Was the synagogue attack ‘inevitable’? After Thursday’s horrific knife incident, some believe we are entering a new era of antisemitic violence. But others think the story is not so straightforward.
Six minutes of terror in Manchester
Terrorist tragedy: A statement from the Heaton Park Synagogue said they feel "loss beyond words", but the synagogue's leaders also praise the bravery of security and first responders who, they say," saved countless lives". Comprehension quiz
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What is the definition of the word “inevitable” as it is used in the article?
A: Something that might happen.
B: Something that is bound to happen.
C: Something that is certain to be avoided.
D: Something that is a complete surprise.
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Which word is the closest synonym for “prejudice” as used in the text?
A: Kindness
B: Fairness
C: Bias
D: Agreement
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Add the correct punctuation (capital letters and full stop) to the following sentence:
on thursday morning as worshippers prayed inside the heaton park hebrew congregation synagogue in manchester tragedy struck
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The rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK is linked to which major global event, according to the article?
A: The increasing use of social media.
B: The war in Gaza.
C: The start of Yom Kippur.
D: The rise of Islamophobia.
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What two types of prejudice does the article say are on the rise?
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The article states that both antisemitism and Islamophobia are rising in the West. What does this suggest about the wider impact of the conflict in Gaza, according to the text?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1: B, 2: C, 3: On Thursday morning as worshippers prayed inside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, tragedy struck., 4: C, 5. Antisemitism and Islamophobia. 6. This suggests that the wider impact of the conflict in Gaza is an increase in division and prejudice in general, not just towards one group.
1: B, 2: C, 3: On Thursday morning as worshippers prayed inside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, tragedy struck., 4: C, 5. Antisemitism and Islamophobia. 6. This suggests that the wider impact of the conflict in Gaza is an increase in division and prejudice in general, not just towards one group.
Glossary
Yom Kippur - A festival which comes nine days after the Jewish New Year. The name translates as "Day of Atonement".
Repentance - Being truly sorry for something wrong you have done and deciding to change your behaviour.
Synagogue - The Jewish place of worship.
Terrorism - The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
Antisemitic - Hostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
Hamas - A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Islamophobia - Dislike of Islam and Muslims.
FBI - The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which investigates crimes on a national level in the USA.
Rabbi - A Jewish religious leader.
Prejudice - An idea about something, especially a group of people, that is not based on reality.
Holocaust - The murder of six million Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany. Members of other minority groups were also killed.
Genocide - The annihilation of a people, either through killing of its members, or through the suppression of its culture.