Federal law enforcement officials continue to investigate the recent hostage-taking incident by a gunman at a Texas synagogue, but Jewish leaders in New York say the concerns it raises are not new.
“We cannot be cynical,” interim Rabbi David Katz at the Temple Concord in Syracuse said. “We can only be hopeful. And whether it’s one religious community or one’s project with neighbors, or whatever it is, we have to get out there and work towards a community we can all believe in and be a part of and take joy in.”
In the days since the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, Katz and 10 other local Jewish community leaders met to discuss security measures.
“A consultant came in, talked to us about ongoing communications with the police, ongoing communications with each other, taking the very best of protective measures and receiving the kind of training the rabbi in Texas received,” Katz said.
The temple currently has an armed guard that asks new visitors specific questions about visits.
“In a meeting of Jewish leaders yesterday in Syracuse, that question arose: ‘What’s the balance and what do you do?’ ” said Katz.
He said the Texas hostage situation was shocking, but not surprising.
“There are certain times you have to make the decision to fight and certain times to make the decision to escape,” he said.
When something so painful happens, it impacts the entire Jewish community, but the Jewish way is to strive for peace, Katz said. The responsibility of peace, he said, stretches across all religions.
“Yeah, I think that it’s the responsibility of every citizen in the United States and every citizen of the world,” Katz said. “I think it’s important for us to stand up and say, ‘We share a world.’ And what we need to do is embrace one another. And as lofty as that idea is, it’s something we have to express in our everyday lives.”
