Security Increased at Jewish Gatherings in Long Beach : Terrorism: Saddam Hussein’s threat of attacks prompts action by authorities working with community leaders.

Security is being tightened at Jewish gatherings in this city as a result of the Persian Gulf War.

While there have been no reported incidents of violence against Jews in Long Beach since the war began, members of the local Jewish community say they are concerned about recent threats by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to unleash terrorist attacks.

The city has a Jewish population of about 25,000, one of the largest in the area outside of Los Angeles, making it a potential target for would-be terrorists, Jewish community members say.

“We are a university town, a port town and a center for Jews in this area,” said City Councilman Evan Anderson Braude, who is Jewish. “This is an international city; there is serious concern.”

In an effort to deal with that concern, Jewish leaders have met with police officials to discuss plans for more security at various events, and police have responded with increased patrols. Many local Jewish institutions have also tightened their own security at buildings and meetings.

Seven Long Beach police officers, headed by Assistant Police Chief Gene Brizzolara, patrolled the halls and sidewalks recently at the Long Beach Jewish Community Center when more than 500 people met to express their solidarity with Israel and support for the U.S. war effort. There were speeches calling Hussein a dictator and tyrant who “embodies evil and is a threat to everyone in the Middle East.” There were small group discussions on subjects such as how to talk to children about the war and communicating with loved ones in Israel.

“We’re here to make sure that everyone gets home safely,” Brizzolara said. The decision to assign officers to the event, he said, was based on the department’s general assessment that there was a potential for violence or disruption, given the current political climate.

In fact, the growing tensions in the Persian Gulf prompted the Long Beach Police Department three months ago to set up a special unit of more than 70 officers--called the Unusual Occurrences Response Team--to respond to possible acts of terrorism or civil disturbances such as overzealous pro- or anti-war demonstrations.

According to the unit’s commander, Tony Van Coutren, no such disturbances or attacks have been reported.

But the recent firebombing of a synagogue in North Hollywood and threats reported by some Jews in Orange County have put the Long Beach Jewish community on edge.

Many Long Beach-area temples, community members say, now routinely assign security personnel to guard exits and entrances during services and other events. Police are regularly informed of Jewish gatherings in advance so that they can consider assigning added patrols.

The Long Beach Jewish Community Center recently outfitted some employees with bright orange security vests and assigned them to patrol the grounds. Center officials have also decided to lock all doors except the front entrance for the first time in the center’s 30-year history.

“There’s a heightened awareness,” said Joyce Fruhlinger, community relations director for the Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach and West Orange County, which has its offices in the building. “We have to be certain that the Jewish community buildings are secured.”

Said Rabbi Daniel Epstein, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom near downtown Long Beach: “We’ve decided to be careful. We don’t want to feed into the fear; we just feel that we have to be responsible.”

Still, Long Beach physician Jeff Punim said he worries about the safety of his 4-year-old daughter, who attends preschool at the Jewish Community Center. “I have some concern about sending her to a place that could be a target for crazies,” Punim said. “It only takes one.”