“They tried to murder us. They did not succeed. Let’s have a meal,” stated a local councillor.
This long-standing Hebrew adage seems especially pertinent in Greater Manchester amid present-day dangers.
For the representative, the good-humoured quip captures the resilient nature that marks his observant Jewish neighbourhood.
This lively district was singled out by an Islamic State terror cell, whose scheme to “kill as many Jews as possible” in a rampaging firearms attack was thwarted. Two suspects were found guilty this week on terrorism offences.
Neighbourhood Solidarity and Everyday Struggles
According to the councillor, the foiled plot has not weakened the community’s wish to coexist with its wider community. “A colleague of mine is a religious Muslim and we work well together,” said the financial advisor. “There’s good and bad in any community. Most just want to live in tranquility.”
The individuals viewed the Jewish community solely through the warped lens of prejudice.
They showed no curiosity in the wide-ranging ways of life, financial situations, levels of observance and political views within Greater Manchester’s Jewish populations, nor in the serious challenges like financial hardship that affect many British communities.
Michelle Ciffer Klein runs a children and families centre that helps hundreds of families, including large strictly observant families and some Muslim women. The hub offers parenting support, clinics, advice services, learning programs, and crucial financial and material support.
“Those looking in believe the biggest issue is safety – that is incorrect,” Ciffer Klein said. “Of course we’re sad and we reflect, but the women I work with are struggling to cope with daily routines, pressure and large families. We offer support.”
“The cost of living – specialist food is very expensive – utility costs, families who can’t afford milk and nappies, housing, welfare issues – these are what I’m addressing.”
Increased Security and Strong Resolve
Despite these challenges, two unifying themes have strengthened under pressure. One is a clear shift “towards community solidarity and involvement,” per a major community study institute. The other is a culture of alertness on a level unseen in most UK towns.
“We can respond to an situation in two minutes,” said the leader of a Jewish civilian patrol group that shares intelligence with police.
“The feeling is undoubtedly strained,” they continued. “We’ve seen a massive rise in calls to our round-the-clock hotline about suspicious activities.”
Nonetheless, the councillor emphasised that the Orthodox communities, among the fastest-growing in Europe, did not live in terror. “We love life,” he said. “We are confident that if we die, we’re going to a better place. We choose not to be afraid.”
Broader Backdrop and Appeals for Measures
Other leading British Jews argue that far more must be done to confront the risk of violent extremism.
While data show that incidents with clear right-wing extremist ideology outnumbered those linked to Islamist extremism last year, the most serious plans in the past few years have been perpetrated by Islamist extremists.
“A big part of our work on the safety side is trying to identify and stop hostile surveillance of Jewish locations that would come before an assault,” said a policy head from a safety trust.
They noted a series of terrorism and antisemitic incidents originating from towns north of the city, leading to questions about the particular dynamics in that region.
Recent events internationally have occurred with Hebrew holidays and anniversaries, amplifying a sense of global anxiety.
Assessment on a Shifting Era
Some commentators believe that a post-Holocaust understanding has changed.
“From a British perspective, there was sort of view there was a period of safety in terms of post-war awareness of what antisemitism is,” said a director for a Jewish leadership body. “It is my belief that viewpoint is starting to be seen as excessively hopeful.”
They added, “It’s not that we think this time is any more dangerous than any of those times before, but that there’s no assumption that troubled times won’t return.”
There is recognition of the endeavours being done within Islamic communities to challenge extremist narratives, though mainstream voices can feel drowned out.
Appeals have been made for the authorities to publish a new radicalism strategy, with an emphasis on addressing the ideological challenge posed by radical views, separate from religion or individuals.
Resilience and Hope
However, amid the context of security threats, a thread of positive defiance characterises even sombre occasions.
“At a recent gathering to mark an anniversary, the conversation included the Manchester incident,” a leader recounted. “Spontaneously, at the end, a musician started playing Jewish tunes and people started dancing. That’s the hopeful side.”
“But I would be lying if I said those serious debates about the future of Jewish life in this country haven’t been taking place.”
