How the interfaith community is processing the Colleyville synagogue hostage standoff

Members of the interfaith community packed White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake on Monday night in a show of solidarity with Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville.

It was the first service since Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and three of his congregants were held hostage at the synagogue for hours Saturday by 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram.

Cantor Jeffrey Weber from Fort Worth said Saturday’s standoff reminded him of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018. Weber’s son was attending the University of Pittsburgh nearby at the time.

“I feel bad for the rabbi,” Weber said. He brought his guitar to sing two healing songs at Monday’s service.

Weber, a former opera singer in New York City, said playing music has helped him deal with the trauma of Saturday’s events.

Cindy Simon said being at Monday’s service was a form of healing. Simon said she’s personal friends with Rabbi Cytron-Walker and his wife, Adena.

“It was important to show up and even risk COVID so we could be here in solidarity,” she said.

“You never think something like this is going to happen in your back yard,” Simon said. “We’re grateful that the rabbi knew what to do in that moment.”

Cytron-Walker said in an interview with “CBS Mornings” that he was prepared for the situation with the gunman because of safety courses taught by law enforcement. When he saw an opportunity, he threw a chair at Akram and ran out along with the other hostages.

“I’ve been through that training, and it’s terrifying to think about the fact that we live in a time that you have to know what to do,” Simon said.

Farid Saiyed with the Islamic Association of Tarrant County said bringing people together from different faiths is key to reducing religious violence.

“If we can meet each other as people of faith, then it will give us more understanding of each other and reduce these kinds of incidences,” he said.

This story was originally published January 17, 2022 at 10:44 PM.

Harrison Mantas

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

817-390-7040

Harrison Mantas has covered Fort Worth city government, agencies and people since September 2021. He likes to live tweet city hall meetings, and help his fellow Fort Worthians figure out what’s going on.