Arrest made in two synagogue attacks
Caution remains key
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PrintThe North Jersey Jewish community breathed a sigh of relief earlier this week after the arrest of a suspect in the firebombing and arson of two area synagogues, but communal leaders continued to urge caution and vigilance.
Two weeks ago, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey (JFNNJ) held a security briefing for Jewish communal leaders. The organization intends to follow up early next month with a series of workshops with Community Security Service, a New York-based organization that trains volunteers for Jewish institutions to guard against and report suspicious activity around their institutions.
“We are exploring follow-up meetings and workshops with Jewish leaders to provide some real hands-on advice and assistance for upgrading their security procedures,” said David Gad-Harf, JFNNJ’s chief operating officer and associate executive vice president. “Our community has been confronted with yet more anti-Semitism, taking different forms,” such as the discovery last week of an offensive wi-fi name at the Richard Rhodda Center in Teaneck “and now the mailing of some anti-Semitic material that came to some of our rabbis and federation leaders.”
Next month’s workshops, he emphasized, would be for invited communal leaders only.
Despite this week’s arrest, Etzion Neuer, acting director of the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) New Jersey office, cautioned against letting new security procedures lapse. Jewish leaders appear to be heeding that message.
“Clearly we are going to remain vigilant,” said Joy Kurland, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council. “We are certainly not becoming complacent by any means. We will instruct members of the Jewish community to do the same; if you see something, say something.”
The ADL, along with the Jewish Federation of Greater Clifton-Passaic, the N.J. State Association of Jewish Federations, and the Community Relations Committee of Metrowest and Central New Jersey were scheduled to hold a security meeting in Whippany on Wednesday night. The meeting, according to Mark Levenson, president-elect of the State Association and past president of the Clifton-Passaic federation, would launch the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign in the area, its first use in a faith-based community.
After the arrest earlier this week, Gad-Harf praised the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and its cooperation with the Jewish community, as well as what he called an outpouring of support from outside the Jewish community.
“It really shows how Bergen County has banded together during a very horrible time,” he said. “Sometimes out of bad incidents like this comes goodness, whether it’s recognizing the value and support of law enforcement agencies or the outpouring of support and goodwill of other faith groups and ethnic communities here in Bergen County.”
More on: Arrest made in two synagogue attacks
Anti-Semitic mailings 'another indignity' in period of heightened concern
Authorities do not believe there is a connection between a recent string of anti-Semitic attacks and a batch of anti-Semitic fliers mailed out to synagogue and communal leaders last week. Nevertheless, precautions are being taken, as the North Jersey Jewish community has been on heightened alert since a series of attacks on area synagogues began before Chanukah.
The flier — entitled “Wall Street Jews” and featuring mock-ups of magazine covers featuring distorted pictures of Jewish financiers — was sent out over the last two weeks to a number of area synagogues and institutions, including the Jewish Federation of North Jersey and this paper. Some of the fliers listed Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abraham Foxman and a New York address on the return label.
Hate was his motive, says prosecutor
The 19-year-old accused of firebomb and arson attacks on two area synagogues pleaded not guilty at his first arraignment in Hackensack Superior Court on Wednesday, while his attorney requested a change of venue outside of Bergen County for the trial.
Authorities arrested 19-year-old Anthony M. Graziano of Lodi late Monday night in connection with attacks on Congregation K’hal Adath Jeshurun of Paramus and Congregation Beth El in Rutherford. Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli elaborated on the events leading to Graziano’s arrest during a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Paramus. Graziano allegedly used gasoline in the Paramus arson and Molotov cocktails in Rutherford. In both cases, Graziano rode his bike to the synagogues.
