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On a cold Saturday morning in January 2022, Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, was a quiet sanctuary in a small community. As Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker prepared to lead a livestreamed service, a man, later identified as Malik Faisal Akram, arrived at the synagogue. His presence would change the course of the day forever.
A new documentary, “Colleyville,” Directed by award-winning filmmaker Dani Menkin, it reveals never-before-seen footage from the synagogue’s 13 security cameras, documenting the heartbreaking 11-hour hostage crisis in real time. The film offers a chilling but deeply human look at the bravery of the hostages and the resistance of a threatened community.
The day began with an act of kindness. Security footage shows Akram ringing the doorbell and being welcomed inside by Cytron-Walker, who offers him tea and a place to warm up. “I was just trying to do what we do any other day: offer kindness and welcome,” the rabbi said.
TEXAS OFFICIALS REACT TO NEWS OF HOSTAGE SITUATION AT COLLEYVILLE SYNAGOGUE
Security footage shows Rabbi Cytron-Walker with Malik Faisal Akram pointing his gun at him. (Courtesy: Hey Jude Productions)
But at 10:40 the atmosphere changed dramatically. Akram took out a gun and made the four people present hostage. “I have semi-automatic weapons. I have two bombs, “80% of the Jewish people are going to die if it is not fulfilled,” he shouted.
Security footage, first revealed in “Colleyville,” captures every tense moment. Akram’s demands focused on the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, known as “Lady al-Qaeda,” held in a nearby Fort Worth prison. He believed his actions could force a global intervention, driven by antisemitic conspiracy Theories about Jewish control of the world.
“His distorted perception was that President Trump or President Biden would intervene, as he held onto the anti-Semitic belief that Jews control the world and could influence such a decision,” Menkin told Fox News Digital.
An armed Malik Faisal Akram watching one of his hostages, Rabbi Cytron-Walker. (Courtesy: Hey Jude Productions)
The film highlights Akram’s increasingly erratic behavior and chilling rhetoric, including his statement: “I love death more than you Jews love life.” Cytron-Walker said upon reflection that Akram “believed all the lies that were told about the Jewish people: the Jews control the banks, the media, the world. It was a dangerous combination of extremism and anti-Semitism”.
Akram eventually allowed congregant Larry Schwartz to leave. (Courtesy: Hey Jude Productions)
Despite the fear, the hostages worked together to find moments of solidarity and opportunities to act. At one point, Akram allowed congregant elder Larry Schwartz to use the bathroom, warning him not to try to escape. Shane Woodward, who was in the process of converting to Judaism, pretended to feel sick and convinced Akram to let him leave. Before leaving, Shane negotiated to switch places with Larry, ensuring the older man’s safety.
As the hours passed, the tension increased. Akram fired a shot into the ceiling, an alarming act caught on camera. Cytron-Walker, taking advantage of its training in active shooter scenarios, waited for the right moment. That moment came when Akram held a cup of liquid in his dominant hand, temporarily preventing him from pulling the trigger.
“I saw him holding the cup and I knew it was our best chance,” Cytron-Walker told Fox News Digital. In a decisive move, he threw a chair at Akram, creating an escape window. “We weren’t far from the exit. It was a split-second decision, but it was the culmination of hours of watching, waiting and thinking.”
The hostages ran out of the synagogue, with Cytron-Walker leading the way. Moments later, law enforcement stormed the building, ending the standoff. None of the hostages suffered physical harm, although the psychological toll of the ordeal lingered. “It was a horrible day, but we had a lot to be thankful for,” he said.
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A police vehicle sits in front of Congregation Beth Israel on January 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“Colleyville” combines the raw intensity of security footage with moving storytelling, offering viewers an unflinching look at the rise of anti-Semitism and the enduring strength of those who confront it. “The images themselves were something that had not been seen before,” Menkin said. “It’s incredibly rare to see a drama like this unfold in such a cinematic way. The raw emotions, the tension – it’s a terrifying reminder of the danger of hateful ideologies.”
Cytron-Walker, who had long been an advocate of interfaith engagement, emphasized the importance of balancing Jewish values with security. “Loving a stranger is much more difficult than loving your neighbor,” he said. “But we also have to protect ourselves.” Since the crisis, his synagogue has significantly increased its security budget.
Published at a time of rising anti-Semitism around the world, Cyrton-Walker said: “We are seeing more of this type of hate,” adding: “It is now even more important to love the stranger while ensuring adequate safety.”
