Chaldean Iraqi Christians shelter Jewish preschoolers evacuated from car-rammed Detroit synagogue

Following up on part of Brainwrap’s post “Shooting/terror attack at largest reform synagogue in the U.S…and another at Old Dominion U in VA.”…When the preschool children were evacuated, they were taken across the street to a Chaldean country club, where they remained safe until they could be reunited with their parents. The Chaldean community — Iraqi Christians — has a uniquely large presence in Detroit, and its community centers are in close proximity to the West Bloomfield Jewish community.“We’re all family. We’ll do anything for you whenever you need it,” David Gad-Harf recalled the country club’s owner, a longtime acquaintance, saying to him after agreeing to shelter the children.Temple Israel thanked the club in its first message to its community following the attack. “We are deeply and humbly grateful to our teachers, staff, security, law enforcement, and Shenendoah Country Club that welcomed us, fed us, and sheltered our staff, teachers, children, and parents,” it said late Thursday. “What incredible neighbors we have. What incredible police force we have.”Yet even as gratitude reigned, darker feelings simmered. Nancy Gad-Harf said she felt “anger,” [that there had not been a stronger response to previous incidents in the area ]while her husband said he was fearful about the long-term effects on the children whose school was attacked. “I can only imagine what these kids who were at the early childhood center are going to be experiencing for days, weeks, maybe even for their entire lifetimes … PTSD for a long time to come.” — JTA.orgMarch 12 – JTA A gunman rammed a Michigan synagogue. Its security preparations may have saved lives.March 12 – JTA Suspect dead after ramming, shooting incident at Temple Israel in suburban Detroit Police said they were responding to an “active shooter situation.” March 13 – JTA Suspect in Michigan synagogue attack identified as Ayman Ghazali, an immigrant from Lebanon Members of Ghazali’s family were recently killed “in an Israeli attack on their home,” the mayor of Ghazali’s town said. March 13…All Jewish buildings went into immediate lockdown during the attack, including the federation, other synagogues, the Jewish community center and senior residences. The lockdown was lifted after members of the Temple Israel security team “neutralized the threat,” according to the local sheriff, before any police officers could arrive on the scene. One security guard was injured, and police officers were treated for smoke inhalation because of a fire ignited by explosives in the attacker’s vehicle, but no one died except the assailant.“They are the most amazing team, the most incredible human beings, who put themselves in the line of fire to protect us,” Rabbi Jen Lader of Temple Israel told JTA.The security team, Lader said, is not Jewish but is considered full members of the Temple Israel community. She said the team members know the names of every child at the synagogue — 104 of whom were attending preschool in the building at the time of the attack.“The way they handled that today, it was fantastic,” said George McMillan, a longtime Temple Israel member and resident of the nearby Jewish senior living facility. “I’m just glad that we were up to the task and that our security is there.”