Defiant worshipers reopen Jerusalem synagogue following terror attack

JERUSALEM, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A day after a deadly attack at a synagogue in the Har Nof neighborhood of West Jerusalem, defiant worshipers returned to reopen the religious facility.

Morning prayers were held Wednesday morning with a security guard standing watch at the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue.

Knesset Member Dov Lipman attended the service "to send a message that Am Yisrael Chai [The people of Israel live] and that the terrorists accomplished nothing by their horrific murders."

Lipman said he was "inspired by the intensity" at Wednesday's prayers, which were held at the same time as Tuesday's morning attack.

Five people, including three Israelis with dual American citizenship, were killed when two Palestinian men stormed the synagogue, armed with a gun, knives and axes. Police shot and killed both assailants.

"We don't feel revenge is something we need to do," resident David Hershcovitz explained to CNN.

But Hershcovitz admitted "It's a huge shock that in a synagogue ... slaughterers come in with slaughter tools like butchers."

Tuesday's attack was the latest episode of violence amid rising tensions in the city. In the past month, Jerusalem has been the site of violent clashes between Palestinians and Israelis over access to the Temple Mount holy site, also known as Al Haram Al Sharif, and two attacks by Palestinians who drove their vehicles into pedestrian crowds.