Posted on Jan 15, 2023
‘We are not healed’: The Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis, one year later
215
29
2
10
10
0
On January 15, 2022, a gunman took four people hostage inside Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville. A year later, two of the hostages reflect on how their lives have changed, and what needs to be done to fight the rise in antisemitism in the U.S.
Jeff Cohen is an engineer. He’s from Keller. And he’s the president of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville.
"Up until a year ago, that would have been my whole thing,” he said.
A year ago, a 44-year-old Englishman named Malik Faisal Akram took Cohen and three other people hostage at the synagogue, starting a standoff with police that would last 11 hours. All the hostages managed to escape, and law enforcement entered the building and killed Akram inside.
Jeff Cohen is an engineer. He’s from Keller. And he’s the president of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville.
"Up until a year ago, that would have been my whole thing,” he said.
A year ago, a 44-year-old Englishman named Malik Faisal Akram took Cohen and three other people hostage at the synagogue, starting a standoff with police that would last 11 hours. All the hostages managed to escape, and law enforcement entered the building and killed Akram inside.
‘We are not healed’: The Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis, one year later
Posted from keranews.org
Colleyville
Religion
Judaism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
10
10
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."In fact, the only signs of the hostage crisis left at the synagogue now are the reminders of that support. Framed postcards from Japan hang on one wall. Copies of Congressional declarations condemning antisemitism on another. And a huge poster that Cohen unrolls. When he holds it up, it’s taller than he is.
The poster is from the students of Temple Adat Shalom in Poway, California, and it’s full of messages of support and encouragement.
“I am Jewish as well and I know that there is a lot of hate directed towards us. I hope this never happens to you or anyone else ever again," one message reads.
"I myself am scared that it might happen to our Temple but knowing you can be brave, I can be brave too,” reads another.
Just a few years ago, another temple in these children’s city was attacked by a gunman.
These notes, and the support from around the world, remind Congregation Beth Israel that it is not alone."
..."In fact, the only signs of the hostage crisis left at the synagogue now are the reminders of that support. Framed postcards from Japan hang on one wall. Copies of Congressional declarations condemning antisemitism on another. And a huge poster that Cohen unrolls. When he holds it up, it’s taller than he is.
The poster is from the students of Temple Adat Shalom in Poway, California, and it’s full of messages of support and encouragement.
“I am Jewish as well and I know that there is a lot of hate directed towards us. I hope this never happens to you or anyone else ever again," one message reads.
"I myself am scared that it might happen to our Temple but knowing you can be brave, I can be brave too,” reads another.
Just a few years ago, another temple in these children’s city was attacked by a gunman.
These notes, and the support from around the world, remind Congregation Beth Israel that it is not alone."
(10)
(0)
9
9
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
(9)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google