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October 19, 2001/Cheshvan 2, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 6
Jews on guard against anthrax
MICHAEL J. JORDAN
JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Threats to prominent Jewish organizations may be par for the course, but the current anthrax scare has Jewish activists, including some in Phoenix, as jumpy as other Americans.
Employees at several Jewish organizations in midtown Manhattan were expected to be checked for anthrax Oct. 17, after anthrax spores were found in the offices of New York Gov. George Pataki, whose city offices are located in the same building.
The groups - the Reform movement's Union of American Hebrew Congregations and ARZA/World Union, along with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel - together have approximately 325 employees.
Although the air circulation system in the building apparently was shut down to prevent spread of the spores, the building was not evacuated and the Jewish organizations - which already have security measures in place and, like all New York offices, have been screening mail more carefully in recent days - were continuing with their work.
"It's obviously very disturbing, but we can't allow ourselves to become paralyzed by fear," said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Presidents Conference.
Israeli authorities on Oct. 15 conducted anthrax tests on a suspicious powder found on an El Al airplane, and Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., evacuated two buildings after a white powdery substance was believed to have been received in an envelope. Both incidents turned out to be false alarms.
Jewish organizations have experienced a general increase in threatening calls or letters since the Palestinian intifada began a year ago, but spokesmen say there has been no additional rise in threats to institutions since the events of Sept. 11.
Nevertheless, they're not taking chances.
The leading pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, on Oct. 15 stopped opening mail that lacked a return address, after it got word that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's office had received a letter containing anthrax.
AIPAC is now reassessing its mail policy, spokeswoman Rebecca Needler said.
In interviews, most Jewish leaders said they are scrutinizing their mail much more closely, especially letters from suspicious locales - such as Florida, where the anthrax scare began.
"We are now opening our mail in one spot. We do not open any letter without a return address or without an address somebody can recognize," said Bill Straus, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Phoenix. When people open the mail, they wear surgical gloves and a mask, just to be safe, he added. "It's easy and cheap," said Straus.
"We have cautioned our (mail) carrier not to leave mail by the door unattended," said Rabbi Robert Kravitz, executive director of the Arizona chapter of the American Jewish Committee, with offices in Scottsdale. In addition, if the AJC cannot identify a letter they isolate it and call the sender, if possible, he said.
"We are aware of the threat and have received information from our national office about how to proceed," said an official of another Phoenix Jewish community agency, although he declined to give details. This information is being disseminated to Jewish communal organizations, he added.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Embassy in Washington was closed temporarily Oct. 16 in response to an anthrax scare. A letter containing a suspect substance arrived at the building next door, occupied by the United Arab Emirates Embassy. U.S. authorities are examining the envelope.
The Israeli embassy later reopened.
At another prominent Jewish organization, a letter postmarked from Florida with no return address was quickly hustled into an isolated room, where it was opened with latex gloves and a letter opener. It turned out to be just another letter from the Messiah - or someone claiming to be.
But that's typical run-of-the-mill, off-the-wall correspondence, say activists.
Kravitz said one of his main concerns is "idiots with hoaxes. ... I hope they're punished to the fullest extent of the law," he added.
"We, like all Jewish institutions, have always received crank communications, threatening communications, some more credible than others," said Elan Steinberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress. "I don't see an increase in the quality or quantity of such communications. However, because of the changed circumstances and the sober reality we're facing, I think we address it in a much more serious manner."
At Brandeis, two buildings were evacuated Oct. 15 after an administrative assistant to President Jehuda Reinharz apparently opened an envelope and found white powder on her hand. The buildings were cleared for three hours while law enforcement officials investigated.
"People are angry that the cost of a stamp can shut down university operations for a couple of hours," said Dennis Nealon, a Brandeis spokesman.
Jews are not overreacting, activists say, but are mindful of history.
There was a rash of letter bombs aimed at Jewish leaders in the 1970s and 1980s, the height of the movement to free Soviet Jews, said Myrna Shinbaum, spokeswoman for the ADL.
"Everyone wants to be safe rather than sorry," Shinbaum said. "It's more prudent to implement the safety protocols beforehand than to wait until you get the threat."
However, Jewish organizations and institutions should be vigilant - but careful not to go overboard, activists say.
"I do not believe anyone can be seen as overcautious," said Straus.
Jewish News Editor Barry Cohen and JTA Intern Amy Sara Clark contributed to this report.
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