Manchester synagogue attack raises safety concerns for Chicago's Jewish community

CHICAGO (WGN) — A terrorist attack at a synagogue in northern England on Thursday is heightening safety concerns within Chicago’s Jewish community, prompting synagogues and local organizations to step up security and support their members.

“The sort of religious introspection that I think any religious person goes through at some point during the year, that’s the solemn day that happens for us on Yom Kippur,” Rabbi Micah Greenland said.

Greenland leads the Youth Movement of the Orthodox Union, one of the largest Jewish youth organizations in the world. He spent much of the holiest day of the Jewish calendar at the synagogue in prayer.

“We’re fasting for 25 hours from sundown on Wednesday night until the stars break on Thursday night,” he said.

It’s when the fast ended Thursday night that he and many others first learned of the Yom Kippur terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester, England, that left two people dead, and three others hurt.

The Metropolitan Police force in London, which leads the nation’s counter-terrorism policing operations, declared the rampage a terrorist attack.

“Our first thoughts are with the families of those people who died, those injured and those traumatized by this horrific anti-Semitic attack,” Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor, said.

“When something happens, even if it’s half a world away, it’s like a family member, or in this case, two family members,” Greenland said. “As much as it’s jarring, it’s something that we knew was not only possible but has happened before.”

Greenland says that’s why conversations about safety are constant, especially in West Rogers Park, home to one of the Chicago area’s largest Jewish communities.

“It’s the reason why every synagogue I know has security provisions, on duty or off duty police officers serving as protection,” Greenland said. “It’s gratifying to see that the Chicago Police Department is here with a visible presence, not just on Yom Kippur, but every weekend, every sabbath.”

Safety in the community is also a goal of the rabbi’s work with teens.

“They need connections, solidarity at a time when they are feeling isolated, afraid, hatred of Jews in the hallways and even some of the classrooms of their public schools,” Greenland said. “We respond with love and light to stamp out hate and darkness and we hope that’s a world we can restore.”

The Chicago Police Department issued the following statement regarding the incident:

The Chicago Police Department is monitoring the tragic situation in Manchester, England. While there is no actionable intelligence in Chicago, we have special attention on religious facilities.