Last night four men were arrested and are accused of planting what they thought were explosives in front of our synagogue, Riverdale Temple, and at our neighbor the Riverdale Jewish Center.
We want to assure everyone who attends services, classes and events here at Riverdale Temple that at no time was anyone or anything at temple in any kind of danger. Those of us who were in the sanctuary preparing for the Adult B’nai Mitzvah ceremony next Saturday, May 30th at about the time that the arrests took place, were completely unaware of anything out of the ordinary until we left the sanctuary and found two plainclothes police officers waiting for us in the lobby. The officers assured us that it was a routine stakeout and that they were there as a precaution for our safety. Those who remained in the building for adult education were equally unaware of any unusual activity. It was only when we exited the parking lot at about 9:15 that we became aware of massive police presence. We learned that the cause was a threat to Riverdale Temple from the news media as we drove home.
No one at the temple, administration, clergy or trustees, had been informed of this event prior to its occurrence, but we want to thank the F.B.I., the New York City Police Department including our local precinct, and other authorities for taking great precautions to insure our safety in ways now known, and some still unknown to us. We are very grateful for their attentiveness.
The most important response we can offer is to continue to fulfill our spiritual mission with as much devotion as ever. Please join us here at Riverdale Temple for Sabbath worship tomorrow evening at 7:30. We will be celebrating the conversion to Judaism of two devoted and involved members of our community. When I asked them, this morning, if they were really sure they still wanted to bind their fate to the fate of the Jewish people, after what they witnessed in the neighborhood last evening, they responded, "even more so than ever." Let us take our inspiration from that sentiment. It is even more important than ever for us to share together as a community.
Riverdale Temple has been receiving an outpouring of supportive telephone calls and e-mails. As the only Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) affiliated congregation in the Bronx, our regional director called us with the support and offers of assistance from the URJ and our fellow Reform congregations. We are thankful to everyone for standing with the entire Jewish Community of Riverdale at this time.
