On the night of 9 November 1938, Germany’s cities glowed not with candles but with flames. Jewish shops and synagogues were smashed in a frenzy orchestrated by the Nazi state. The streets glittered with shards of broken glass , which is why the regime mockingly called it Kristallnacht — the “Night of Broken Glass.” A polite term for a pogrom, as if destruction could be softened by language. That night, Jews discovered what it meant when prejudice became policy and hatred moved from the margins to the mainstream.
Europe promised that such hatred would never return. But history does not move in straight lines. On Yom Kippur 2025, in Manchester , glass crunched again. Not on shopfronts, but beneath the wheels of a car that rammed into Jews outside their synagogue, followed by a stabbing rampage.
A Seven-Minute Horror Show
At 09:31 BST, a car was driven into worshippers at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation. The driver, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, perhaps giving the best example of normative determinism, jumped out armed with a knife and wearing a vest that appeared to be packed with explosives. He attacked anyone in reach before attempting to storm the synagogue itself.
Inside, hundreds had gathered for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Rabbi Daniel Walker acted quickly, locking the doors and preventing what could have been a mass killing. Armed police arrived within seven minutes. At 09:38, the attacker was shot dead. Two Jews lay murdered. Three others were seriously injured.
The vest was later found to be fake. But the symbolism was clear. This was not a random act of violence, but a deliberate strike against Jews at their most vulnerable.
The Return of the Old Hatred
Antisemitism never disappeared from Europe. It was buried under the rubble of war and coated with the promise of “Never Again.” Yet, in recent years, Jewish communities across the continent have warned that the taboo has lifted.
In Berlin, Jewish leaders advise against wearing kippot in certain districts. In Paris, entire suburbs are described as unsafe for Jews. In London, marches intended as political protests have spilled into chants of “Death to the Jews.” On university campuses, antisemitic graffiti has reappeared. Football terraces have echoed with old slurs.
The post-war consensus that antisemitism must never again be tolerated is fraying. Manchester is not an isolated act. It is part of a wider pattern.
Islamist Ideology and the Yom Kippur Attack
The Manchester attacker was not known to security services. But his actions followed a familiar script. Islamist extremism has long carried a virulent strain of antisemitism, portraying Jews as eternal enemies.
To strike on Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement, when synagogues are full — was no coincidence. It was chosen for maximum psychological impact. The fake suicide vest was designed to invoke jihadist imagery, even if it was not operational. The knife was used to ensure blood was spilled.
The target was not just a building. It was the identity of Jews in Britain.
Britain’s Own Record
Britain has often imagined itself as the democracy that resisted fascism. But antisemitism here is not an import; it is domestic.
The Labour Party’s struggles under Jeremy Corbyn revealed how antisemitism could find shelter under the guise of anti-Zionism. Jewish MPs were hounded. Conspiracy theories circulated. And for many in the community, Labour ceased to feel like a safe political home.
At the same time, Jewish institutions across the country began to live with constant security concerns. Synagogues are guarded. Jewish schools conduct lockdown drills. Manchester was not unprecedented; it was the most violent expression of an atmosphere already felt.
Leaders Speak
The attack drew immediate condemnation from Britain’s top figures. Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short a European summit, chairing a COBRA meeting in London and calling the attack a “vile act of antisemitic terrorism.” He pledged that “those attacked were targeted because they are Jews” and promised greater security at synagogues across the country. The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis , described the killings as the tragic culmination of a “relentless wave of Jew-hatred” across campuses, social media, and public marches. Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham urged the city to stand in solidarity, while King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed sympathy.
From abroad, Benjamin Netanyahu called the rampage “barbaric,” warning that “weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism.” The Israeli embassy in London described it as “abhorrent and deeply distressing,” while Jewish organisations in Britain warned that reassurance must now be backed by action, not platitudes.
Europe’s Other Warnings
Manchester did not happen in a vacuum. Across Europe, similar attacks have taken place in recent years — reminders that antisemitism has never been confined to history books.
Each of these incidents reinforced the same message: Europe’s Jews live with security measures as a daily reality. Manchester is not an exception; it is part of a continuum.
The Reactions
The response from leaders was swift. The Prime Minister promised more police at synagogues. The Home Secretary said she was horrified. Local leaders urged resilience. But for Britain’s Jews, the tone was familiar. Similar words are offered after every desecrated cemetery, every antisemitic march, every violent attack. The challenge, they argue, is not in finding the right words but in ensuring consistent protection.
Broken Glass, Again
Kristallnacht showed that antisemitism does not begin with extermination. It begins with broken windows. With chants. With graffiti. With small acts of intimidation allowed to grow. In Manchester, it replayed in miniature. A car ramming. A rabbi barricading doors. Worshippers forced to pray under siege.
The shame is not only that it happened, but that many in the Jewish community predicted it. They pointed to rising antisemitism online, on campuses, and on the streets. They warned that tolerance of hate would end in blood. And then, it did.
The Hard Truth
Europe has failed its Jews twice in a century. Once by commission. Now by omission. The Manchester synagogue attack was not an isolated outburst but part of a longer trend of denial and hesitation. Governments mistook appeasement for tolerance, and silence for sensitivity. Institutions that should have acted swiftly held back. Kristallnacht did not end in 1945. It paused. And in Manchester, on Yom Kippur 2025, the shards cut again. The question for Europe is whether it will wait for more blood before acting decisively, or whether it will finally recognise that antisemitism, left unchecked, never stops at words.
Europe promised that such hatred would never return. But history does not move in straight lines. On Yom Kippur 2025, in Manchester , glass crunched again. Not on shopfronts, but beneath the wheels of a car that rammed into Jews outside their synagogue, followed by a stabbing rampage.
A Seven-Minute Horror Show
At 09:31 BST, a car was driven into worshippers at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation. The driver, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, perhaps giving the best example of normative determinism, jumped out armed with a knife and wearing a vest that appeared to be packed with explosives. He attacked anyone in reach before attempting to storm the synagogue itself.
Inside, hundreds had gathered for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Rabbi Daniel Walker acted quickly, locking the doors and preventing what could have been a mass killing. Armed police arrived within seven minutes. At 09:38, the attacker was shot dead. Two Jews lay murdered. Three others were seriously injured.
The vest was later found to be fake. But the symbolism was clear. This was not a random act of violence, but a deliberate strike against Jews at their most vulnerable.
The Return of the Old Hatred
Antisemitism never disappeared from Europe. It was buried under the rubble of war and coated with the promise of “Never Again.” Yet, in recent years, Jewish communities across the continent have warned that the taboo has lifted.
In Berlin, Jewish leaders advise against wearing kippot in certain districts. In Paris, entire suburbs are described as unsafe for Jews. In London, marches intended as political protests have spilled into chants of “Death to the Jews.” On university campuses, antisemitic graffiti has reappeared. Football terraces have echoed with old slurs.
The post-war consensus that antisemitism must never again be tolerated is fraying. Manchester is not an isolated act. It is part of a wider pattern.
Islamist Ideology and the Yom Kippur Attack
The Manchester attacker was not known to security services. But his actions followed a familiar script. Islamist extremism has long carried a virulent strain of antisemitism, portraying Jews as eternal enemies.
To strike on Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement, when synagogues are full — was no coincidence. It was chosen for maximum psychological impact. The fake suicide vest was designed to invoke jihadist imagery, even if it was not operational. The knife was used to ensure blood was spilled.
The target was not just a building. It was the identity of Jews in Britain.
Britain’s Own Record
Britain has often imagined itself as the democracy that resisted fascism. But antisemitism here is not an import; it is domestic.
The Labour Party’s struggles under Jeremy Corbyn revealed how antisemitism could find shelter under the guise of anti-Zionism. Jewish MPs were hounded. Conspiracy theories circulated. And for many in the community, Labour ceased to feel like a safe political home.
At the same time, Jewish institutions across the country began to live with constant security concerns. Synagogues are guarded. Jewish schools conduct lockdown drills. Manchester was not unprecedented; it was the most violent expression of an atmosphere already felt.
Leaders Speak
The attack drew immediate condemnation from Britain’s top figures. Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short a European summit, chairing a COBRA meeting in London and calling the attack a “vile act of antisemitic terrorism.” He pledged that “those attacked were targeted because they are Jews” and promised greater security at synagogues across the country. The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis , described the killings as the tragic culmination of a “relentless wave of Jew-hatred” across campuses, social media, and public marches. Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham urged the city to stand in solidarity, while King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed sympathy.
From abroad, Benjamin Netanyahu called the rampage “barbaric,” warning that “weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism.” The Israeli embassy in London described it as “abhorrent and deeply distressing,” while Jewish organisations in Britain warned that reassurance must now be backed by action, not platitudes.
Europe’s Other Warnings
Manchester did not happen in a vacuum. Across Europe, similar attacks have taken place in recent years — reminders that antisemitism has never been confined to history books.
- Halle, Germany (2019) – Far-right gunman failed to storm a synagogue on Yom Kippur, killing two outside.
- North Caucasus, Russia (2023) – Airport mobs demanded Jews be identified among Israel arrivals.
- Warsaw, Poland (2024) – Molotov cocktails thrown at central synagogue, no casualties.
- Rouen, France (2024) – Armed man set fire to a synagogue, shot dead by police.
- Dagestan, Russia (2024) – Coordinated attacks on synagogues, churches, and police killed over two dozen.
- La Grande-Motte, France (2024) – Man tried to torch synagogue with axe and pistol.
- Berlin, Germany (2025) – Syrian asylum seeker stabbed visitor at Holocaust Memorial in antisemitic attack.
Each of these incidents reinforced the same message: Europe’s Jews live with security measures as a daily reality. Manchester is not an exception; it is part of a continuum.
The Reactions
The response from leaders was swift. The Prime Minister promised more police at synagogues. The Home Secretary said she was horrified. Local leaders urged resilience. But for Britain’s Jews, the tone was familiar. Similar words are offered after every desecrated cemetery, every antisemitic march, every violent attack. The challenge, they argue, is not in finding the right words but in ensuring consistent protection.
Broken Glass, Again
Kristallnacht showed that antisemitism does not begin with extermination. It begins with broken windows. With chants. With graffiti. With small acts of intimidation allowed to grow. In Manchester, it replayed in miniature. A car ramming. A rabbi barricading doors. Worshippers forced to pray under siege.
The shame is not only that it happened, but that many in the Jewish community predicted it. They pointed to rising antisemitism online, on campuses, and on the streets. They warned that tolerance of hate would end in blood. And then, it did.
The Hard Truth
Europe has failed its Jews twice in a century. Once by commission. Now by omission. The Manchester synagogue attack was not an isolated outburst but part of a longer trend of denial and hesitation. Governments mistook appeasement for tolerance, and silence for sensitivity. Institutions that should have acted swiftly held back. Kristallnacht did not end in 1945. It paused. And in Manchester, on Yom Kippur 2025, the shards cut again. The question for Europe is whether it will wait for more blood before acting decisively, or whether it will finally recognise that antisemitism, left unchecked, never stops at words.
You may also like
Farah Khan gets embarrassed as chef Dilip tries to steal diamond YouTube button from influencers Lakhan and Neetu Bisht: 'There are cameras'
Rohit Saraf reflects on the fitness challenges he faces as an actor
Tamil Nadu Open: Arjun Prasad ends long wait for maiden title with four-stroke triumph
Walnuts Benefits: At what time of the day should you eat walnuts to get double the health benefits?
Where you've seen Cillian Murphy's Steve co-star Jay Lycurgo from two Batman roles to 'racy Harry Potter'
