In a powerful display of achdus and cooperation ahead of the Yomim Noraim, Achiezer convened a high-level security meeting Thursday morning bringing together senior leadership from the NYPD, Nassau County Police Department, members of the Nassau County Executives office, along with Rabbanim, community organizations and community leaders from Far Rockaway, Bayswater and the Five Towns.

The gathering was particularly significant because the communities represented at the meeting straddle the New York City-Nassau County border, requiring close coordination between two separate police departments to protect what is, in many respects, one interconnected Jewish community.

The NYPD delegation was led by Assistant Commissioner of Community Affairs Fred Kreizman, who attended on behalf of NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Commissioner Tisch had RSVP’d to attend the meeting but was pulled away at the last minute due to an urgent matter.

Other senior NYPD officials in attendance included Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, Patrol Borough Queens South Deputy Chief Vincent Tavalaro; 101st Precinct Commanding Officer George Ng; Lieutenant Lawrence of the 100th Precinct, representing the precinct’s commanding officer, Captain Singh; and Community Affairs personnel from the 100th Precinct, 101st Precinct and Patrol Borough Queens South.

On the Nassau County side, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder led a senior delegation that included Fourth Precinct Commanding Officer Matt Schiller and members of the Nassau County Police Department’s POP team.

Also participating were chiefs of Rockaway Nassau Hatzalah, coordinators of the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol (RNSP), clergy liaisons and numerous Rabbanim representing communities throughout Far Rockaway, Bayswater and the Five Towns.

The gathering opened with remarks from HaRav Mordechai Kamenetzky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of South Shore, who emphasized the tremendous importance of maintaining close relationships between the Jewish community and the police departments responsible for protecting it.

HaRav Kamenetzky expressed the hope that the community should never, chas v’shalom, face the type of catastrophic incident that would require a massive law enforcement response, while noting that the community must nevertheless know that police are prepared and standing alongside it — particularly as the Yomim Noraim approach and tens of thousands of people will be gathering in shuls.

A central theme of the meeting was achdus and the unusual relationship between the Jewish communities on both sides of the city line. Far Rockaway and Bayswater fall under the jurisdiction of the NYPD, while the Five Towns are protected by Nassau County Police, yet families, shuls, yeshivos and communal organizations routinely operate across both jurisdictions.

Officials noted that the ability of the two departments to regularly sit together with communal leadership, share information and coordinate at the highest levels is particularly important when dealing with security threats that do not stop at municipal borders.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder delivered a detailed intelligence briefing to those assembled. Due to the sensitive nature of the information discussed, details of that portion of the meeting are not being made public.

Ryder also discussed technology and other security measures currently being utilized by Nassau County Police to protect the Five Towns and its large Jewish population.

NYPD Assistant Commissioner Fred Kreizman then outlined the extensive preparations underway across New York City ahead of Rosh Hashanah and the other Yomim Tovim. He discussed the NYPD’s efforts to provide additional protection to Jewish communities, with particular attention being given to shuls, yeshivos and other locations where large numbers of people will be gathering for davening.

Leadership from the 100th and 101st Precincts provided more localized briefings on security preparations, patrol deployments and relevant intelligence affecting Far Rockaway, Bayswater, Rockaway Beach and Belle Harbor.

On the Nassau County side, Fourth Precinct leadership discussed the significant operation required to protect the Five Towns during the Yomim Noraim. The area is home to a massive Jewish population and more than 80 shuls, creating a unique security challenge as thousands of residents walk to and from shul throughout Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Law enforcement officials also fielded questions directly from the Rabbanim and community representatives, allowing specific concerns to be raised and addressed ahead of the Yomim Tovim.

Beyond the security briefings themselves, the meeting served as a striking demonstration of the close relationship that has developed between law enforcement and the Jewish communities of Far Rockaway, Bayswater and the Five Towns.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)