Beth El Synagogue in Margate.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Downbeach police chiefs Friday morning said their departments will continue their longstanding policies to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.
On Thursday afternoon, the New Jersey Attorney General issued an advisory that the FBI was following a credible potential threat to New Jersey synagogues and Jewish institutions.
Law enforcement agencies across the state were alerted and asked to increase patrols in sensitive areas, both in marked and unmarked vehicles.
Please do not be alarmed if you observe an increase in police presence as we are taking these steps in an abundance of caution, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement.
He asked residents to be extra vigilant as well and asked them to report any suspicious activity to local authorities. Officials said there were no incidents of suspicious activity reported in the Downbeach area.
In a news release issued Friday morning, Platkin said the threat has been mitigated but he provided no further details. He credited federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies for moving swiftly to protect synagogues and Jewish centers.
While this immediate threat has been mitigated, we know that others may follow and we know that hate continues to fester, Platkin said. We also know that we can stop it.
Margate Police Chief Matthew Hankinson said the department responded with extra patrols around Jewish synagogues and the Milton and Betty Katz Jewish Community Center.
We directed extra patrols and offered a visible uniformed presence, Hankinson said. But we always do that, especially during services. We also do regular security checks at the synagogues on a daily basis, and we do walk-throughs at the JCC every day. The community can rest assured that there will be an even greater presence.
Ventnor Chief Joseph Fussner said the department also added extra patrols around the city's two synagogues.
We are taking additional precautionary steps and have been in contact with the rabbis of both synagogues, he said.
Fussner said the department meets regularly with religious leaders to ensure their properties are safe.
We did a special walk-through at the synagogue to look for any potential risks and their security teams have taken steps to improve safety, he said.
Fussner said the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness occasionally reviews the buildings to ensure there are no security risks. The synagogues also provide their own security details during services, he said.
More than 100 people showed up at St. James Church in January 2019 to hear members of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness share protective measures organizations can take to mitigate security concerns at houses of worship. Religious leaders were urged to establish core planning teams to conduct site assessments and develop emergency plans. The meeting was part of a statewide coordinated effort to upgrade security for religious institutions amid growing antisemitism and violence.
We continue to work together to keep New Jersey safe and let those who would bring harm to the residents of this state know that New Jersey will not be home to hate, intolerance or violence, Platkin said.
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