"Yom Kippur is rightly described as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, but it is also a moment of vulnerability. Those who follow tradition, and that includes plenty who wouldn't describe themselves as believers in God, do not eat or drink for 25 hours; many switch off their phones, and don't watch TV or listen to the radio; they engage in reflection on the year that has passed,"
"To an extent that is perhaps not realised by most Britons, every Jewish building in this country every school, every cultural centre and synagogue has long been hardened against attack, compelled to operate stringent security. Indeed, community officials I've spoken to believe that it was only the presence of guards and gates and fences, and of congregants who knew the drill, that prevented the assailant from killing more."
Jewish New Year greetings shifted from 'shana tova' to 'A better year' reflecting lowered expectations amid rising threats. A murderous attack at Heaton Park during Yom Kippur heightened shock because congregants were already fasting, reflecting, and often disconnected from devices, increasing vulnerability. Recurrent attacks on Jews and synagogues worldwide have led British Jewish communities to fear and prepare, hardening every Jewish building with stringent security measures. Community Security Trust guards, gates, fences, and trained congregants likely limited casualties. The security infrastructure provided grim reassurance but underscored that sustained protection remains necessary for Jewish communal life.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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