The Sum of All Fears: FBI says February is Al Qaeda's "Kill a Jew" month. Are we sitting ducks?

Jewsweek ^ | 2-12-03 | Benyamin Cohen

[SJackson]

		PROTECTING THE HOMELAND: Border Patrol agents Scott Wengewicz, right, and James Aller stand guard at the International Bridge in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Feb. 7, 2003, after the federal government raised the national terror alert status to

It's Sunday morning at Manhattan's Ohab Zedek synagogue. Morning services have just ended at the Modern Orthodox synagogue located in the trendy Upper West Side neighborhood. A few young men stay afterwards for a little one-on-one Talmud study as they do every Sunday morning. But this Sunday morning is different. At about 10 AM, a handful of FBI agents burst into the synagogue and start asking questions. They walk through the cavernous hallways of the synagogue, all the while taking notes on what they were seeing.

They were not responding to a 911 call. They were responding to a credible terror threat against the synagogue.

		Full closure on territories following warnings of "mega" attacks

"... Jewsweek has learned that the increased chatter has indicated that these soft targets could well include synagogues, as well as assassination attempts on well-known civic and religious leaders ..."

While Justice Department officials alerted the nation Friday to a heightened state of possible terrorist threats against the homeland, America's Jewish communities had another reason to be worried. They got word that they were being specifically targeted.

A few hours after the Justice Department press conference, Newsweek Magazine reported on its Web site that the threat alert was raised after new intelligence reports pointed to the possibility of multiple, imminent attacks by Al Qaeda against Jewish groups and Jewish-owned businesses in the United States. There was no information on specific targets, but officials said the volume of threats relating to Jewish interests was worrying.

Indeed, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge confirmed the rumors. "It's appropriate to draw the conclusion that Jewish groups are a target," he said.

According to Newsweek, the FBI sent word late Friday afternoon to synagogues to up security measures throughout the Sabbath. Most synagogues did little more than alert the same local beat cop who has been sitting at their entranceway since 9/11.

Assassination attempt possible
While researching this story, sources inside the Justice Department told Jewsweek that the fact Jewish groups were being targeted was not the headline and that there is a new front on Al Qaeda's war against America. Rather than go after symbolic targets such as the Pentagon or the Golden Gate Bridge which are becoming increasingly more protected, Al Qaeda operatives are targeting what are called "softer targets". The increased chatter and phone intercepts have indicated that these soft targets could well include synagogues, as well as assassination attempts on well-known civic and religious leaders.

"This is their holy month when they go on their pilgrimage," says terrorism expert Joseph Schneider. "This is the time when they're all riled up. It's hunting season."

Rob Leikind, director of the New England chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, couldn't agree more. "This is an apprehensive time," he says. "Jews face particular threats because many of the proponents of terrorism also espouse anti-Semitic hatred."

Alan Caruba, author of the newly-published book "Warning Signs" has started the National Anxiety Center to help inform people of Islamic fanticism. "I have no doubt whatsoever that Al
Qaeda will specifically target a major Jewish facility such as the Holocaust Museum or one of the great synagogues in the United States," he says. "Islamism is driven by an intense hatred of Jews in particular and infidels in general. This is an organization that understands the power of symbols. Having struck at our economy by destroying the World Trade Center and attacking the Pentagon, the Jewish community of America is a very likely target."

Just how soft are these soft targets? Most synagogues in major metropolitan areas have hired an off-duty policeman to sit in the parking lot during synagogue services -- not a tough security wall to crack by any stretch of the imagination. And religious services held on college campuses rarely have any security. In addition, Jewish-owned businesses have little, if any, extra precautions in place.

Despite this, the ADL still thinks it's a step in the right direction. "We continue to urge synagogues and all Jewish institutions to be vigilant in their security," says Deborah Lauter, ADL Southeast Region Director. "Having a trained guard monitor a facility not only serves as a deterrent to hate or extremist activity, but provides a higher comfort level to those in the community who are feeling insecure at this time."

Some take a more spiritual approach. "By increasing our Torah study, recitation of Psalms and prayers -- these things, in the end, make the biggest difference to our security," explains Rabbi Avi Shafran, the director of public affairs for Agudath Israel of America. "Whatever we do is only hishtadlut -- the effort we are guided by the Torah to make in such circumstances. But what will really matters in the end are our spiritual merits."

Additional reporting by Chaim Saiman in New York.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

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[ovrtaxt]

Ah, don't you love leftist activism? Save the whales, feed the children, kill the Jews, ....

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET

.."IS it SAFE?" = HILLARY on Armed Services Committee..

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=629

NEVER FORGET

[KC_for_Freedom]

Already a member, thank you.

Bump for thinking Jews leaving the left wacko party.

[Alouette]

"By increasing our Torah study, recitation of Psalms and prayers -- these things, in the end, make the biggest difference to our security," explains Rabbi Avi Shafran

Always take a sefer tehillim when you're target practicing at the shooting range.

Jew's best friends:

[Enemy Of The State]

Sitting ducks?

Hell no! Alqaeda is in season all year round..

[Petronski]

There really is a 'Jewsweek?' I love it.

[xJones]

Bump for thinking Jews leaving the left wacko party.

Yes, but we will have to wait untill the next election to see if they are, AND are taking the Jewish American DNC donation money somewhere else. The proof is in the pudding, and so far, we haven't seen any proof. Prove me wrong in the next national election, I would dearly love to see that.

[Valin]

"You get more with a smile and a gun, than with just a smile."
A Capone

[Doc Savage]

And Jews vote overwhelmingly Democrat.......WHY?????? Joe LIEberman can lead his flock out of the wasteland that once was America for 40 years after the DEMONcrats destroy every last vestige of our founding father's values. Maybe Joe can bring little Tommy DASShole along as a guide!

[KC_for_Freedom]

Prove me wrong in the next national election, I would dearly love to see that.

You are right of course, its the election and donation money that are the real proof. Right now there are polls that show Bush supported by 50% Jews, (as opposed to the 18% he got in the national election.) One can only hope that the Jewish intelligencia is in fact getting the message. When last I checked my old congregation in Calif was not, but maybe there arn't so many smart Jews left there.

[Nachum]

Indeed

[Celtjew Libertarian]

And Jews vote overwhelmingly Democrat.......WHY??????

Cue the music:

TRADITION! TRADITION!

Ya-da-da-da-da-da,Ya-da-da-da-da-da,Ya-da-da-da-da-da-da, Dah!

TRADITION! TRADITION!

OK... so I'm not Topol.

[GOPJ]

bump

[Centurion2000]

bump

[MarMema]

ping, see?

[Abar]

The best defense is a good offense.

Never Again.

[FreeReporting]

"This is their holy month when they go on their pilgrimage," says terrorism expert Joseph Schneider. "This is the time when they're all riled up. It's hunting season."

And they express holiness by killing the people who are known to the moslems as "the people of the book"? What a weird way of thinking.