13 October 2023
St. Paul police say they’re increasing patrols around synagogues and other houses of worship amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Police are working with community and faith leaders, along with other law enforcement agencies, for “the support and presence needed to ensure people are safe this weekend,” said Molly McMillen, a St. Paul police spokesperson, on Friday. “There’s certainly a heighted awareness of what’s happening in Israel.”
Minneapolis police said, for security reasons, they can’t detail their approaches to security around religious gathering places.
“The Minneapolis Police Department takes all threats seriously,” spokesperson Aaron Rose said in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the situation and we will respond accordingly.”
In Mendota Heights, the Beth Jacob Congregation planned to continue with its regular calendar events for Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, a day of rest that runs from sunset on Fridays to sunset on Saturdays. Director of Building Operations Brian Millberg said while he could not comment on most details, heightened security measures were in place.
“We feel very comfortable with what we’re doing,” Millberg said. “One of the biggest things we do here is we greet every person who comes in the door. Our greeters are trained to look for specific signs if someone is not here for the right reasons.”
“The community is saddened by the need for increased security, because it hurts our welcoming atmosphere,” he added. “But we’re doing what we need to do, even though we don’t necessarily want to do it.”
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