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September 14, 2001/Elul 26, 5761, Vol. 54, No. 1
Tragedy hits home
STAFF REPORT
In the hours following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, reverberations were intensely felt in the Valley Jewish community.
"This is an attack on Western civilization," said Rabbi Robert Kravitz, executive director of the American Jewish Committee area office. "This is a grievous situation. Someone has to deal with (the terrorists) and hold them accountable."
Officer Devon White of the Phoenix Police Department characterized the deadly actions as "a terrorist attack on America. ... One thing we do not want to do is to make this a Jewish-Middle East issue."
White said Phoenix police precincts and area synagogues have been working together in recent weeks to set up customary security for High Holiday services, which begin at sundown Monday, Sept. 17. Safety measures are being increased to include two-member patrols and a visible on-site presence during worship services, White said.
Cathy Wolf, director of the federation's Jewish Community Relations Council, praised the relationship between Valley Jewish institutions and the Phoenix Police Department. "They are just the most responsive group in terms of working with us on any crisis," she said.
Bill Straus, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, agreed. "Law enforcement, with hardly any prompting, has made Jewish institutions and organizations a priority."
He said the police has been "extremely attuned to problems" facing Jewish Americans and Arab Americans alike. "At a time like this, we should not let emotions rule our behavior," added Straus.
Valley Jewish day schools and preschools responses to the Sept. 11 attack ranged from heightened security to full-school closures.
Carol Bell, director of the Beth El Center for Early Childhood Education in Phoenix, said most students attended school Sept 11. The school has a camera system in place, and two security officers were "maintaining a presence" on the grounds of the facility while classes carried on as usual.
"We're trying to adhere as much to normalcy as possible," she said. "Certainly our hearts are all heavy, and it is a difficult time."
Har Zion Early Childhood Center in Scottsdale did not open Tuesday, said Director Nanci Siegel Manson. Plans were to reopen Wednesday, with many parents on campus for a meeting, as well as police coverage.
Esther Feuerberg, head of school at The King David School in Scottsdale, said she contacted the Phoenix Police Department to request security for the campus. Additionally, King David hired two private security officers for Sept. 11 and 12. All gates and building doors remained locked and staff members carried walkie-talkies, she said.
Feuerberg said it was important, once security was ensured, to "keep (the school day) as normal as possible for the children" and that the staff "made every effort to minimize anxiety" for the students.
At the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School in Phoenix, students' emotions ranged from somber to upset, said Headmaster Jay Schechter. The high school also had increased security, with all doors to the buildings locked. Panic buttons are located within the school facilities, he added.
Several Valley synagogues held memorials and prayer services to help members deal with the shock of the attacks and create a sense of community.
"We've had a little bit of a taste of the way our Israeli brothers and sisters live daily," said Rabbi Bonnie Koppell of Chandler's Temple Beth Sholom.
Synagogues holding special prayer services following the terror attacks included Beth El Congregation, Beth Emeth of the Northwest Valley, Beth Joseph Congregation, Chabad of Scottsdale, Chabad of the East Valley, Chabad of the West Valley, Chabad-Lubavitch of Phoenix, Har Zion Congregation, Sun Lakes Congregation, Temple Beth Shalom of the Northwest Valley with the West Valley chapter of Hadassah, Temple Beth Sholom, Temple Chai, Temple Solel and Young Israel.
"At this stage, (we are) still in shock and (the) best thing we can do right now is just to try to comfort one another," said Rabbi Michael Wasserman of Beth El Congregation.
Rabbi Laibel Blotner, at a service at Chabad-Lubavitch of Phoenix, said Jews attending shul "show that nothing gets in the way of our trust in Hashem (God)."
Temple Beth Shalom of the Northwest Valley, with the West Valley chapter of Hadassah, held a memorial service Sept. 13 "to respond in prayer and thought and words to the terrorist attack on the United States," said Rabbi Arthur J. Abrams. Valley resident and Israeli tour guide Shai Matar shared insights on international terrorism.
Several synagogues, such as Temple Beth Sholom in Chandler and Temple Beth Shalom of the Northwest Valley, in the past have hired off-duty police for security for High Holiday services and will continue to do so.
"We are taking special precautions here to secure our congregation," Abrams said.
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