The Rockland County Sheriff’s Department yesterday spoke to Jewish leaders and offered safety tips for their synagogues and schools. In a meeting at the JCC-Y of Rockland yesterday, which was organized by Legislator David Fried, Sheriff James Kralik urged the Jewish community to enhance security in light of the Middle East conflict as well as national and local anti-Semitic incidents.

Though emergency responders are taking a proactive approach with counterterrorism efforts, he said, religious leaders should also increase security measures.

“We need them to do more, to partner with us,” he said. “We need them to be concerned with the safety of their congregation.”

Synagogues were urged to create their own security plans; have short, fast and direct evacuation plans; do planning, preparation and training for evacuation; and maintain up-to-date alarm systems.

Dave Leon, president of the Nanuet Hebrew Center, said he was glad he attended the meeting.

“There are serious concerns among all the synagogues,” he said. “With the High Holy Days coming up in September, the synagogues fill up.

“We get 800 to 900 people, so security is a concern.”

Simcha Herbstman, president of the Spring Valley Yeshiva, said the school spent more than $100,000 to increase security.

In light of a Seattle shooting � in which six people were shot, one fatally, at the Jewish Federation offices � the school is not taking any chances, Herbstman said.

“It can happen here,” he said. “We’re given the responsibility to protect our kids, and the first priority is safety.”

The Anti-Defamation League recorded 15,000 anti-Semitic incidents in the past decade.

On Aug. 4, a Spring Valley Jewish community center on Main Street was vandalized for the seventh time. Door windows were found broken. During the past two months, vandals have stolen or damaged thousands of dollars in computers and video equipment, thrown rocks through windows, and left anti-Semitic graffiti. On July 2, the words “Putas Judias” � “Jewish prostitutes” � were found spray-painted on a wall behind the building. Another time, a teacher’s desk calendar had the word “Hitler” written on it.

In January, vandals spray-painted swastikas on a Wesley Hills synagogue. There were also spray-painted images of a smiling face and a heart enclosing the word “Mom” at the Congregation Kehillas Bais Yehudah, and a drawing of male genitalia was found.

TJN