West Yorkshire Police increase their presence at Leeds main Synagogue, following the tragic events that unfolded in Manchester last week.
A terrorist by the name of Jihad Al-Shamie was executed at the scene after a seven minute spree of violence during worship at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation which left two Jewish people killed and three in serious conditions after a car ramming and stabbing.
“The Jewish community in this country is reeling from Thursday’s events”, says David Frei a registrar at the Beth Din.
Many places of worship have tightened security in response.
The Leeds Jewish community is one of the largest outside London.
Outside the Sinai Synagogue in Leeds a noticeable police presence could be seen.
A policeman stationed at the scene told Leeds Now they are working closely with community leaders to provide safety and reassurance. “We are increasing our safety majors surrounding attack,” the officer said.
These measures are set to stay in place for the time being as the investigation continues in Manchester.
The attack happened on Thursday during worship on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar. The attacker rammed his car at the gates of the synagogue before getting out and attacking worshippers with a knife.
David Frei says, “The Jewish community has experienced extreme discomfort over that period given the media distortion of events in Gaza, accusations of genocide, and expressions of hate noted above.”
‘Widespread antisemitism’
It comes exactly two years after the Hamas attack on Israel, on October 7th during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. 1,195 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, and in the months that followed, increased antisemitic incidents in the UK surged to record levels. Statics show a 25% increase in religious hate crime with the home office reporting that “the increase, from 8,370 to 10,484 offences reported to police forces, was driven by a rice in offences against Jewish people”.
David Frei added: “The Jewish community in this country has been exposed to widespread antisemitism throughout the last two years since the October 7 massacres, and the mass expression of global intifada in the streets of our cities, inevitably escalates to a point where Jews are physically attacked.”
Leeds council has shown solidarity in regards to the attack.
Councillor James Lewis said: “As a part of that reassurance will be implementing a multi-agency strategy to support our Jewish community, provided through Leeds City Council teams and Leeds District Police, who will also be supporting with high-visibility police patrols.”
The Jewish population in Leeds consist of around 8,000 people, with over 6,800 people in the Leeds metropolitan district who identify their religion as Jewish. With most residing in Moortown, Alwoodley ands Roundhay, there is a community infrastructure including synagogues, schools, health care, social housing and cultural organisations.
Sinai Synagogue is one of Leeds main places of worship has over 400 households registered to its services, founded in 1944 it has grew to be the institution for Jews to practice.
They hold Friday night services and, Saturday morning Shabbat services, and mixed language liturgy for both Hebrew and English speakers.
In 2024,the synagogue celebrated its 80th anniversary, the event led by the inauguration of Cantor Rachel Weston.
As for the aftermath of the current events unfolding over the last two years, fears of celebrating holy days in the Jewish calendar is at anxiety heightened state as a Jews try to process these tragic events.
The investigation continues to be an ongoing procedure at this moment in time.
