Response to synagogue attack shows how our community can unite to fight antisemitism
Last weekend in Colleyville, acts of heroism outshone the heinous plot of a terrorist.
Four men were held hostage for 11 hours by a terrorist who had been welcomed into their synagogue as a guest, and they worked and executed their own escape from the building. It was not by chance or luck that all of them returned safely to their families. It was because of planning and training.
Sadly, today our Jewish friends, neighbors, and their synagogues are so well acquainted with threats and violence, they have invested in training for their rabbis and temple leaders to prepare for violence that even our government says is inevitable.
Americans of the Jewish faith make up only 2% of our population, but according to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic crimes account for 55 percent of anti-religious hate crimes. Antisemitic hate crimes are on the rise, with an over 26 percent increase in incidents between 2020 and 2021.
The sickening act we saw and felt in our own community horrifically exemplified the very real threat that exists for fellow North Texans who are simply practicing their faith. What made this terrorist act even more disturbing is that the perpetrator, Malik Faisal Akram, traveled here from another country to commit this atrocious act of violence.
While alleged co-conspirators have been arrested in Britain, leading many to assume the terrorist’s ties to extremists were known, it appears as though intelligence services believed his past criminal acts and extremist ties were too insignificant to deny this would-be terrorist from obtaining a visa. The FBI is now tracing what the terrorist did in his days between landing in New York and coming to Dallas.
A recently released recording of a phone call between the terrorist and his brother is truly chilling. He told his brother, “I’m opening the door for every youngster to enter America and [expletive] with them. I’m setting the precedent today. … They’re not going to get away with it anymore.”
By his own admission, his goal was to inspire others to come to the U.S. and commit individual acts of terrorism against our people. This kind of attack, and the encouragement of other young Islamic extremists to follow in his footsteps, is a terrifying prospect for all Americans, particularly ones of faith who can imagine their religious services and gatherings as targets.
The harrowing approach the Biden administration has taken to national security has proven to have deadly consequences — especially when it comes to immigration and our border. We saw our community’s peace and safety threatened as four faithful members were held hostage by a man who had legally obtained a visa, despite having lied on his application about past arrests and criminal activities.
The brave men and women of our community selflessly rose to show that our neighbors and our country we will always stand in unity to support each other, especially when threats are present. The Colleyville Police Department responded immediately. Local churches also showed their support, as Good Shepherd Catholic Community church opened its doors to take in the evacuees and families of hostages until the situation was resolved.
Pleasant Run Baptist Church also invited others in and displayed prayer signs for their “brothers and sisters at Beth Israel.” On Monday, hundreds gathered inside White Chapel United Methodist Church, and more than 4,000 watched online, as Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker led a service for community healing.
The cure for hatred and the cure for antisemitism is community — something we saw in Colleyville on Saturday as people of all faiths and from all neighborhoods united in service and in prayer. That is why I’ve led the introduction of a bipartisan resolution commending our community and reaffirming our stance against antisemitism with nearly 100 of my colleagues in the House.
As time moves forward, Congregation Beth Israel will heal. Although millions of Jewish Americans will continue to feel the pressure of lingering danger, it is my prayer that we will see this moment as a time to come together, be grateful for one another and celebrate the amazing, diverse fabric that makes North Texas one of our nation’s most wonderful regions.
This story was originally published January 21, 2022 at 7:04 AM.