Crime & Safety
Security Upgrades Planned at Temples
Jewish leaders remain cautious on 10th anniversary of 9/11.
As the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, local synagogues are seeking to upgrade security on their property by installing surveillance cameras.
The BACH Jewish Center, at 210 Edwards Blvd. in Long Beach, is finalizing a plan to install the cameras on its grounds. The center recently received funding from the Homeland Security Grant Program, which was made available to Jewish institutions following 9/11, to improve security, said Rabbi Eli Goodman, the Jewish center’s education and outreach director.
“A lot of Jewish institutions and temples are getting these things,” Goodman said, adding that some synagogues outside the area, such as in Riverdale in the Bronx, have been the targets of threats.
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Goodman said the Jewish center has not experienced any vandalism recently, but received the security grant possibly in response to incidents that occurred in years past. He said a sukkah, a temporary hut that is erected during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, was vandalized about three years ago and heavy potted plants were toppled in front of the building.
“Since then, it’s been nice and quiet,” he said.
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Rabbi David Bauman, spiritual leader of Temple Israel of Long Beach, at 305 Riverside Blvd., said his synagogue is also looking into possibly enhancing security by obtaining a similar grant.
“We would like to have the best type of security for all those who come to our synagogue,” said Bauman, who is one of the chaplains for the Long Beach Police Department. “I believe in being proactive and not reactive.”
He was extremely pleased that the police department appointed an officer to be the liaison to the Jewish community. “The police do a great job and we have a very nice relationship with them,” Bauman said.
Deputy Inspector Bruce Meyer said Officer Brett Curtis enthusiastically volunteered for the assignment as part of the LBPD’s Community Resources Unit.
“We’re very cognizant of our Jewish community, and it’s something Officer Curtis is passionate about,” Meyer said. “And so we gave him the green light. By placing him there, he’s generating good will and opening up the lines of communication. It’s just part of our continuing attempt to have a service-oriented police department."
Goodman said the center has received great cooperation from the police department, which has responded promptly to every incident. In addition, police patrols are increased at Jewish buildings during the High Holy Days, he said.
Rabbi Daniel Mehlman of Lido Beach Synagogue, on the Long Beach-Lido Beach board on Lido Boulevard, said that about three weeks ago someone shattered the glass case of a bulletin board in front of his building. He said he was disappointed that the Nassau County police refused to label it a bias crime since no words were scrawled and no anti-Semitic symbols were left behind.
“This happened at a synagogue, not a pizza place,” Mehlman said. “Certain actions speak louder than words.”
Bauman said as a chaplain he realizes that certain incidents are classified in a variety of ways.
“It’s for police record-keeping purposes,” he said. “This doesn’t mean that the incident is any less important. It is taken very seriously.”