So I saw question posed at another forum that I thought was interesting.
It has to do with the latest synagogue shooting today.
Have you ever considered the fact that some terrorist could come to your
congregation, not realizing it is Messianic rather than Jewish?
(yes, I know there may be some Jews there, but on the whole I think
a terrorist would be interested in a place where it is presumed everyone
is Jewish and it has some attachment to traditional Judaism).
Have you ever taken any security measures to help prevent such an
attack, should one happen? Ever have any scares, or feelings of not
being safe in your own congregation?
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Happy Moments- Praise HaShem Difficlut Moments-Seek HaShem Quiet Moments- Pray to HaShem Painful Moments- Trust HaShem Every Moment- Thank HaShem
Around 9/11 we felt fearful of being at church, but I think that was pretty normal across America. We all felt like targets. But my family has been so blessed in our feeling of complete security no matter where we are. We are very lucky and stories like this make me remember not to take anything for granted.
I think it's terrible that any group of people is targeted in any way. I long for the day that we do enter into an era peace and we will know we are there because finally people will be judged based on their individual merit, not based on race, religion, sexual orientation, hair color, gender or interest.
Terrorism is not a respecter of persons or religion.
We as Messianic believers are double targeted. We are hated because we are Jews and hated because we believe in Yeshua (Jesus).
So far we have felt divine Protection at my shul. One door is locked during service allowing for only one entrance. We have someone in the greeting area throughout the whole service who monitors the door.
Because we had several firebombings at the synagogues in my city several years back, we have police protection at all Federation functions.
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You are the light of the world ~ let your light shine before all men
That they may see your deeds and glorify your Father in heaven
The lamp is the mitzvah
The light it shines is the Torah
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So I saw question posed at another forum that I thought was interesting.
It has to do with the latest synagogue shooting today.
Have you ever considered the fact that some terrorist could come to your
congregation, not realizing it is Messianic rather than Jewish?
(yes, I know there may be some Jews there, but on the whole I think
a terrorist would be interested in a place where it is presumed everyone
is Jewish and it has some attachment to traditional Judaism).
Have you ever taken any security measures to help prevent such an
attack, should one happen? Ever have any scares, or feelings of not
being safe in your own congregation?
I have been to some Baptist Churches that had cameras and armed guards.
One of our messianic meetings was verbally objected to, in no uncertain terms by... Anglican ministers who tried to stop a meeting with a visiting Messianic speaker from Russia. The meeting was being held in an Anglican church and they turned up to heckle and generally ruin the meeting! They complained to the Bishop who took no notice - that probably wound them up no end.
In another part of the country graffiti on the walls, stones and things thrown at our house, glass scratched with graffiti etc.
There a more problems here for non Messianic Jews than for Messianics, I think.
It's life, I'm afraid. But we do not tend to get the sort of problems you guys get in the US, yet. That must be really scary.
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Kernow - land of my ancestors To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Y'israel - land of my heart
Chava, I don't know if you recall the church fires that were going on a couple of years back in Alabama (mostly rural and many within walking distance of homes) - but that was another call for increased security in our congregation, as we have a Torah, and it was being stored in an Ark, but not otherwise protected.
A member had an ingenious idea to modify a fire-safe so that it would comply for the needs of our scroll, protect it when not in use, and yet have the ner-tamid .. very interesting complication we had, and no one had ever encountered it before.
On top, we had to make some structural changes to the building to bring it up to code as it used to be a home, and was no longer. It had to meet some new fire codes (Doors had to open a certain way, no more than X amount of seats, etc).
Prior to that, around 9/11, we had some major draw to security, and started implementing some plans. Closer to '04 or '05, we had a mosque open not too far from us, and between the craziness that broke out with that, we had some really ignorant "Good ol' boys" getting itchy and territorial, so we increased security again, and those who had permits to conceal-carry had dedicated to do so when it came to meetings and also coming together for Shabbat.
We also contacted the security firm that looked over our congregation, and the local PD. They increased their "drive-by" on our road, and often would come up and check things out if there seemed to be a car parked at an odd time. I remember one time I was setting up for something, and had dedicated to come between my work to home hours (as rush hour at that time of year going home was horrible either way I went home, and the Synagogue was along one of the routes) -- an officer pulled in the driveway within 10 minutes of me pulling in.
You shoulda seen my face.. LOL! I was pleasantly surprised, and we got to chat for a minute when I explained who I was, why I was there and that all was well. I did let the elders know that we definitely were being checked up on.
When I had visited our local Conservative shul, the police stand at all entrances and also drive by (it's not too far from the inner city, but it's closer to the nice area of the city) - the security was rather good, but not as good as what I've seen at some churches (consealed-carry ushers, organized parking/ persons looking out at the entrances/exits of the parking lot and around the building, individuals keeping the children's areas safe and looked over, closed doors during services with individuals "casing" the building (services being broadcast on speakers so they don't miss out) and heavy emphasis on meeting/greeting new attendees)...
I think we could do more for our security, but I haven't been other than to visit the few times my morning sickness cooperated, and what I did see was much better than when I last attended my home congregation. I think some CCTV/cameras might benefit as well as reflective mirrors in the parking area, and someone keeping an eye on the parking area during services (erev shabbat for instance) might be better ... other than that, there isn't much they really can do, short of splitting down to splinter groups meeting in homes and agreeing to meet only at certain times of the month together. KWIM?
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Just another Celiac trying to live in a "Crumby" WBRO friendly world.
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There were concerns for our congregation’s safety back in 2004, Our Rabbi would say “If our Congregation look Jewish, eats Jewish, Celebrates G-ds Holydays. We will be treated just as the Jews.”
During this time our Congregation was getting a lot of publicity because of ourdance group. [Israeli dance] They danced at the “Promise Kippers” Pastors convention in Arizona. There were threats on our dance group and we were put in a bus and escorted by police to the convention.
For a year after this I was asked to sit by the front door of our Congregation. [I have a concealed weapon permit]
__________________ The flesh revels in the soul’s demise. ---- Prov 6 :23 "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. "
1 John 1:6-7 "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua, his Son, purifies us from all sin." ----
The Evil one hides in our secrets. Reveal our secrets, and we reveal the Evil one and he flees
I read in the paper a couple of years ago about an Anglican Vicar and church who was harrassed so much by a gang of teenages that the police charged them under the blasphemy laws. Doesnt happen very often, I've never heard of it before or since.
Dont know about synagogues, but when we went to Wales last year my MIL read in the paper that a Jewish guy had been assalted outside the town we were staying at, there is an orthodox synagogue there.
__________________ "God is the ultimate stalker" Emily Spencer, Oct 09 (used by permission)
Interesting....I wonder who would have anything against Baptists?
Churches supporting Jews / Israel also get targetted. The Baptist church may well have fitted into that category.
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E & O E. Caveats may apply to this post. Terms and conditions may apply to this post. Your legal rights are not affected. Written apologies may be offered to anyone who may be even slightly offended by this post. Complaints and suggestions regarding this post, its accuracy, wording, intention, relevance to any other matter, the time of day or the colour of my socks should be referred to the author in the first instance. In the unlikely event that a Report needs to be made, pray first, and if the problem will not go away, use the Report Button which is the red one at the top right of this text box; click on it once and follow the prompts on the screen.
Kernow - land of my ancestors To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Y'israel - land of my heart
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