A gathering to introduce and acquaint leaders of the South Florida Jewish community with the Special Agent in charge of the FBI Miami Field Office was held at the home of South Florida Chaplain Mark Rosenberg, Director of Chesed Shel Emes of Florida.
South Florida FBI Special Agent in Charge, George Piro, met with members of Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Dept of Law Enforcement, Miami Dade Police Dept., North Miami Beach Police Dept and Jewish Federation.
Also present was Rabbi Pinchas Weberman, Chaplain of MDPD and ATF, Rabbi Mordechai Palgon, Dean of Yeshiva Toras Chaim/Toras Emes, Rabbi Efraim Palgon, Principal of Toras Emes Middle School and Rabbi Moshe Bernstein of Toras Chaim.
The purpose of the meeting was to further cement strong relationships between the Jewish community and the FBI. Mr. Piro expressed the importance of keeping the line of communication open with the schools and shuls of these communities to ensure the safety and protection needed in today’s dangerous times.
“These are indeed times when every parent is concerned about the safety of their children”, explained Rabbi Palgon who thanked Special Agent Piro for the opportunity to express their concerns.
The pre holiday briefings were held with multiple law enforcement agencies. Among them, various Agencies under the directions of Major Christopher Dellapietra of Troop E of Florida Highway State Troopers, Chief Bill Hernandez of the North Miami Beach Police Dept., Major Saima Plasencia of MDPD, Troy Walker, Special Agent in Charge of FDLE Miami Regional Operations center.
This very sensitive detail, coordinated by Lt. Tom Buchanan and Sgt. Samir of the MDPD, Sgt Molina of FHP, and Major Rant of the NMBPD has been in place for the past few years.
A pre-holiday meeting also took place at the office of Dade County Mayor’s Carlos Gimenez hosted by Deputy Mayor Russel Benford in attendance were the Medical Examiner’s office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Miami Corrections Dept, Fire Rescue, Jewish Federation, Director Perez of the Miami Dade Police Dept and staff leaders of Miami International Airport.
Chaplain Rosenberg thanked all these agencies for being so sensitive to all rituals and needs of the Orthodox communities all year around but especially during the holiday times.
Deputy Mayor Benford host’s Holiday meetings prior to significant Jewish Holidays to ensure all needs are met and sees these meetings as an important endeavor, said Chaplain Rosenberg.
The Jewish community is grateful for the increase visibility during the late hours of the night as families walk home very late after the holiday meals and to and from Shuls.
Chaplain Rosenberg has been working with all law enforcement agencies, providing calendars, maps and other important information, so these departments can understand the community needs during these times.
