The family of the Manchester synagogue attack victim Melvin Cravitz have remembered him as ‘kind and caring’ in a touching tribute.

Mr. Cravitz, aged 66, from Crumpsall, was serving as the security guard at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation when he was tragically killed by Jihad al-Shamie on Thursday.

He courageously stopped the attacker from entering the building before being stabbed.

The security guard shared a friendship with Rabbi Daniel Walker, who courageously aided in keeping the assailant at bay during the stabbings on Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.

Mr Cravitz leaves behind his wife Karen, whom he married in August 2009.

In a sincere tribute, his family expressed: ‘Melvin was always willing to help others. He was incredibly kind, caring, and enjoyed engaging in conversation and getting to know people.’

‘He was devoted to his wife, family and loved his food. He will be sorely missed by his wife, family, friends and community.

‘We ask for privacy as we try to come to terms with this shocking loss.’

Mr. Cravitz, from Crumpsall, was serving as the security guard at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation when Jihad al-Shamie executed the fatal attack on Thursday.

The 66-year-old leaves behind his wife Karen, whom he married in August 2009. 

Greater Manchester Police shared a statement highlighting that Mr. Cravitz was on duty as a security guard at the synagogue during the attack and ‘bravely prevented the attacker from entering the building.’

The 66-year-old, who had previously undergone two heart surgeries, had no biological children but was considered an uncle figure to his wife’s children from a prior marriage.

Two friends of Mr Cravitz described him as ‘very beloved’, adding he ‘always’ smiled.

Muhammad Azam, 35, told the Mail the 66-year-old ‘never looked at the colour of people’s skin’ and ‘everyone loved him.’

Mr Cravitz, who lived a four minutes walk from the Heaton Park Synagogue, was murdered by would-be suicide attacker Jihad Al Shamine, 35, as he arrived for prayers yesterday morning.

But cousin Phil Bentley said Mr Cravitz normally attended Yom Kippur prayers much later in the day and he was at a loss to explain why he was there so early.

Mr Bentley, who lives in a flat next door to the synagogue, said he heard ‘two pops’ just after 9.30am and went outside to see police everywhere.

‘I went out of the flats but had to go straight back in, police were there shouting, ‘get back, get back,’ he said.

‘Melvin was my cousin. He was a lovely guy, a quiet man, a gentle giant.

‘I’ve no idea why he was there at the synagogue that early, he’s never there that early.’

Adrian Daulby, 53, was also killed in the attack after being accidentally shot by police

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, who was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester yesterday. It is believed he was a father and is pictured holding a child

Mr Cravitz grew up in north Manchester and attended Plant Hill Secondary School in Blackley. He married his wife, Karen, around 15 years ago, and treated her three children and grandchildren like his own.

The couple moved into Mr Cravitz’s mother Phyllis’ home, on Ardern Road, which is 350 yards from the synagogue, when she died, aged 89, six years ago.

He was very well known in the Jewish community, and previously worked in a series a jobs, including as a driver and in a kosher supermarket. Although he retired around three years ago, he still helped out in the local food bank.

Mr Cravitz’s former boss, David Salzman, said he ‘had a heart of gold.’

‘He was always helping customers, especially anybody vulnerable or elderly,’ Mr Salzman said. ‘He always went the extra mile.’

Mr Azam, 35, who lives next door but one to Mr Cravitz, added: ‘He was a very good man, we can’t believe what’s happened.

‘He was the jolly man in charge of our street. He was the type that if it started raining he would knock on your door to tell you to get your washing in.

‘He never saw or cared about anyone’s colour. Our children loved him. You would always see him in the street wearing his vest.

‘He was very bubbly. Everyone liked him.’

The attacker was caught on camera armed with a knife trying to get into the synagogue moments before he was shot by armed police 

The Pakistani security guard: ‘He was a very lovely neighbour. We were devastated when we found out he was a victim.

‘He never saw us as Pakistani, he wasn’t like that.’  

Adrian Daulby, 53, also died in the attack after being mistakenly shot dead by police when Al-Shamie was gunned down outside the synagogue.

Mr Daulby’s family said they were ‘heartbroken’ at his loss, and asked for privacy.

A short statement shared on his Facebook page read: ‘As Adrian’s family, we are heartbroken by his passing.

‘We kindly ask for privacy at this time as we grieve and seek the answers we need. Thank you for your understanding and respect.’

His family released a statement on Friday paying tribute to his final act of courage.

They said: ‘Adrian Daulby was a hero and tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others, he was a beloved brother, loving uncle to his four nieces and one nephew and a cherished cousin.

‘The family is shocked by the tragic, sudden death of such a lovely down to earth man.

‘His final act was one of profound courage and he will forever be remembered for his heroic act on Thursday 2 October 2025.’

Rabbi Daniel Walker (pictured right) leapt into action after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue came under attack this morning

Mr Daulby lived on his own after losing both his parents to cancer, and was battling the disease himself, a neighbour told the Daily Mail.

As a result of his ill-health, the nature lover had debated whether to go for Yom Kippur, Hussain Shahzad said.

The 27-year-old biomedical scientist fought back tears as he told how his neighbour, who lived alone following the death of his parents, spent his time enjoying the nature in the garden of his semi-detached home.

Mr Shahzad added: ‘He loved animals. He had a YouTube channel where he uploaded videos of the birds and wildlife. He would film my chickens.

‘He had not been so well lately and when I spoke to him on Tuesday he said he wasn’t going to fast on Yom Kippur. He was thinking about whether he would go to the synagogue or not for this reason.

‘I didn’t see him go yesterday but he would usually wear his best suit when he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.’

In a vigil for the victims of the attack today, Rabbi Daniel Walker, from the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, paid thanks to ‘one of the heroes’ who is recovering in hospital from ‘terrible wounds’.

Speaking on Middleton Road near the police cordon, he told the crowd: ‘I’m joined here by many dignitaries for whose presence we are very, very grateful, but I just want to introduce you, first of all, to the young people who are standing here with me.’

He addressed the ‘youngest kids’ of ‘one of the people, one of the heroes, of the Heaton Park Shul community, who is today in hospital recovering from terrible wounds’.

The rabbi added that he is recovering alongside two men who ‘blocked the terrorist’ with their bodies.

‘So I want to begin with prayers for them, as is traditional’, he said, before leading a prayer in Hebrew.

Al-Shamie was reportedly out on bail for alleged rape when he carried out the massacre – and struggling with debt after splitting from his wife.

He was being investigated by police in relation to a sexual attack alleged to have taken place earlier this year, The Guardian reported.

It is also thought that the killer had additional criminal convictions, although he was not being monitored by British counter-terrorism officers.

He had been living with his mother and one of his two brothers at his old family home in a council house in the quiet Langley Crescent, Prestwich, Greater Manchester.

Neighbours in the quiet cul-de-sac said that Syrian-born Al-Shamie appeared to be ‘a bit of a loner’, and was often seen in traditional Islamic clothes, and lifting weights in the garden.

He is believed to have been working as a self-employed tutor teaching English and computer programming, according to what appears to be a listing for him on the findtutors.co.uk website

The profile which was drawn up with an anglicised version of his name when he apparently was living in Leeds, West Yorkshire, stated that he spoke Arabic and was available for online classes to teach English for £10 an hour or programming for £12 an hour.

But the birth certificate for his son who was born on October 22 last year at the North Manchester General Hospital, Crumpsall, lists Al-Shamie’s occupation as being ‘full time father’, suggesting he was not working at the time of the birth. 

Al-Shamie is said to have moved to the UK with his family when he was a young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006, although it is not known if the family arrived as asylum seekers or through an immigration scheme.