Area Jewish Community Reacts To Alleged Terror Plot

For Rabbi Eli Shifrin, the details of the Manhattan District Attorney's case against two Queens men accused of planning to blow up city synagogues unearthed old fears lying just beneath the surface.

"It takes only 1 percent of the people we don't catch for tragedy to strike our community," said Shifrin, who leads the Chabad of Little Neck. "We are just so grateful that the police caught it in time."

Shifrin was one of a chorus of prominent members of the area's Jewish community to mix gratitude for the efforts of the New York Police Department, which led the investigation resulting in charges against Ahmed Ferhani and Mohamed Mehdi Mamdouh on Thursday, with a sense that the fight against terrorism was an ongoing battle in need of more city, state and federal resources.

"We're happy the authorities foiled this plot and certainly have confidence in the ability of the federal authorities who've been working closely with community leaders to keep us all safe," said Corey Bearak, chairman of the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council. "The key thing is for the community to remain vigilant."

Ferhani, 26, and Mamdouh, 20, were charged by the Manhattan District Attorney's office with several counts of committing hate crimes and violating a state anti-terrorism law instituted after the attacks of Sept. 11. 

According to the complaint filed in Manhattan Criminal Court, Ferhani and Mamdouh discussed plans with an undercover officer in April to blow up "the biggest synagogue in Manhattan" by disguising themselves as a congregant and "pretending to pray."

It was that particular detail in the charges against the two men, both North African immigrants living in western Queens, which had Shifrin on edge.

"There's very little we can to do to stop someone from disguising themselves a member of our congregation and coming in," he said.

In response to past threats against city synagogues, many congregations have hired private security, requested increased police patrols and installed cameras, partially with the help of federal Homeland Security grant money.

However, security measures likely to head off plots like that uncovered this week, such as installing metal detectors at the entrances of places of worship, seemed unfeasible to Shifrin.

"It would really take away from a synagogue," he said.

Instead, many community members called for beefed-up government efforts to head off potential terrorist acts before they became a threat to Jews and non-Jews alike.

"This incident is a reminder to all of us that the threat of terrorism continues to exist and we must remain vigilant as we go about our daily lives," said Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, D-Bayside. "I am relieved to see that the NYPD understands this and is continuing to be proactive when it comes to protecting our security."

Patrick Conti contributed reporting to this story.