State: Caution and defiance greet Jewish new year

Caution and defiance greet Jewish new year

As Rosh Hashana arrives, Broward Jews express revulsion that terrorists might have trained so close to them.

By WES ALLISON

As Rosh Hashana arrives, Broward Jews express revulsion that terrorists might have trained so close to them.

HOLLYWOOD -- At least seven police cars circled Temple Solel on Monday night for its Rosh Hashana service, protection against whatever danger might have been lurking outside.

Inside, Rabbi Robert P. Frazin lit a fire of angry defiance over last week's terrorist attacks.

"A terrorist may topple our buildings, collapse our communications system . . . shake our financial markets, but the demon will never destroy the soul of America," Frazin told 500 worshipers. "We made this country from the bits and pieces of people from the rest of the world. Democracy and hope -- that is what this night is about."

As news reports indicated that South Florida served as the home and training base for at least 14 of the 19 suspected hijackers, Jewish residents said the traditional good will of the holidays was mixing uncomfortably with caution, angst and trepidation.

"They were our neighbors. They drove past us every day," said Steven Fassberg, owner of Fassberg's of New York, a deli in west Hollywood that caters to the area's large Jewish population.

Marwan Al-Shehhi, one of the suspected hijackers, rented a post office box less than a mile from Tempel Solel, in the heart of Hollywood's Jewish community.

In the two weeks leading up to the attack, he and a man he identified as his brother holed up in the Panther Motel on A1A in Deerfield Beach, just 15 miles from here, to study flight manuals and martial arts.

Three suspected hijackers lived in nearby Delray Beach. Another stayed in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. One rented a plane to practice flying at an airport in Lantana.

Now people wonder: Are any terrorists still here?

Howard Packer, a Boston native who lives in Hollywood with his wife and two children, said the terrorist attacks changed the way they would celebrate Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Rather than go to temple, they would eat and worship with friends and family at home.

"We just don't feel safe congregated in one area, thinking that Jews might be a targeted group," Packer said. "Nobody knows if there are more here, if anybody else will be targeted, if we'll be at war.

"If you're going to strike and you're going to strike against the Jews, you're going to strike at the holiest day of the year."

The Broward County Sheriff's Office and local police departments have stepped up patrols, and some synagogues hired private security as well.

At Temple Beth El, a large congregation across town from Temple Solel, uniformed guards took tickets from attendees. People without tickets at several temples were turned away as a security precaution.

"We have a lot of people from the New York area who have people missing," said Rabbi Allan Tuffs of Temple Beth El. "I think we'll have a lot of people who will find the holidays a period of faith and tranquility. . . They need to reconnect with God."

Tuffs said he decided against changing his traditional Rosh Hashana Eve message because of the attack. But he did offer a special prayer.

"We're defying the purveyors of fear and hatred just by being here," he said before a supper of apples and honey, symbolic foods signifying hope for a good and sweet new year. "It's an affirmation of our faith that we can make the world a better place.

"Every soul is weight, every soul needs to make an accounting of itself. The souls of the victims and the souls of the murderers are now making an accounting of themselves to God. God will decide."

On Monday, massive to-go orders of traditional foods of the new year, including beef brisket, roast turkey and chicken soup, were flying out the door of Fassberg's.

By evening, the deli had made 1,600 matzah balls and baked 600 loaves of challah, the braided egg bread traditionally eaten for Rosh Hashana.

"In the Jewish religion, this is the new year. You put these things behind you and you move on," Fassberg said. "This is what people rely on. This is part of the healing. People want to immerse emerge themselves in their religion."