Joyous holiday marred by terrorist threats

Marisa O’Neil

While Jews worldwide remember their ancestors and celebrate their

freedom as part of Passover that began at sundown Monday, the Los

Angeles Police Department on Wednesday announced it was on heightened

alert for terrorist activity for the remainder of the eight-day

holiday.

“This is not a new condition or plight for Jewish people,” said

Rabbi Mark Miller of Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach. “In history

and today, we have always had to keep one eye on our celebration and

the other on potential threats against us. We’ve always had this

delicate balancing act. It is difficult to have the fullness of joy

when you have to look over your shoulder constantly, but we are

well-schooled in this kind of behavior.”

But, he said, Passover is a time to focus on the hope that one day

Israel will be free from terror. Remembering troops fighting for

freedom in Iraq and hoping for liberation from a rise in

anti-Semitism in Europe, he said, are other important things to think

about.

People should not forget, he said, their own personal freedom. He

encourages people to break free from patterns or behaviors that he

said often enslave them.

“We want to enlarge ourselves beyond whatever binds or restricts

us,” Miller said. “Whatever is making our life less than it should

be, whatever is stultifying our potential for growth and awareness,

whatever is limiting -- that is a going forth from our personal own

Egypt or confining place.”

Community and family Seders marked the first two nights of the

holy holiday, which celebrates the liberation of Jewish slaves from

Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II more than 2,000 years ago.

Temple Bat Yahm held a Seder for about 100 people Tuesday night

and the Chabad Jewish Center of Newport Beach held one at the Oasis

Senior Center in Corona del Mar.

Locals like Costa Mesa residents Andy and Greg Simonoff also had

family Seders, which are heavily steeped in tradition. The Simonoffs

and their 13-year-old son Ethan dined with Andy’s sister in Los

Angeles.

Andy Simonoff said that conflicts in the Middle East weigh heavily

on people’s minds on the holiday.

“It [is] mentioned at many Seders,” she said. “Even though it’s

supposed to be a happy time. We always sing a song that means in the

coming year you’ll be in Jerusalem.”

L.A. Police Chief William Bratton said Wednesday that the

department will be on heightened alert through the end of the

holiday. They have not received any specific threats, but the

department has identified 500 potential targets throughout Southern

California, including high-rise buildings, bridges, highways, Jewish

community centers and synagogues.

“I’m very glad and proud to live in a land where people are

concerned for our safety,” Miller said. “When I go to my synagogue, I

know there’s security there. It’s a sad commentary, but a necessary

strategy. In this day and age, you have to be realistic about what

can happen.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.