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“They tried to kill us. They did not succeed. Let’s eat,” stated Andrew Walters.

This long-standing Jewish adage feels especially significant in this urban area in the face of present-day dangers.

For Walters, the witty remark encapsulates the resilient character that marks his Orthodox Jewish community.

This dynamic district was identified by an extremist sleeper cell, whose plan to “murder as many Jews as possible” in a violent gun incident was prevented. Two men were convicted this week on extremism charges.

Community Unity and Everyday Struggles

According to the councillor, the foiled plot has not diminished the community’s desire to coexist with its wider community. “My business partner is a religious Muslim and we get on great,” said the financial advisor. “You find good and bad in any community. Most just want to live in peace.”

The plotters viewed the Hebrew community solely through the narrow perspective of antisemitism.

They showed no curiosity in the varied lifestyles, financial situations, levels of observance and opinions within Greater Manchester’s Jewish communities, nor in the serious social concerns like poverty that impact many UK communities.

A local leader runs a children and families centre that supports hundreds of families, including large ultra-Orthodox families and some Muslim women. The hub provides parenting support, clinics, advice services, educational programs, and crucial financial and material support.

“Outsiders think the biggest issue is security – that is incorrect,” she said. “Of course we’re sad and we reflect, but the women I work with are struggling to manage with daily routines, pressure and large families. We don’t judge.”

“Rising prices – kosher food is very expensive – energy bills, families who can’t afford basic essentials, housing, welfare issues – that’s what I’m focused on.”

Increased Vigilance and Strong Resolve

Despite these challenges, two common themes have grown under pressure. One is a noticeable shift “in favour of community solidarity and engagement,” according to a recent policy research organisation. The other is a culture of vigilance on a level unseen in most UK suburbs.

“We can arrive to an situation in two minutes,” said the leader of a Jewish neighbourhood watch group that exchanges intelligence with authorities.

“The atmosphere is definitely anxious,” they added. “There has been a significant rise in reports to our round-the-clock helpline about concerning behaviour.”

Nonetheless, the councillor stated that the observant communities, among the fastest-growing in Europe, did not live in dread. “We love life,” he said. “We have faith that if we die, we’re going to a a higher place. We refuse to be afraid.”

Wider Context and Calls for Action

Other leading British Jews contend that much more must be done to address the risk of violent extremism.

While data show that incidents with clear far-right motivation exceeded those linked to Islamist extremism last year, the most lethal schemes in the past few years have been perpetrated by Islamist extremists.

“A significant part of our work on the security side is trying to identify and stop malicious reconnaissance of Jewish targets that would come before an assault,” said a security director from a community security trust.

They noted a series of terrorism and antisemitic activity originating from areas north of the city, prompting inquiries about the specific dynamics in that area.

Recent attacks abroad have coincided with Jewish holidays and commemorations, amplifying a sense of global unease.

Assessment on a Shifting Era

Some commentators suggest that a postwar assumption has changed.

“From a British perspective, there was an view there was a time of acceptance in terms of post-Holocaust understanding of what anti-Jewish hatred is,” said a spokesperson for a Jewish leadership body. “I think that perspective is starting to be seen as overly optimistic.”

They continued, “This is not to say we think this time is any more dangerous than any of those times before, but that there’s no sense of security that troubled times won’t come back.”

There is acknowledgement of the endeavours being done within Muslim communities to dispute radical ideologies, though moderate voices can feel overwhelmed.

Appeals have been made for the government to publish a new extremism plan, with an emphasis on addressing the ideological threat presented by radical views, distinct from religion or people.

Resilience and Optimism

However, against the context of security threats, a thread of joyful resilience characterises even solemn events.

“In London to mark an anniversary, the conversation turned to the recent local incident,” a leader recounted. “Unexpectedly, at the end, a musician started playing Jewish tunes and people started dancing. That’s the positive spin.”

“However I would be lying if I said those serious debates about the future of Jewish life in this nation haven’t been taking place.”