Texas Rabbi Tells Riveting Story of How He Helped Hostages Escape From Synagogue – Opinion

There were four hostages at Congregation Beth Israel Colleyville in Texas.

CBS interviewed Cytron-Walker this morning. Gayle King, Tony Dokupil were among his interview subjects. He gave a riveting account. You could see how he was still trying to process the experience which he described as “terrifying” and “overwhelming.” You could also see what a humble guy he was as he tried to recount what happened and how he was responsible for getting the other hostages and himself out.

Because the man was asking for assistance, the rabbi allowed him in. This is a trait that worship houses are well-known for. The hostage-taker Malik Faisal Akram took advantage of.

According to those who saw Akram on live streaming, he chose the location because it seemed to have the closest Jewish community to Fort Worth’s federal facility, where a Pakistani-educated terrorist, serving an 86 year sentence, was shot at U.S soldiers and FBI agents.

Akram wanted Aafia SIddiqui to be freed. He wanted to see her, after which, he said, he and she — “my sister,” he called her, though her relatives say they were not related — would rise together to Jannah, the Muslim paradise where the faithful are taken after Judgment Day.

So if Joe Biden still isn’t clear on the motivation, Akram was very upfront with what he wanted.

“When I took him in, I stayed with him,” Cytron-Walker said. “Making tea was an opportunity for me to talk with him. In that moment I didn’t hear anything suspicious.”

But then when the rabbi was praying and had his back turned to Akram, he “heard a click.” It was Akram’s gun.

The rabbi said that while Akram didn’t physically hurt anyone during the ordeal, they were “threatened the entire time.”

Akram ranted about Jews and Israel and said he didn’t care if he died a “martyr.” He told the negotiators that he didn’t want to hurt anyone, but then he implied he would if authorities stormed the building.

One hostage had been released at 5:00 pm, but three more, including the Rabbi, were being held. Family members, religious leaders and representatives of the Israeli Consulate were all present at Good Shepard Catholic Community, just two blocks from where they met to pray.

Texas rabbi:

“The last hour of the standoff, he wasn’t getting what he wanted. It didn’t look good. We were terrified.

“When I saw an opportunity .. the exit wasn’t too far away. I threw a chair at the gunman and I headed for the door.” pic.twitter.com/vcgezo2xZq

— Bill Grueskin (@BGrueskin) January 17, 2022

“The last hour of the standoff, he wasn’t getting what he wanted…It didn’t look good. It didn’t sound good. We were very, we were terrified,” the rabbi said. “When I saw an opportunity when he wasn’t in a good position…I made sure that the two gentlemen who were with me, that they were ready to go. The exit wasn’t too far away. They were told to get out. I pointed a chair at him and headed towards the door. And all three of us were able to get out without a shot being fired.”

I have previously written about the incredible video that captured the escape attempt and then how the FBI broke into the building. Here is a video of Akram, who was following them and armed as they fled the building. He was able to escape the room in time, and then he fled back into his home after he saw the law enforcement phalanx.

Start at⁦@wfaa⁩This is the current moment #hostagesThe gunman emerges briefly and escapes. #Colleyville pic.twitter.com/2cGSancoAB

— Mark Davis (@MarkDavis) January 16, 2022

It took courage and a lot of brains to accomplish that feat, as well as the ability to get his family out in front of him when he was about to throw the chair. Cytron-Walker said that the training he received in dealing with possible attacks was what helped him to know when to move to escape.