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Former Cleveland Rabbi Andrew Paley shares story from on the ground at Texas synagogue hostage incident

“To be a part of it in real time, was hard to process."

CLEVELAND — A week after a hostage incident at a Texas synagogue that the FBI is calling a targeted attack on the Jewish community, we're hearing from a former Clevelander who was part of the response effort.

As evidenced by the jerseys hanging behind him in his office, Rabbi Andrew Paley is a Clevelander. “Yeah, you know, you can’t take the Cleveland out of me,” he told 3News Sara Shookman in an interview.

Paley grew up in University Heights, graduating from Cleveland Heights High School, and Ohio State. He served at the Temple Emanu El in Orange Village, before moving to Dallas in 2004. There he’s senior rabbi of Temple Shalom. He also serves as the first rabbi chaplain with Dallas Police Department. 

Saturday, as the world was watching a hostage situation play out in nearby Colleyville, Rabbi Paley was called to action.

“Rabbi Charlie is a colleague of mine, and [we were] sort of watching this horrible sort of scene in real time,” he said, first learning of the news at home.

When he arrived on the scene outside the Congregation Beth Israel about 40 miles away, it felt surreal. Rabbi Paley recounted watching the selfless work of hundreds of law enforcement officers on the front line, while the Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and four others were held hostage for nearly 11 hours. 

“To be a part of it in real time, was hard to process,” he said. “You don't know how many people are working to make us safe and secure, and I got a little picture of that.” Paley was one of the first to comfort families of the hostages, and the hostages themselves, as they were released.

“What I tried to tell those that I had a chance to meet with, including Rabbi Charlie's wife and daughter, was that, ‘We're here. You're not alone. We love you and we care about you. And there are that there are people literally all over the world who are sending that energy of spirit of care and support,” he said. “Even though they will have to deal with the effects of this for some time and go through it in a very personal way, there is this entire community of people who are there, and who stand with them and support them.”

Paley was not surprised to learn how his friend Rabbi Charlie stepped up. “We know now that, you know, he welcomed this person [suspect Malik Faisal Akram] in, made him some tea or something like that. That is perfectly understandable. That's exactly what he would've done. That makes perfect sense because he's a loving, caring person,” said Paley.

“You know, all the training in the world, you can never know how you'll react in that moment,” he said. “I know that [Cytron-Walker] will be demure in thinking that he's a hero or something like that, but he is.” Incredibly, all the hostages made it out safely Saturday, while the FBI shot and killed Akram.

“I did manage to sort of, um, push my way in, so I could give Rabbi Charlie a hug at, at the very end. To let him know, on behalf of all those who wanted to give him a hug, we were there,” said Paley.

The situation is resonating with the Cleveland Jewish community and beyond as they worship this weekend, sharing fear over the very real dangers of antisemitism.

RELATED: 'May we work together to heal the brokenness in our world': Jewish Federation of Cleveland addresses hostage incident at Texas synagogue

“This is a reminder that there is danger in our world. That we're not living in a redeemed world yet, but it's possible. And I believe that. I wouldn't be in this work if I didn't,” he said. “Look, this is a scary time. We need to name it and own it and, and say it out loud. And I share the worry and the wonder of, you know, what this means. And we're still sort of figuring that out.”

Rabbi Paley says the most powerful act was so many people of faith showing up. “I've been saying it a lot this week…you can pretend to care. That's kind of easy, actually. But you cannot pretend to show up. And the faith communities showed up as an optic of what love and care and support it looks like,” he said. “I think that the fact that you and I are having this conversation right now really matters.”

“What does it say about the kind of people and character of the Cleveland Jewish community? Who is feeling a little helpless, I know for sure, as we are even a little closer. But [the community] is willing to demonstrate even in a very limited way that they care. And that really, really matters,” Paley said.

Rabbi Paley says his congregation is talking about their own security, and letting Colleyville figure out their next steps with plans to support them in any need in the months and years to come.

Meanwhile the Jewish Federation of Cleveland says its own security forces are constantly preparing for these nightmare scenarios. Today – it shared a statement with 3News:

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland – through its security provider JFC Security LLC – is on the forefront of community security in the country. Training has long been a significant component of our comprehensive security initiative, including community-wide training courses and situational training exercises for congregational leadership. In fact, six weeks ago we performed a training exercise with law enforcement that was based on a hostage situation in a school setting. In the spring, our team will be doing a major training exercise that has been a year in the making. Our local community invests significant resources in keeping Jewish Cleveland safe and open. We truly appreciate the support in this effort that we receive from local and federal law enforcement. 

You can watch Sara Shookman's full interview with Rabbi Andrew Paley below:

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