PROMINENT LONG ISLAND JEWISH LEADERS FORM GROUP TO PROTECT JEWISH INSTITUTIONS IN NASSAU-SUFFOLK

UNIONDALE, NY (Dec. 16, 2006)— As Jews across Long Island observe Chanukah, the eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates freedom, a group of prominent Jewish leaders in the region announced the launch of a new organization to promote the security of Jewish institutions in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The Jewish Advisory Network for Long Island (JANSLI), which expects to be operational on Jan. 1, will provide a network to quickly alert Jewish institutions in the two counties of anti-Jewish incidents, enabling them to respond promptly to the possibility of additional threats. Also, the organization will serve as a liaison between Jewish institutions and law enforcement agencies and provide Jewish facilities, among them synagogues and day schools, with professional security audits.

JANSLI, a not-for-profit organization was established by Arthur Katz, a Nassau businessman and past chairman of the Long Island cabinet of UJA-Federation and its current Synagogue Task Force chairman; Daniel Krimmer, a lawyer and president of the Conference of Jewish Organizations of Nassau County, and Gary Shapiro, a former president of the National Shomrim Society, an organization of law enforcement officers.

“Sadly, those wishing to act against Jews and Jewish organizations can be found anywhere, including Nassau and Suffolk Counties,” said Katz, who is President of JANSLI. “We must energize the community to prepare and respond to catastrophic events that may prevent the loss of life, injury or property.

The Nassau-Suffolk region has one of the largest concentrations of Jews in the world, estimated at 311,000 by the UJA-Federation, and about 225 synagogues, schools and other facilities.

“We’re going to be watching out for the Jewish community. The police will be watching out for everyone.” said Shapiro, who serves as JANSLI’s Chief Operating Officer. “The police do an admirable job, but cannot be everywhere.”

JANSLI also will provide law enforcement agencies on Long Island with better insight as to the threats against the Jewish community and to the community at large.

The new agency will offer an instant alert system that will link its office to law enforcement, emergency management agencies and the Department of Homeland Security and to leaders and security officers of Jewish organizations, schools, businesses, community centers and other entities in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. JANSLI also plans to offer free, professional security audits to Jewish institutions that request them.

Founders of the group fear that events, such as the shooting spree last July at a Seattle Jewish Federation that killed one and wounded five, could occur on Long Island. Most Jewish institutions across the country learned of the shootings via TV or radio, although there is a national alert network, the Secure Community Network, which links major U.S. Jewish organizations.

“We are concerned about Long Island,” said Krimmer. “If such an event were to occur here, would a Jewish day school, synagogue or other Jewish facility gets the news in time to react and protect innocent citizens.”

Recent large scale attacks in such places as Madrid, London and Toronto were planned in suburban areas. “With so many security resources focused and provided to New York City, where does that leave Long Island to combat potential crisis?” said Shapiro, who is Acting Commanding Officer of the Nassau County Police Department’s Special Investigations Squad and NCPD Bias Crimes Coordinator. The NCPD has no official involvement in JANSLI.

The JANSLI alert network will help Jewish institutions prepare and respond to important communications and to assist in the development of policies that ensure that a consistent message is being sent to the entire community about security and emergency situations.

JANSLI security audits of Jewish facilities will be conducted by trained law enforcement experts, who will offer suggestions for security improvements. The organization also will facilitate anti-terror training for members of Jewish institutions in conjunction with law enforcement and the national office of the Secure Community Network

For more information on JANSLI, write to P.O. Box 38, Uniondale, NY 11553, or call toll-free at 866-734-9552.

###