Hundreds of thousands of Jewish faithful are expected to attend Passover eve services at synagogue nationwide, but the fraught security situation following a spate of recent terrorist attacks could cast a pall over the holiday.
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According to the Israel Police, while there have been no special guidelines issued for synagogues, worshippers should be alert to the possibility of attempted terrorist attacks.
In addition to current security situations, this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the suicide bombing at the Park Hotel in Netanya on Passover Eve during the Second Intifada, in which a Palestinian terrorist killed 30 Israelis and left some 140 wounded.
Contrary to reports earlier this week, the Israel Police have not recommended that armed guards be stationed at every synagogue and that a Border Police official from southern Israel issued that call as part of a local security initiative. However, the police recommended that at any site where hundreds of people were due to assemble, there should be someone capable of handling an emergency.
The country's larger synagogues have taken extra measures, some going so far as to hire armed security guards and allow worshippers in only after they have passed security checks.
"We're making double the preparations when it comes to saving lives, both in terms of providing security and in terms of COVID, by enforcing masks," attorney Zali Yaffa, president of the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem, told Israel Hayom.
"I expect there to be crowds, because a lot of people come to Israel, and a lot of Israelis come to Jerusalem, and we hope that everything will go well and safely," Yaffa said.
"Sadly, knowing how low our enemies will sink, synagogues could be a major target for attacks by terrorist organizations," said chairman of the World Organization of Orthodox Communities and Synagogues, David Ben Naeh.
"Synagogues, for them, are a symbol of our Judaism and the Jewish people's connection to the Creator. Aside from that, we are talking about mass gatherings that are not officially secured, and therefore we have an obligation to behave with caution and responsibility ahead of services this year.
"We pray that this Passover, we will all feel truly free, and the Creator will say we have had troubles enough, and we can celebrate the holiday joyfully," Ben Naeh said.
The organization has reached out to gabbais, community presidents, and worshippers to be on the alert and take extra caution. The organization recommended that members of congregations licensed to carry weapons are assigned strategic seats and that congregations establish evacuation plans for emergencies and check to see if any medical professionals are at the synagogues and when they are due to arrive.
The group also recommended that synagogues leave a cellphone turned on at the entrance in case of a need to call emergency responders.
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