No suburban synagogues, Jewish organizations targeted

No suburban synagogues or Jewish organizations said Friday they were targeted by the bombs.

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago issued a communitywide alert Friday. Richard S. Hirschhaut, executive director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie said they've been told two institutions in Chicago that may have been the targets have been visited and notified.

In a statement, the Jewish Federation said it has advised local synagogues not to open suspicious packages, or any that appear to come from Yemen or have the name “Yemen” on it.

“Needless to say, we all hope that nothing will come of this. But given the realities of today's world and the information that has been made available, it is important that these security precautions be taken by all area synagogues,” said Michael C. Kotzin, the group's executive vice president said in a statement.

Which institutions were targeted is unknown, although NBC5 is reporting Friday night that the targets are an unnamed synagogue and an unnamed Jewish Community Center.

The Holocaust Museum has been vigilant with visitors and deliveries since it opened, Hirschhaut said.

“We are maintaining our customary vigilance with visitors, with deliveries,” he said. “Every piece of mail that enters this facility is screened; packages are X-rayed.” Visitors, too, walk through detectors and their bags are X-rayed.

Hirschhaut said they've urged their staff to extra vigilance in the last few hours.

“The threat of international terrorism is real and has been present for several years,” he said. “We must remain vigilant and mindful of the sad reality there are those in the world who seek to target innocent Americans of all types.”

Nancy Sohn, president of the Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors in Geneva, said she does not know the specific targets either.

“I think there are people in the world that want to create havoc,” Sohn said.

“We're vigilant,” she added, but “we've always been in a very supportive community.”

Rabbi Mark Covitz of Congregation Beth Tikvah in Hoffman Estates said e-mails have been buzzing between congregants and other Chicago area Jewish organizations since the story broke, but says his synagogue was not contacted directly by the FBI and doesn't know who might have been.

No congregations in the suburbs canceled Friday night services, authorities said.

Staff Writers Deborah Donovan, Eric Peterson and Susan Sarkauskas contributed to this report