By Jeff Lipton
Despite recent assurances by federal authorities that the Five Towns is not a target of terrorists, at least one community activist is not taking any chances, and is helping to prepare yeshivas and synagogues for the worst.
Susan Alter-Klaperman of Lawrence, who created a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the Five Towns that has trained more than 60 first-responders to deal with terrorist attacks, has followed that up by forming the Five Towns Jewish Homeland Security Committee. The first task of the committee is to compile a list of Five Towns yeshivas and synagogues in need of extra security measures.
Klaperman said that Congress is ready to divvy up about $25 million in funds to protect institutions against terrorism, and that the Five Towns has to act quickly to get its "piece of the pie." She urged local yeshivas and synagogues to appoint safety representatives who will be in charge of security for their institutions, and will be members of the board of the newly established committee. Klaperman said that yeshivas and synagogues could be eligible for shatterproof windows, security cameras or obstacles to prevent vehicles from maneuvering onto their grounds with explosives.
During a recent Lawrence Association meeting, FBI Special Agent Charles Williams, a guest speaker, said that terrorists would generally stay away from communities like the Five Towns, targeting big cities rather than suburban areas to make their statements.
But Klaperman, the wife of Rabbi Emeritus Gilbert Klaperman of Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence, strongly disagreed with FBI officials. She said the Five Towns is extremely vulnerable to an attack because it has a large Jewish population. As a result, she formed the CERT late last year, and the group attracted about 65 members, which Klaperman said was the largest initial startup for any CERT in Nassau County. Its members recently completed a six-week training session in which they learned how to help out in an attack when emergency personnel are unable to reach the scene.
Now Klaperman is chairing the Jewish Homeland Security Committee for the "orderly assessment of security needs, for lobbying elected representatives and communicating with the federal government."
Each building that requests federal funds will be subject to a security inspection and assessment by a Nassau County inspector. Not all buildings that make requests will receive funding, and some of them may receive the security funds next year. But Klaperman said that it is vital for the local community to put in its requests early.
The Five Towns Jewish Council and its executive director, Geri Gindea, have been asked to assist with the project. "The council is always pleased and eager to bring the community together in a positive way," Gindea said.
Klaperman said that it is extremely important to provide extra protection for yeshivas, since children use the buildings all day. "The Five Towns is extremely vulnerable to an attack, and this [new committee] is for any institution that is interested in securing funds to safeguard their building," she said. "The first order of business is to protect children in their yeshivas. Clearly, the federal government will give the money to the areas with the most threat."
Yeshiva officials said they are thrilled with the newly formed committee. "That's a great idea," said Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, dean of Rambam Mesivta High School for Boys in Lawrence, who said that the yeshiva would request some of the federal funding. "Certainly, we support anything that provides additional security. Terrorism is a concern to every one of us. We could all be vigilant against a potential threat. It's proactive of all of us to do what we can.
"I just spoke to our students about it, and told them no matter where you are, all threats should be taken seriously, and anything suspicious should be reported to police immediately," Friedman said.
David Shapiro, executive director of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School in Cedarhurst, said he has been compiling a list of security needs. "We have a very large property with a lot of entranceways," said Shapiro. "I believe there are areas in which we can improve security."
Dr. Abraham Herzberg of Woodmere, whose children attend Rambam Mesivta and Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls in Hewlett Bay Park, said it is incumbent on the community "to act in concert to protect our own. I applaud [Klaperman's] efforts to do something like this."
To get more information on applying for federal funding for security measures, local institutions are urged to call Klaperman at (917) 750-5403 with the name, address and telephone number of the institution and its safety representative.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
