On a rain-soaked Sunday in Pendlebury, Salford, hundreds gathered to mourn Melvin Cravitz, the 66-year-old father of three who lost his life in the violent attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester. The mood was somber but resolute as family, friends, congregants, and members of the wider Jewish community filled the cemetery forecourt, many forced to stand outside the prayer hall and listen to the service over loudspeakers. For those present, the memory of Melvin Cravitz was as vivid as the shock of the events that had taken him from them.
According to BBC reporting, the funeral service on October 5, 2025, was led by Rabbi Daniel Walker, who himself played a critical role during the attack just three days earlier. On Yom Kippur—the holiest day of the Jewish calendar—Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old man on bail for an alleged rape, rammed his car into worshippers before stabbing several people outside the synagogue. Cravitz was among the two men killed in the assault; three others were hospitalized with serious injuries, including a security guard and a Community Security Trust (CST) worker. The attacker was shot dead by police at the scene, a detail confirmed by the Manchester Evening News.
Rabbi Walker, praised as a "hero" by his congregation, not only led the funeral but had also helped prevent Al-Shamie from entering the synagogue during the attack. In a statement released by the synagogue's executive and trustees, the depth of the community’s pain was palpable: "It is hard to find the words to convey the depth of our community’s grief, as we try to process yesterday’s act of unimaginable violence. This desecration of our synagogue, on Yom Kippur of all days, is an episode that has changed us all forever. Two of our beloved members were murdered in cold blood, and others remain in hospital with serious injuries. The loss we feel is beyond words. These were not simply members of our synagogue – they were our friends, our family – and their absence leaves a void that can never be filled."
Rob Kanter, vice president at the synagogue, spoke movingly after the service, describing Cravitz as a "loving, charismatic, humorous man who always meant well and loved his community and loved his family." Kanter added, "At this time, we can only come together through goodness and hope and bringing people together. I know Melvin—that would be something he lived by and an adage he would want carried on after his sad demise." He acknowledged the difficulty of processing the loss: "It would take some time to really internally settle the gravity of what's happened to Melvin and all of us. But I think what we are all determined to do is to carry on with dignity, living full Jewish lives as proud members of British society."
Community members echoed these sentiments. Local resident Aron told BBC reporters that Cravitz, who worked at a nearby grocery, “knew so many people and that's why it's really rippled through—so many people had that first-hand connection. He was always there, always patient with everyone, always a kind word.” Hannah Salomon, another mourner, recalled, “He made everyone feel like they were family. So even if you weren't related by blood, as a people, our ways are that we all feel connected and Melvin really lived that.”
In a family tribute released on Friday, the Cravitz family said he would "do anything to help anyone. He was so kind, caring and always wanted to chat and get to know people. He was devoted to his wife, family and loved his food." Neighbors Anthony Khan and Andy Kordas both described Cravitz as friendly, approachable, and always smiling—"He did not have a bad word with anybody," Khan recalled, while Kordas added, "He always used to come over and have a chat and ask me what I was up to. It's just terrible."
The other victim, Adrian Daulby, 53, was also killed during the attack while reportedly trying to prevent Al-Shamie from entering the synagogue. Daulby was described by his family as a "hero," a "beloved brother and loving uncle." According to The Sun and Manchester Evening News, Daulby was shot dead by police during the chaos, and the police watchdog is now investigating the use of lethal force by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) firearms officers, including whether police actions may have contributed to Daulby's death.
As of October 4, police had arrested six people on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, though an 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were released without charge. Four others—a 30-year-old man, a 32-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman (all arrested in Prestwich), and a 46-year-old woman (arrested in Farnworth)—remained in custody as GMP and Counter Terrorism Policing North West continued their investigation. GMP confirmed that significant resources had been mobilized to "establish the full picture into what has happened." The police operation included a cordon around the Middleton Road area of Crumpsall, which was only lifted on Sunday, allowing residents to return home.
The attack and its aftermath have reverberated far beyond Manchester’s Jewish community, sparking national debate over community relations and the rise of hate crimes. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, speaking to the BBC, voiced her deep concern: "I am very worried about the state of community relations in our country. I know I, as the Home Secretary, have a responsibility to think about the action the Government can take to strengthen our communities, to make sure people are well integrated into our society. That is a bigger piece of work for us to do, but I do recognise the sense of people feeling let down. I do recognise that people have been saying for a while that this was only a matter of time. It is devastating to hear our citizens say that and I will ensure that the Government response to what has happened meets the scale of the challenge that is being put to us."
Mahmood also addressed the broader issue of rising antisemitism and other forms of hatred in the UK, warning, "There are clearly malign and dark forces running amok across our country. It’s a challenge for governments of all stripes to work out how to deal with these issues without placing more pressure, and frankly more unwanted burden and responsibility, on minority communities."
As the community grieves and seeks answers, the legacy of Melvin Cravitz endures in the stories and affection of those who knew him. The attack on Yom Kippur has left a scar, but also a determination among Manchester’s Jewish community to carry on with dignity and unity, honoring the memory of those lost by living as “proud members of British society.” The investigation continues, and for now, the city’s resolve is tested but unbroken.
