Murders of Adrian and Melvin bring grief and defiance

Hundreds gathered outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester on Friday afternoon to remember Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, murdered less than 24 hours earlier in a car-ramming and stabbing attack during Yom Kippur prayers.

The atmosphere was heavy with grief but defined by unity. In pouring rain, Jewish residents stood side by side with Muslim and Christian neighbours, holding flowers and standing silently as prayers were recited for the victims.

“We’ve come to pay our respects to the families and to the community,” said one Muslim neighbour. “Melvin was a very good man. People need to come together and not allow those who want to divide communities to succeed.”

Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

Another added: “It was very important for us to come and show solidarity with our Jewish friends and families. There are people out there trying to threaten that unity – but we stand together in one cause.”

From the stage, Mark Addleman, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, urged action to stem rising antisemitism. “Jew hatred cannot be allowed to continue,” he said. “No longer can people claim to be anti-Zionist and yet not Jew-haters. We are proud British Mancunian Jews. We love this country and we proudly wave the Union Jack.”

More in UK

15 hours ago

UK government rules out resumption of Israel trade talks

By Lee Harpin

June 1, 2026

Volunteers week is a chance to turn concern into action

By Nicky Goldman

May 26, 2026

Israel’s diplomatic vacuum in Britain could not have come at a worse time

By Daniel Sugarman

Faith leaders echoed his words. Rev Dr Raj Bharat Patta, a Methodist minister and chair of Stockport’s multi-faith network, called the attack “an assault on diversity”, while the Bishop of Manchester told the crowd: “Hate will never defeat hate – only love will defeat hate.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson praised the bravery of those who stopped the attacker from forcing his way inside. Watson appealed to pro-Palestine demonstrators to reconsider weekend marches, saying: “You could do the responsible and sensitive thing and refrain on this occasion, out of respect for the Jewish community’s trauma.”

Tension briefly rose when Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was introduced. Some in the crowd booed and shouted, “shame on you” and “go to Palestine” before Mark Adlestone, also of the Jewish Representative Council, stepped in to restore calm: “All right, we’ve heard enough. We know how we feel. Let’s give the time for our deputy prime minister to address us.”

Lammy pressed on, telling mourners: “Our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers must be with the families and this Jewish community. Jewish people – our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones – are becoming targets of antisemitism hate simply for who they are. But I know this community is strong and resilient. Our country, of all faiths and colours , stands with you.”

The vigil ended with a defiant message from Rabbi Daniel Walker, who thanked police and CST volunteers. “Adrian and Melvin died as Jews for being Jews,” he said. “The only way to defeat darkness is with goodness. We always rebuild, we always recover, we always return stronger.”

By Sunday, the spirit of Manchester had carried to London, where thousands filled Trafalgar Square for the Board of Deputies’ rally marking two years since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks – an event now entwined with grief for the Heaton Park victims.

Board president Phil Rosenberg told the crowd he had spent Shabbat with the Manchester congregation. “Amid the weeping and the prayers, we even danced together – Jewish joy, Jewish pride. We, the Jewish people, refused to be cowed.”

Keith Black, chair of the Jewish Leadership Council and a “proud but anguished Mancunian”, said the community’s fear of violence spreading to Britain had been realised. “Antisemitism in this country is out of control,” he said. “This is our home, and we will not be driven out.”

As Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich lit the final of the 23 candles, the message from both cities was the same: grief, resilience, and unity.