(Faygie Levy Holt/chabad.org) As police continue their investigation into the terrorist bombing outside the Manchester Arena in England that killed at least 22 people on May 22—some of them children—and wounded as many as 60, acts of kindness and comfort are being seen around the city.
Rabbi Shneur Cohen of Chabad Manchester City Centre brought danishes and hot tea to police officers stationed in the area. A video of the act quickly spread through Twitter and other social media, where people are expressing their shock and sadness in the aftermath of the attack.
Chabad at Manchester Universities will host a program at 7 p.m. (local time) at the GE Jewish Student Centre, where many young people remain “deeply shaken and worried,” according to Rabbi Eli Simon, co-director of Chabad at Manchester Universities.
“We are holding a service with Torah, tefillah [prayer] and tzedakah [charity],” Simon tells Chabad.org. He notes that the students asked to do something positive in the wake of the violence.
Simon says he and his wife, Mushka, were driving near the arena last night when they saw a flurry of police activity and were diverted off the road, as helicopters flew overhead. They heard the news reports and reacted. “We immediately started reaching out to students to see if they were OK and to let them know we are here for them,” he says.
“It’s not something you can ever imagine happening,” continues the rabbi. “And unfortunately, it’s happening too often. We have to add light and mitzvot, and show people the only way to go about life is to do good—and not the opposite.”
“We are Manchester; we stand together,” states Rabbi Cohen. “Today, we’re going to stand stronger and taller, and get out and do that extra bit of kindness.”
Cohen acknowledges that while the attack remains devastating, “it’s only through standing together and standing up for what’s right that we’ll have a world that’s beautiful.”
“Every race, every religion, every color… we stand together for kindness and goodness,” he adds, “and denounce this terrible act.”
