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.
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