Jewish Community Shows Unity With Police In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, NY — Residents of the Long Beach and Lido Beach Jewish communities gathered again to say a big thank you to the police.

It's the fourth year that the annual barbecue celebration has been held. This time, the Lido Beach Synagogue hosted the event to praise officers from Long Beach and Nassau County.

"Every single synagogue on the barrier islands joins forces together," Rabbi Benny Berlin of the BACH Jewish Center and the Long Beach Police Chaplain. "Taking the time to say thank you is important."

Given how much police do to keep everyone safe, Berlin said, showing them a small amount of praise is a big deal.

"It actually makes a difference," Berlin told Patch. "It's important to show gratitude to those who are putting themselves in the line of fire. It just uplifts the whole community."

The positive feeling for the police isn't just a one-off, Berlin contends.

"It strengthens them. They understand what they're doing. It makes a difference. It's appreciated and it gives them the energy to keep on going."

"In the days of yore, officers were placed outside synagogues to prevent Jews from uttering their most precious prayers,” said Rabbi Elly Krimsky, Rabbi of the Lido Beach Synagogue. “Today we live in a free society and a country that guarantees our religious rights. As we recite those prayers later in the service, an officer now stands guard over our synagogue. Instead of preventing us from praying, you officers put your lives on the line to [ensure] that we can pray."

Berlin estimates at least 100 people attended Sunday's festival. This year, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was also on hand.

"Every house of worship across the United States should be doing exactly what this community has done."

The Jewish High Holidays are later this month, a time when police officers typically patrol synagogues.

"We live in a dangerous time," Berlin said. "A lot of people are gathering for service and knowing that we have the police goes a long way."