COLLEYVILLE (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue will hold its first prayer service onsite tonight since the terrifying hostage situation that rocked the community.
On January 15th, British national Malik Akram walked in with a gun and held four people hostage for over ten hours demanding that a Pakistani woman held in a Fort Worth prison be released.
A SWAT team eventually stormed in and the hostage were freed and Akram was killed by police.
The building suffered damage which has since been repaired but Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was one of the hostages, told our media partner WFAA TV it’s the community that has helped the synagogue heal.
“We are all human beings trying to do the best we can in this thing called life. The more we can see the sense of humanity in each other, that we can understand, that our struggles are like your struggles,” he said.
Synagogue member Jeff Cohen held back tears as he talked about what it’s like to have a service in the building after a months-long journey.
“I am so excited to be coming back,” he said.
In addition to a rededication ceremony, about 100 families are expected to attend service Friday night and there will be security guards on site.
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