The potential threat to Jewish institutions in the United States institutions that every year serve millions of Jews and non-Jews alike is a matter of record. According to the Director of Central Intelligence testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Al Qaeda has turned its focus to "soft targets" that include operations against Jewish targets. FBI Director Robert Mueller also testified that Al Qaeda might attack soft targets such as schools, universities and houses of worship.

The 9/11 Commission report indicated that Jewish targets may be a particular focus of Al Qaeda operatives.  In addition to explicit and repeated threats targeting Jewish institutions for attack Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda and other terrorists have followed their threats with a pattern of attacks against Jewish targets overseas. As a result federations, day schools, summer camps, community centers, nursing homes and human service agencies may be vulnerable to future terrorist attacks within the United States.

The heinous September 11th attack on the World Trade Center sent a wake-up call to the world on the real threat that America, Israel and Jews have been facing. It is a pathological hatred that cannot be exaggerated. The threat against Jewish institutions come from diverse sources. The most violent and dangerous international terrorist organizations such as the one headed by Osama Bin Laden have singled out Jews as the principal enemy. Their supporters are well established in the United States. 

Other extremist groups supported by radical factions of Palestinians, Syrians, Iranians and Iraqis share the openly stated goal of killing Jews. In addition, domestic, white supremacist and a myriad of other anti-Semetic groups have become increasingly violent in their call for attacks on the Jewish community. 

Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom. Terrorists often use threats to create fear among the public to try to convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism and to get immediate publicity for their causes.

Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are directed at elements of our government or population without foreign direction.

International terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are foreign-based and/or directed by countries or groups outside the United States or whose activities transcend national boundaries.

The effects of terrorism can vary significantly from loss of life and injuries to property damage and disruptions in services such as electricity, water supply, public transportation and communications.

The potential impact of violence against the Jewish Community extends well beyond direct physical or psychological damage; more and more, failure on the part of corporate and non-profit organizations to adequately plan and respond to this heightened threat environment has found expression in loss of life, major liability awards, increased insurance premiums, business recovery and reconstruction cost. 

A terrorist attack can take several forms depending on the technological means available to the terrorist, the nature of the political issue motivating the attack and the points of weakness of the terrorist's target. Bombings have been the most frequently used terrorist method in the United States. Other possibilities includes an attack at transportation facilities, an attack against utilities or other public services or an incident involving chemical or biological agents.

In the United States most terrorist incidents have involved small extremist groups who use terrorism to achieve a designated objective. Local, state and federal law enforcement officials monitor suspected terrorist groups and try to prevent or protect against a suspected attack. Additionally, the United States government works with other countries to limit the sources of support for terrorism.

Terrorist incidents in this country prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks have included bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City, the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC. and Mobil Oil corporate headquarters in New York City.