Hero rabbi has embraced local Muslim community - The Jewish Chronicle

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker sighed with relief as he told the JC: “It’s been overwhelming. And it’s very good to be here.”

Speaking by phone from Texas, the 46-year-old rabbi (pictured right) who ended the Beth Israel synagogue hostage incident said it has been “very overwhelming” to receive so much interest in the shocking events in his synagogue.

“I want you to know how much I appreciate the call, very, very much,” he said as he shared his plan to hold a private service to help the close-knit community recover from the trauma they experienced.

Less than 48 hours after the sieg, Rabbi Cytron-Walker told the JC he was “working on preparations for the healing service”.

In an email sent out earlier that day, congregants were invited to “a special service to help all of us to begin to put this terrible event behind us and be thankful for a good result”. The interfaith event successfully took place on Monday night.

After Malik Faisal Akram knocked at the window of the synagogue on Saturday morning, the rabbi invited him in and made him tea. Speaking to American breakfast TV, he explained: “Making tea was an opportunity for me to talk with him. In that moment, I didn’t hear anything suspicious.”

It wasn’t until during the Shabbat service that the 44-year-old British man turned his gun on the rabbi and other worshippers. Because of Covid precautions the synagogue was almost empty.

Rabbi Cytron-Waker said: “I’m so grateful that we only had a few people in person and we had other people joining us online. But the fact that it was only a few of us who had to experience that level of trauma is just one of so many things that I’m grateful for.”

Keeping calm throughout, he managed to get the other hostages close to an exit before throwing a chair at Akram, giving them the opportunity to escape.

Devorah Titunik, 63, a member of Beth Israel for 15 years, said of the rabbi: “He’s a negotiator. He builds bridges and he is a very calm presence. He’s somebody that always reaches out to the greater community and always tries to build bridges.”

Like Ms Titunik, another member of the synagogue, Dr Eugene Posnok, also watched the events on the live-feed. Speaking to the JC he said: “It’s a very close-knit community and we’re all shocked that it happened and so rejoicing that our friends, our dear friends are safe.”

Dr Posnok was full of praise for Rabbi Cytron-Walker’s actions, saying:“He was very brave. And very calm.”

Cytron-Walker became the Rabbi of the Reform Beth Israel congregation in 2006 after he graduated from rabbinical school. Originally from Lansing, Michigan, he now lives with his wife Adena Cytron-Walker and has two daughters.

He has fostered strong relations between his community and local Muslim communities.
Jawaid Alam, president of the nearby Islamic Centre of Southlake, described him as a personal friend who has promoted peace and cooperation across faiths. “He and his family are considered part of the Muslim community, and he considers us part of the Jewish community,” he said.

Rabbi Cytron-Walker’s commitment to pluralism clearly hasn’t been dented by the incident.

Speaking after his escape, he said: “I want to give thanks and appreciation for all of the love and all of the support from the Jewish community, my people, from the Muslim community, from the Christian community, from all faiths, all backgrounds, friends, acquaintances, strangers all over the world. It’s truly been overwhelming, thank you so much.”