Chicago, IL – Members of Chicago’s Jewish community carried on with their weekend services, undaunted by news that two Jewish houses of worship on the North Side may have been the targets of a foiled terrorist plot.
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Two packages containing explosives — sent to Chicago addresses — were intercepted in London and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, late Thursday. Authorities did not release addresses, but a source familiar with the investigation said the targeted congregations were in the East Rogers Park and Lakeview neighborhoods.
The source indicated that the targeted Jewish congregation in Lakeview may have been using the facilities of a Unitarian church.
The Rev. Adam Robersmith, who works at the Second Unitarian Church in Lakeview, said the Jewish Congregation Or Chadash last used the church facilities for its worship services several years ago. The congregation — which serves gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews — has since moved to Edgewater, where it shares space with Emanuel Congregation.
Rabbi Michael Zedek of Emanuel Congregation said Or Chadash has been sharing space in its building for about seven years. He said an official in Chicago’s Jewish community called him late Friday afternoon about the suspicious packages allegedly bound for the city.
“(The official) said, ‘I’ve got some good news and some bad news,'” Zedek said. “‘The good news is that your congregation was not one (of the targets); the bad news is that Or Chadash was.'”
Zedek said he immediately sent the rabbi of Or Chadash an e-mail. The two spoke over the phone and then addressed their congregations later Friday, said Zedek.
Robin Sampliner, immediate past president of Or Chadash, said she was stunned when she heard the news. Sampliner said Or Chadash has about 100 members.
“I heard that the packages were intended for Chicago, but it didn’t even occur to me that our small congregation would be a target,” she said.
Lilli Kornblum, co-president of Or Chadash, said she had only heard rumors her congregation was targeted. She said when she arrived for services around 6 p.m. Friday, there was a strong police presence around the synagogue.
A possible East Rogers Park target could not be verified. Some directories of synagogues in Chicago still list two in the neighborhood. But the last operating synagogue in East Rogers Park closed in 2002.
No one is safe. These terrorists target all Jews. How did they even know they exist? 100 members isn’t exactly high-profile.
didn’t anyone think it was weird that someone in Yemen was sending a package to a synagogue?
While 2 on the women appear to be dressed appropriatly for shul, this “prayer for bread” and holding crackers seems more like a church communion service.
What I don’t understand is what makes Al Qaeda think that some shul will receive a printer cartridge from YEMEN and install it in their printer? Most shuls that have an office have one person who orders printer supplies and it’s usually from HP or Office Depot or Staples.
This is inappropriate journalism on your part. The title is misleading as it implies the certainty of a specific synagogue targeted. I am from Chicago and can assure you that as of yet no authorities have stated the actual synagogue and/or Jewish organization that was targeted, even if there is speculation as to which Synagogue it may be. There was extra police presence at all Shuls and Jewish communities in Chicago today. Please do your homework before you relay information.
Hey, Babishka, with all due respect… the printer cartridge just served as a convenient housing for the explosive materials and was not intended as printer cartridge per se to be used by the recipient — who Al Qaeda hoped wouldn’t be around long enough to even examine the package’s contents.
this was a near tragedy where jews were targeted by terrorists. Thank G-d this tragedy was prevented. but how can people comment with such things about the type of challah they are eating or that this is a gay-friendly congregation, when many Jews were almost murdered (hos v’shalom)??!! .
“Gay, lesbian synagogue”?
Why do you come there?
Do you have place for killers and thieves also?
At least don’t call it a synagogue!
First read ten comendmets!
good or bad, at least they got attention!
This whole story smacks of a red flag operation,
Chicago home town of Obama,
a Gay congregation, Obama has been pandering to the gays
All of a sudden right before Mid Term Elections
And all of a sudden Obama is calling them terrorists
From Yemen of all places, home of Awlaki the guy Obama has ordered to be terminated
This story gets fishier by the minute.
No wonder they started their own synagogue, because people such as Benny made them feel unwelcome at his.
This whole story gets stranger by the day, why would a UPS flight from Yemen target a shul in Chicago and the POTUS appear for 1 minute and verify it himself! This is not even a soft target for them and couldn’t Gibbs or Homeland Security have met with the press as usual to give a statement, why Obama especially now? This does not jive!