Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 9, 2020

MONSEY - Chanie Kaplan came to Sunday night's special security session after a bit of a safety shakeup at work. Kaplan works at Monsey Medical Center, where an unmarked package caused alarm and Ramapo and Spring Valley police responded.

It ended up a simple labeling mistake, Kaplan said. But considering the current environment, "people are scared to come" to the health center. "We want a more visible security presence," she said, to not only deter attackers but also reassure the diverse people to get care at the center.

She joined about 150 others at Sunday's training, called"Safe and Secure? Empowering the Monsey Community to Better Secure Your Shuls, Schools, Camps and Organizations."

The session, in a large tent on the Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim learning center complex, was one of a surge of self-defense trainings offered in the greater Ramapo community after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Instruction cards were handed out at a safety training geared toward Orthodox Jewish residents in Monsey on Jan. 5, 2020.(Photo: Nancy Cutler/The Journal News)

Increased incidents include a Dec. 11attack on a Jersey City kosher market and a Dec. 28 machete attack during a Hanukkah party in a Monsey rabbi's home. These come amid a series of confrontations in Brooklyn, and after deadly attacks at synagogues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Poway, California.

The Monsey attack occurred just a minute's drive down Forshay Road fromSunday's event that offered community members threat response and lockdown training and development.

The suspect in the Monsey attack, Grafton Thomas, has been indicted on six counts of attempted murder and faces federal hate crime charges.

The main speaker was Doron Horowitz, senior national security adviser for Security Community Network, a Jewish nonprofit. A veteran of the Israeli Border Police, Horowitz has provided security expertise to Jewish Federations.

"Not being a victim is an act of will," Horowitz told the crowd of about 100 men and 50 women, who sat in sections separated by a thin white fabric divider. Using aTalmudic reference, he said, "Somebody comes to kill you, you kill them first."

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During the meeting, some mentioned suspicious behavior: There was an apparent stranger who attended a Shabbat service in a shul who didn't know how to "daven," or pray, who quickly left when confronted. A teen had asked a young man for his WhatsApp contact and then sent Holocaust imagery.

When there are suspicions, contact police, Frank Storch,director of the Chesed Fund Limited and Project Ezra of Greater Baltimore, both of which focus on safety.

Audience members remained shaken by the Hanukkah attack that had occurred just eight days before. But they were still discussing among themselves the Nov. 20 early morning attack on a quiet street in Monseyin whicha man was stabbed as he walked to synagogue.Police have said that stabbing has not been classified as a hate crime, citing a lack of a suspect or motive; Ramapo Police Chief Brad Weidel said on Jan. 2 that police are exploring connections in the two Monsey attacks.

"Most Americans forgot about what happened in Monsey already," Horowitz said. "You can't sustain all that anxiety and fear. What's the answer? Reasonable, balanced safety and security."

Frank Storch of the Chesed Fund, left, and Doron Horowitz, senior national security adviser of Secure Community Network, answer questions during a safety and security training in Monsey on Jan. 5, 2020.(Photo: Nancy Cutler/The Journal News)

While the demand for private security trainings increased, Rockland County government recently partnered with security firmBrosnan Risk Consultantsto provide armed security and technology to Jewish organizations.Ramapo police are ordering license plate readers key in the arrest of the Hanukkah machete attack suspect to be stationed around town.

The state has stepped up protection too. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has committed state police and other resources to step up security in the wake of recent anti-Semitic attacks. During Sunday's"No Hate. No Fear." Solidarity March in New York City, Cuomo announced an additional $45 million in funding to help protectreligious-based institutions, including non-public schools and cultural centers, against hate crimes.

Sunday's training focused on basic safety measures locks on doors, cameras outside, people at the doors who know who belong.

Horowitz and Storch responded to questions about gun training with caution. People should be highly trained if they are carrying weapons, Storch said, or they could add to the danger. "The likelihood of you hitting someone else is incredibly high," Horowitz said.

Leah and Aaron Goodfella came to the training from Passaic, New Jersey. They said they found the training valuable. "It's a necessity," said Aaron Goodfella, who said they live about 15 minutes from Jersey City.

Rockland County is home to the largest percentage of Jewish residents, per capita, of any county in the nation. Some 31% of Rocklanders identify themselves as Jewish, U.S. Census figures show. The hamlet of Monsey, home to a large and growing Orthodox Jewish population,encircles the Hasidic village of Kaser and abuts the Hasidic village of New Square.

Twitter: @nancyrockland

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Monsey safety seminar stresses preparation, and 'will' to prepare for anti-Semitic attacks - Lohud

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