world
Balancing Act
After Santa Monica bombing, synagogues ponder openness vs. security.
Sue Fishkoff
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
that Hirsch knew he would be welcomed
as a fellow Jew, with few questions asked.
"He felt comfortable enough to come
into a community that offered him shel-
ter and offered him money because the
Orthodox community is very hospitable
and takes care of its own:' said Rabbi
Sruly Wolf of Cleveland Heights.
San Francisco
N
obody thought much about
the shabby but quiet middle-
aged man who showed up at
an Orthodox study hall in suburban
Cleveland.
Locked Doors
But when police came April 11 and
Churches traditionally have
arrested the man, Ron Hirsch, 60, on
kept their doors unlocked
charges of setting off a bomb next to the
round the clock on the
Chabad synagogue in Santa Monica, Calif., principle that the house of
it sent shock waves throughout the Jewish
God should be open to all,
community.
but few U.S. synagogues
It also raised the question of how Jewish follow that practice over
institutions should balance openness with concerns about everything
security.
from petty vandalism and
"You want people to feel safe, but
Torah thefts to anti-Semitic
still welcome," said Howard Lesner,
attacks.
executive director of Sinai Temple, a large
At the same time, some
Conservative congregation in downtown
rabbis fear that overdoing
Los Angeles.
security will keep away
Jewish institutions in the United States
precisely those unaffiliated Jews they want
have beefed up security since 9-11, fol-
to attract.
lowing the lead of Israeli embassies
"We should not send the message to
around the world as well as synagogues
a Jew that walking into the synagogue is
and Jewish centers in Europe and South
dangerous," Eliezrie told JTA.
America. But measures designed to
A year ago, he said, half a dozen unfa-
thwart terrorists can make worshipers feel miliar young men walked into his syna-
uncomfortable and newcomers unwel-
gogue right before Saturday morning ser-
come. No one wants to pray in a fortress,
vices. He went to the lobby to check them
religious leaders say.
out — "I was welcoming, but wondering,"
"It's a dilemma we face every day," said
he recalls — and learned that they were
Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie, director of Chabad
being initiated into a Jewish fraternity and
of Yorba Linda, Calif.
had to visit five Chabad centers on one
Cleveland-area Jews were particularly
Shabbat.
disturbed that Hirsch, a transient who
Eliezrie invited them in for kiddush and
often slept near the Santa Monica Chabad
wouldn't let them leave until they listened
shul and asked for handouts at Jewish
to his 6-year-old grandson pontificate on
doors, sought out an Orthodox neighbor-
the weekly Torah portion. If I would have
hood when he fled Los Angeles for Ohio
overreacted, I would have driven them
on April 8. Those interviewed surmised
away," he said.
Eliezrie said metal detectors and secu-
"It looks very pretty, but we did it on
rity guards do more harm than good —
purpose," Rabbi Gary Glickstein said.
but he's in a quiet suburb. Those in the big "There is just one entrance, so we can con-
city, where transients are more common,
trol access!"
have more to worry about, he acknowl-
edged.
Public Events
Over the last 10 years, security around
Glickstein said it has the optimal balance
and inside Detroit area congregations has
between security and openness.
been upgraded, with most
Beginners' services, also called learners'
outside doors locked and
minyans, are particularly confounding
visitors directed to offices. for security concerns because they are
The Jewish Federation of
consciously trying to attract newcomers
Metropolitan Detroit has a rather than congregants who know each
security professional and
other.
committees to advise area
"Too much security and people
Jewish institutions.
get turned away:' said Rabbi Yitzchak
But few organizations
Rosenbaum, associate director of the
in the nation go to the
National Jewish Outreach Program, which
lengths of Sinai Temple,
sponsors services for unaffiliated Jews
a large Conservative
throughout the United States. "We have
synagogue in the heart of
beginners' services, so that means you
downtown Los Angeles,
have all kinds of strange people walking
where all visitors are
in."
screened, wanded and
The key, he says, is to keep tight secu-
eyeballed by a bevy of security person-
rity outside and a discrete watchfulness
nel. Members of the congregation get a
inside.
special decal allowing them to park in the
"We have a committee of lay leaders
building's secure parking lot. The temple
who keep an eye out to make sure nothing
employs a full-time security director and
untoward occurs:' Rosenbaum said.
brings in nearly three dozen guards for
In general, rabbis say, worshipers who
High Holiday services that draw upward
seem suspicious have to be watched, but
of 5,000 people.
discretely, so they and everyone else in
"On Shabbat we have 1,000 people at
the room is unaware of the surveillance.
services," Lesner said. "More than half
Eliezrie says no one would be denied
of them are not members. They're all
access to the kiddush or not counted in a
screened, but we do it in a dignified man-
minyan because of such suspicions.
ner. I've never had anyone refuse and walk
'A human being is a human being:'
away.
Eliezrie said, adding that he's never had to
Temple Beth Sholom, a large Reform
ask someone to leave his synagogue. "I'm
synagogue in Miami Beach, Fla., also runs going to treat everyone with respect. "I
a tight ship. The synagogue was rebuilt
have to welcome him in and just wonder
four years ago, and a perimeter wall of
a little bit." 1
Jerusalem stone was constructed around
the building.
See related story on page 5
All visitors to
L.A.'s Sinai
temple are
screened,
wanded and
eyeballed.
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