“We’re in the presence of heroes, every single one of them,” Walker said of the group, all of whom were inside the shul at the time of the attack and helped to hold the doors closed. About a dozen individuals, including Rabbi Walker himself, helped to keep the door shut.
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Standing alongside Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the King told the group that the October 2 attack was a “terrible shock” which “saddened the nation”, and he shared his “heartfelt condolences”.
He asked the senior representatives if they are getting adequate support, to which they replied that they are. He then asked whether police have been helpful since the attack, and Foxler said they have been “incredible”. The King also offered praise to the CST for doing “wonderful work” protecting Jewish sites around the country.
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The king also met others who helped to barricade the door against al-Shamie, as well as Yoni Finlay, who was wounded in the attack, and his family, all of whom were in the building at the time.
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Levy told the JC: “To see the King come and say how proud he was of the Jewish community, is just really something, it’s just lovely to hear.
“And for the King to say that he’s here to help us in just a small way is just a bit mind-blowing and quite surreal really. The King is here in Manchester, at our community, walking up the steps coming into our synagogue, and talking to us and to say he’s glad to help. It’s just surreal to me. And it’s not in a small way that he’s helping, believe me. It means a great deal.”
The King gifted the community a bottle of whiskey for them to enjoy during a Shabbos morning service, and in return the community presented the King with a framed print of the memorial event the synagogue held for the late Queen Elizabeth.
“He was extremely touched by that,” Levy said. “He really was very touched and thanked us so much for our thoughts, and I said no, it’s us who should be thanking you.”
Levy added that the significance of the visit and how much it has helped the community to recover is “incalculable”.
“It’s certainly uplifted everybody in our community,” he said, “it’s given us a sense of warmth really, to know that everyone’s thinking about us.”
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Likewise, Finlay told reporters that the King “really took his time to engage” every single person he met on the day.
He said: “I think what was great about today was the King taking the time to come and see the shul...it shows we have real support in this country.
“A lot of people will say [the attack] was a shock but not a surprise, so the fact that the King came and showed his support, showed his care...that meant a huge amount.”
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Asked how he felt returning to the scene of the attack, he went on: “It’s easier than I thought, but it’s difficult because I know I’m lucky, because some people didn’t make it – those are the real heroes. I only did what anyone else would have done.
“But we have a great community, everyone’s been very supportive...I can’t fault the care at all. This is how it should be, we are a community that plays such a huge part in Britain...we should be here for good things not bad things.”
A royal spokesperson told the JC that the visit was part of His Majesty’s “longstanding mission to bring communities together, particularly in times of challenge” and that he hoped the focus of the day would be on Manchester’s Jewish community.
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Outside the shul, hundreds of members of the Chasidic community lined the street and the King crossed the road to meet many of them.
As his motorcade was departing, the crowd clapped and some yelled “God save the King”.
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