Washington, D.C. – October 2, 2025 – Dr. Fundji Benedict, Founder and CEO of Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation, issued the following statement condemning the terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, England, that occurred today on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

"It is with profound sorrow and heavy heart that I, on behalf of the Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation, extend our deepest condolences following the horrific terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 2nd, 2025," said Dr. Benedict. "On what should have been a sacred day of reflection and atonement—Yom Kippur, the holiest day in our Jewish calendar—unspeakable evil struck at the very heart of our community."

The attack, which British authorities have classified as terrorism, resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries when an assailant carried out a knife attack and vehicle ramming outside the synagogue during Yom Kippur services.

Personal Statement from Dr. Benedict:

"I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the two precious souls who were so cruelly taken from us in this act of pure hatred. Their memories will be eternally blessed, and their loss deeply felt not only by their immediate families but by Jews worldwide who stand in solidarity with Manchester's Jewish community during this darkest of hours.

My thoughts and prayers extend equally to all those who were physically wounded in this savage attack. May they experience complete healing—refuah shlemah—and find strength in their recovery. To those who witnessed this terror, who were traumatized by these events, and who now carry invisible wounds in their hearts and minds, I pray that time, love, and community support will help restore your sense of safety and peace.

This attack was not merely an assault on individuals, but a strike against the very foundations of religious freedom, human dignity, and our right to worship in safety. That it occurred on Yom Kippur—as our community gathered in prayer, seeking forgiveness and spiritual renewal—makes this act even more unconscionable and devastating.

As a fellow Jew, I feel this attack as if it were upon my own synagogue, my own community, my own family. The pain reverberates through every Jewish heart, reminding us that antisemitism remains a vicious force that threatens our people wherever we may be. Yet in our shared grief, we find our shared strength. We will not be broken by hatred. We will not be silenced by terror. We will continue to gather, to pray, to live as proud Jews."

Dr. Benedict praised the heroic response of security personnel, police officers, emergency responders, and ordinary citizens who acted with extraordinary courage. "Your swift actions undoubtedly prevented even greater loss of life," she stated.

Foundation's Mission Alignment:

As an organization committed to defending liberty, democracy, and human rights globally, the Liberty Values & Strategy Foundation has consistently opposed antisemitism and terrorism in all its forms. The Foundation's multidisciplinary approach to combating threats to freedom makes this attack particularly relevant to its core mission areas.

"This attack represents everything our Foundation stands against—the use of violence to suppress religious freedom, the targeting of vulnerable communities, and the erosion of the democratic values that allow diverse societies to flourish," Dr. Benedict emphasized.

Words of Ancient Wisdom:

In closing her statement, Dr. Benedict offered words from Jewish tradition:

Hebrew: עוד לא אבדה תקוותנו - התקווה בת שנות אלפים להיות עם חופשי בארצנו ארץ ציון וירושלים

Transliteration: Od lo avdah tikvatenu - Hatikva bat shnot alpayim, lihyot am chofshi be'artzenu, eretz Tziyon ViYerushalayim

Translation: "Our hope is not yet lost - the hope of two thousand years, to be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem."

"May their memory be for a blessing. Am Yisrael Chai – The People of Israel Live," concluded Dr. Benedict.