Friendship Circle volunteer Yoni Finlay found that friendship helped him through dark times and ultimately sustained him through a life- threatening ordeal.
Recounting the events of that fateful Yom Kippur morning at Heaton Park Synagogue, Yoni recalls how what began as a routine Shacharit service quickly became a scene of chaos when an attacker forced his way onto the grounds. As congregants attempted to secure the building, police arrived and shots were fired. Yoni was struck by a bullet during the incident and required emergency surgery.
Reflecting on the moment, he describes the experience as “surreal”, remembering how his immediate response was a determination to survive. After undergoing seven hours of surgery and spending 10 days in hospital, he began the long process of recovery.
But it was his connection to the Friendship Circle that Yoni credits with helping him endure: “The Friendship Circle saved my life twice. Once emotionally, and then later, literally.”
Yoni had first become involved with the organisation several years earlier, during a difficult period following his divorce. Facing loneliness and adjusting to life without his children for part of the week, he found himself searching for meaning and connection.
When attending one of the charity’s Shabbat events, he was deeply moved by members sharing how it had transformed their lives. He soon signed up as a volunteer and quickly became immersed in its activities:
“It’s no exaggeration to say that volunteering is a privilege. You see firsthand the impact that friendship and care can have.”
Through the programme Yoni was
