'LIGHT CAN PUSH AWAY THE DARK'

COMMUNITY UNITES TO REMEMBER HEROES A WEEK AFTER SYNAGOGUE TERROR ATTACK

- By GEORGE LYTHGOE

Rabbi Daniel Walker speaks to crowds yesterday

A WEEK on from an unimaginable tragedy, a community gathered to honour its two heroes - and show that ‘light can push away the darkness’

Outside the very doors he and others barricaded to stop terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie, Rabbi Daniel Walker delivered a powerful speech yesterday.

“Evil tried to defile these steps - we will not allow that to happen,’ he told crowds outside the synagogue at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation exactly a week on from the Yom Kippur attack.

Hundreds gathered to hear prayers, sing and take part in a commemorative silence to honour the two innocent men killed in the October 2 atrocity.

A box of flowers in memory of Adrian Daulby, 53 and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were laid at the front of the shul.

Mr Daulby died after being hit with a single police bullet.

He was caught in the crossfire as he stood behind the synagogue doors, bravely fighting alonside other worshippers to stop Al-Shamie getting in.

Mr Cravitz is believed to have been outside when he was fatally injured.

Michael Goldstone was behind the window where terrorist Al-Shamie was shot dead by police marksmen.

The 35-year-old drove into worshippers before slashing at them with knives.

It’s a nightmare Michael says will stay with him forever. But the 79-year-old said he was overcome by an enormous sense of pride at the vigil.

“I am just so proud of my colleagues who were with me on the day of the attack,” he said.

“I was one of the people who were behind the window of the synagogue.

“It has horrified me personally, far greater than anything else has. I have not slept properly since it happened. I wake up with terrible nightmares.