Israel Independence Day celebrations in Boston were muted and security was increased in the wake of the deadly bombings that targeted the Boston Marathon.
Mike Rosenberg, director of community relations at Maimonides, a Jewish day school in suburban Brookline, Mass., said an event commemorating Israel Independence Day April 16 had been toned down out of respect for the attack victims and their families.
“Messages have gone out to parents and students that in the context of yesterday’s events, there will be no dancing and more [words of Torah],” he said.
The Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston called off a flag-raising ceremony for Israel’s Independence Day, leaving its flags at half-mast.
Shira Strosberg, the school’s director of communications, said security in and around its campus was ratcheted up.
“We are obviously saddened, and everybody came to school today with a heavy heart,” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the bombings.”
As of April 16, the day after the bombings, there was no indication that Jewish institutions were at any particular risk. Nonetheless, community officials said they remain vigilant.
Jeremy Burton, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, said hundreds of people were expected to gather as planned at Congregation Mishkan Tefila in suburban Newton to mark Israel’s Independence Day.
“We’ll take the time to honor the victims and at the same time honor the ties between Boston and Israel,” Burton said. “There will certainly be some prayer or acknowledgment of what happened.”
Burton said an interfaith gathering organized by state authorities was scheduled for April 17.