance

A leading Jewish figure has said a deadly terror attack on a Manchester synagogue has strengthened community life rather than diminished it.

Marc Levy, head of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said attendance at Heaton Park Synagogue increased significantly in the weeks following the attack.

“Terrorism tried to close our synagogue, but instead it filled it,” he told delegates at a European Jewish conference.

He said more than 1,500 people packed into the synagogue for the first Friday night service after it reopened, with some returning for the first time in years.

“Synagogue attendances actually increased with those who had not attended for years feeling inspired to do so,” he added.

The attack on 2 October, during Yom Kippur, left two congregants dead and four others seriously injured. Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed in the assault, which involved a car ramming and stabbing, before the attacker was shot dead by police.

At the time, synagogue leadership and security were praised for preventing further loss of life, with Rabbi Daniel Walker among those credited for their role during the attack.

Levy said the response from Manchester’s Jewish community had been one of determination and visibility, rather than fear.

“We are not hiding,” he said. “We will continue to celebrate our immense contribution to our country. If the intention of this terrorism was to drive people away, it clearly failed.”

In a personal moment, he also paid tribute to his father, Alan, a member of the synagogue’s volunteer security team, who confronted the attacker at the entrance.

He said his father “came face-to-face with evil” and showed “incredible heroism” by blocking access to the building and raising the alarm.

“His actions did not just stop the terrorist, but saved the lives of everyone inside,” Levy said.

Levy was speaking at the Summit of European Jewish Leaders, organised by the European Council of Jewish Communities, which brought together more than 250 participants from over 35 countries.

He told the conference that the attack had reinforced the need for preparedness, warning that Jewish communities across Europe must be ready to respond to evolving threats while continuing to live openly and confidently.