Harassment incidents. Bias incidents. Crimes against persons as well as property. Vandalism against houses of worship, particularly synagogues, and community buildings including JCCs. Intelligence on all this, and more, are constantly being reviewed and monitored by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security (NJOHS) and the New Jersey field office of the FBI. While the numbers of anti-Semitic events is rising across the country and worldwide, New Jersey had the dubious distinction of having the third-highest number of anti-Semitic incidents nationwide between 2016 and 2017, according to numbers from the Anti-Defamation League, said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).
“We’re seeing so much anger bubbling over. It’s permeating. You see bigotry, you see hate, really just an influx of people who feel very comfortable saying things that are threatening or disturbing. Particularly in schools, K through 12,” he added.
Gottheimer, a first-term congressman seeking re-election this November, brought the officials from Homeland Security and the FBI to meet at the Jewish Federation in Paramus with representatives from 20 New Jersey synagogues, to provide a security update and request increased cooperation and collaboration from all parties in the Jewish community.
To combat the increased threat environment against houses of worship and community-based religious institutions, Gottheimer and Jared Maples, director of NJOHS, said they have systems and staff members in place for helping individual synagogues apply for funding for security equipment, including cameras and surveillance technology; a new grant also provides for overtime hours for armed security staff.
Maples added that NJOHS and the FBI, of which two staff members were also present, are constantly updating collaborative databases and reviewing incidents and situations, but there is more to be done by the institutions themselves. “In a lot of ways, the public is the first line of defense. Are we doing everything possible to get ahead of this? First responders really must become first preventers,” Maples said.
Gottheimer, who distinguished himself at the event by asking attendees for feedback and offered assistance on their applications for security grants for their institutions, noted that in 2017, anti-Semitic incidents surged nearly 60 percent, the largest increase ever. (2017 was also a “banner” year for anti-Muslim activity; crimes against Muslim community members and institutions also rose by 15 percent.)
Both federal and state grants are available, and Homeland Security also provides free site security assessments to all institutions. Funding grants are available to synagogues, community institutions and schools, and Gottheimer encouraged those who don’t know which grants to apply for to use his office as an initial contact.
Maples noted his office also coordinates counter-terrorism, cyber-security, active shooter training and emergency preparedness exercises; all local yeshivot and day schools have participated in tabletop active shooter drills coordinated by NJOHS. Indeed, it is that “lone wolf” active shooter threat that keeps FBI staff up at night, said FBI Special Agent Anthony Zampogna.
The officials explained that when there is an ISIS or al-Qaeda-directed operation, in many ways it’s easier to prevent because there is an uptick in phone chatter and social media posts. “It’s that guy, at home, sitting in the basement. You never know when that switch is going to flip,” Zampogna said.
Rabbi Aaron Shemtob, rabbi of the Sephardic Congregation of Fair Lawn, wondered whether it was time to take more directed, self-defensive action.“Is there a way to make available to the rabbis, for example, a security course which would enable them to carry firearms in the synagogue?” he asked. From a state perspective, Maples answered that the question would have to be referred to the attorney general’s office, noting there is not such a program available at this time; there would have to be a state law developed specifically for civilians to carry in houses of worship, though Class 3 (general security) officers are allowed to carry weapons in synagogues.
Abe Adler, of Congregation Darchei Noam in Fair Lawn, shared with The Jewish Link several new approaches his shul has taken in recent years to increase its security. “We’ve already done quite a number of things to harden the facility and make it more secure, and we continue to make improvements all the time. We have also applied to FEMA for the latest security grant. We’ve worked with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fair Lawn Police Department and have made many changes based on their recommendations,” he said.
Yechiel Stobezki, from Bergenfield, said after the event that he benefited from the knowledge he gained. “I was so happy and fortunate to attend this security summit, as a board member of Congregation Ohr HaTorah. It was very informative and gave us insight on how to work directly with Homeland Security to properly protect our shul and all of the members,” he said.
“I see hate every day, but I also see hope and love. Unfortunately, we’re at a time where you have to be prepared all the time. There is no place for hate in New Jersey,” Maples concluded.
By Elizabeth Kratz
