‘Whatever life throws at us, we don’t walk alone’: how a London synagogue attack birthed an act of solidarity | Antisemitism
“H“How nice and how wonderful it is for friends to sit together,” reads a quote from the Psalms at the top of the wall inside. Finchley Reform Synagogue (FRS). This was a particularly appropriate sentiment for the congregation, who gathered in joyful noise before Friday evening’s Shabbat service.
Three days after the synagogue fell victim to a firebombing attempt, hundreds of members, joined by guests including local politicians, other faith leaders, police officers and a particularly special group of neighbors, made an extra effort to come together in determined, if somewhat tense, solidarity.
They were members of the Somali Bravanese community, many of whom came to the region as refugees and whose own center was destroyed in an arson attack 13 years ago. On this occasion, FRS realized that its Muslim neighbors would have no place to pray as Ramadan approached. offered them the use of the synagogue An arrangement that took four years until the new center was ready for evening prayers during the holy month.
“We have become a family,” said its manager, Asmaa Mohamed Ali. Somali Bravanese Welfare Association (SBWA) shortly after Cantor Zöe Jacobs, FRS, was enveloped in a tremendous embrace. “We realized our similarities”
This week it was the Somali and Bravan neighbors’ turn to return the favor. Muhammad Ali said, “As soon as my community heard about this, they said, ‘They helped us a lot. They were with us in our difficulties. Now it is our turn. What can we do?'”
And so, as members of the Jewish community filed into the foyer before the service, a group of kids from SBWA nibbled on donuts while displaying homemade signs depicting the bond between the two groups. Other SBWA members brought lots of donuts to share after the ceremony.
It was an encouraging end to an otherwise very depressing week at the synagogue, when bottles containing a liquid thought to be gasoline were thrown into the building in the early hours of Wednesday morning. A man and a woman were arrested Regarding what is being considered an anti-Semitic hate crime.
The attack follows a firebombing of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity near Golders Green last month, which was claimed by an Iran-linked group. Sarah Sackman, the MP from the constituency where the attacks took place, said there was “fear and real concern” among the Jewish community, but “I also believe there is a strong show of resilience.”
He called the close partnership between the synagogue and the Muslim community center “a quiet, radical act of solidarity and allyship.” “The FRS is not just a place of worship; it hosts a nursery, a homeless shelter, refugee reception, educational and community activities. It is a place that embodies the best of the community and reaches outwards. British Jews do not want to live behind ever-higher walls.”
The buzzing warmth in the standing room only room, where toddlers wore party dresses and families smiled and swayed together during the many songs, contrasted with the mood outside. Everyone there would have passed through the high gates surrounding the synagogue, patrolled by volunteers, security guards and, on Friday, extra police. Visitors may have been openly welcomed, but they had to check their names against a list and show photo ID.
“I remember when we built this building four years ago, we said really forcefully: Why is there a fence around our building? That’s not our message, we want to be an open building,” Jacobs said. “It feels a bit naive to be honest, and I guess I’m just happy I didn’t win this.”
According to the research, anti-Semitic incidents in the UK are much more frequent than before Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s war in Gaza. Community Safety Foundation (CST)Providing security and support to Jewish communities in the UK.
3,700 events detected in 2025; the deadliest of these was a knife attack in Heaton Park in October. Incident at the synagogue in Manchester, where two people died and three people were seriously injured; It is the first fatal antisemitic incident in the UK since CST records began in 1984. This terrorist attack in itself heralded a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents. charity located.
Dave Rich, CST’s head of policy, said: “There is a lot of police action being taken at the moment to protect the Jewish community, which is both very welcome and a sign of how seriously they take the threat.
“Among all this, I think Finchley Reform Synagogue’s determination to continue to be open and welcoming is very typical of the Jewish community. I think the balance between the violent nature of the threat and the determination to continue is the most difficult thing to maintain.”
“When dark forces come knocking on our door, it hurts. It really hurts,” FRS Rabbi Deborah Blausten told attendees. But he emphasized that the synagogue “is a place of welcome.” “No matter what life brings us, we will not walk alone.”
On Sunday, the congregation was told that some from the synagogue would join worshipers at the local Anglican church, while others were invited. “The timing couldn’t have been better”
As they were leaving, the congregation was instructed not to linger even once outside the gates or near the security guards. “Please do all your socializing indoors.”
