Houses Of Worship to Start Security Network

Some Five Towns officials plan to create a tighter security network among local houses of worship after recent attacks on Jewish temples in New Jersey and worries about Iran.

“There are no specific threats. None the less, it is better to be prepared that not be.” Legis. Howard Kopel, R-Lawrence, said. “I would encourage all houses of worship to take prudent steps, which means they should listen to the experts and take advantage of the experts out there.”

Inspector Christopher Cleary of the Fourth Precinct said it would set up a training program to help local houses of worship recognize anomalies or suspicious behavior.

Cleary added that his precinct would be conducting security surveys with the synagogues’ schools. It will teach them “anything they can do to increase their level of security,” he said.

The Director of County Executives of America Homeland Initiatives, Paul Goldenberg — who has worked in the intelligence field — told a group of local officials that there are concerns about the area because of heightened circumstances in Iran right now, according to Atlantic Beach Trustee Linda Baessler.

Goldenberg was invited to speak at Lawrence Village Hall a couple of weeks ago by Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner because of Goldenberg’s expertise in hate crimes.

Local temples and churches were advised to “set up a network,” Baessler said. She learned that if any terrorist act were to occur, it would be at more than one site at a time.  In that case, a network where building administrators could call and warn each other should be set up.

She added that these religious sites should make copies of their building plans and give them to the police to be on file should a terrorist threat occur. They were also advised to convey how alarmed they are when calling 911 after seeing something suspicious.

Rabbi E. Samuel Klibanoff of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach said ever since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the temple has stepped up its security. 

"We take this very seriously," he said.

The Jewish Center has emergency plans in place, with good communication with other synagogues in the Five Towns.

Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise said there was some discussion about the recent fires at synagogues in northern New Jersey, where authorities were considering hate crime as a motive.

“Villages should plan for any intrusions that might happen,” he said. “Be aware and be prepared. Everyone in their own way should come up with a plan.”