Rabbi who was held hostage in Texas synagogue says he’s ‘grateful to be alive’

The Texas rabbi who was held hostage with three of his congregants for hours at his synagogue Saturday mentioned he’s “grateful to be alive” following the tense standoff.

“I'm grateful and crammed with appreciation for The entire vigils and prayers and love and help, The entire legislation enforcement and first responders who cared for us, The entire safety coaching that helped save us,” Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker wrote on Fb early Sunday morning.

“I'm grateful for my household. I'm grateful for the CBI Neighborhood, the Jewish Neighborhood, the Human Neighborhood. I'm grateful that we made it out. I'm grateful to be alive.”

Cytron-Walker and the others had been held captive round 11 a.m. Saturday throughout a Shabbat morning service by Malik Faisal Akram — who was shot useless within the ordeal.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker was one of many hostages held within the synagogue.

Congregation Beth Israel

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker shared on social media that he's comfortable to be alive after the scenario.

Malik Faisal Akram held the hostages for hours on the Texas synagogue.

WFAA

Akram, a 44-year-old British nationwide, had demanded the discharge of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist with suspected ties to al Qaeda at present locked up at a federal jail in Texas.

The harrowing scenario lasted 10 hours, and by 9:30 p.m., all 4 hostages had been launched and protected — with video exhibiting them dramatically fleeing via a door earlier than Akram was fatally shot by an elite FBI rescue staff.

“It’s somewhat overwhelming as you may think about. It was not enjoyable yesterday,” the married dad of two daughters mentioned Sunday.

Charlie Cytron-Walker has served the synagogue as a full-time rabbi since 2006, changing into an essential determine in the neighborhood.

Fb

Malik Faisal Akram was shot useless by authorities after the ordeal.

WFAA

In accordance with Congregation Beth Israel’s web site, Cytron-Walker has served because the congregation’s full-time rabbi since 2006, the place the religious chief “has labored to convey a way of spirituality, compassion and studying into the lives of our neighborhood.”

“Since Rabbi Charlie arrived at CBI He loves discovering a reference to folks of all ages and strives to hold ahead the CBI custom of welcoming all who enter into our congregation, from interfaith households to LGBT people and households to these looking for to discover a religious dwelling in Judaism, together with all others,” the location says.

Initially from Lansing, Michigan, the rabbi graduated from the College of Michigan in 1998. After his commencement, he labored with a civil and human rights group in Detroit earlier than changing into assistant director on the Amherst Survival Heart in North Amherst, Mass.

He was ordained as a rabbi in 2006.