Synagogues balance security, spirituality at services scheduled throughout the United States

By NATASHA ALTAMIRANO

Date published: 9/21/2006

The holiest days of the Jewish faith begin tomorrow at sundown, and while spirituality will be the primary focus at synagogues across the country, safety will be a close second.

Five weeks into a U.N.-orchestrated cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah and two months after a fatal shooting at a Seattle synagogue, Jewish congregations will celebrate Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year, beginning a 10-day period known as the High Holy Days.

The period ends Oct. 2 on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The New York-based Union for Reform Judaism recommends that its 900 or so member congregations across North America keep safety in mind when preparing for High Holy Day services.

"There's not going to be one approach that's right for all of those congregations," said Dale Glasser, director of the union's Department of Synagogue Management.

The union recommends two main safety precautions for congregational leadership: communicate with local law-enforcement officials and communicate with temple members, Glasser said.

"If they have a relationship with the local police, when there's the need for an alert or more attention, they're the ones who are more likely to know," he said. "The other is just to be aware--raise awareness within the congregation."

Beth Sholom Temple, the only synagogue in the Fredericksburg area, plans to contract Stafford sheriff's deputies for security--something it has done in years past, said Bill Kennedy, public information officer for the Stafford Sheriff's Office.

The southern Stafford County temple also plans to implement tighter security measures, such as a more stringent ticket policy, according to the temple's Web site.

Tickets are required for attendance to all Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services.

Many of the Union for Reform Judaism's safety recommendations were compiled after the Sept. 11 attacks, but are still pertinent in light of more recent events, such as the foiled terror plot last month targeting airliners in Britain and the July shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which killed one person and injured five others.

Holiday services also draw more attention to Jewish temples at this time of year, Glasser added.

"There's more news coverage. People are thinking about it," he said. "There's publicity about High Holidays even in a community that's not primarily Jewish."

But Glasser cautioned Jews from being overly fearful or losing sight of the purpose of the High Holy Days.

Date published: 9/21/2006