A Moroccan man who allegedly wanted to conduct a suicide bombing attack on the US Capitol had considered attacking a synagogue, according to authorities. Amine El Khalifi was arrested Friday as soon as he accepted a phony suicide vest and a disabled gun from federal agents.

El Khalifi planned to head for the Capitol, but in earlier conversations with undercover operatives, he said he had also considered a federal building in Alexandria, Va., a restaurant and a synagogue. Officials close to law enforcement told Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Khalifi's plans were never close to being realized, and that there was no imminent danger to any Jewish target.

ANOTHER REMINDER

The above story is from Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a worldwide Jewish news service and one of 32 agencies and programs funded by The Birmingham Jewish Federation Annual Campaign.

The story is another reminder to us in Birmingham of the importance of maintaining good preventive security. It is important that staff and users of our Jewish community institutions and congregations report to security personnel and law enforcement authorities any person, object or development that seems out of the ordinary. The BJF has been coordinating an ongoing security initiative for our Jewish community, working in concert with our local law enforcement agencies.

Artist's sketch of suspect in court is from ABC News.

We thank the Birmingham News for running a letter today from Birmingham Jewish Federation Executive Director Richard Friedman on Israeli-born Auburn University graduate Amir Eshel (pictured here) being appointed Commander-in-Chief of Israel's Air Force.

The letter, based on information that appeared in Update, stressed the deep connection between the people of Alabama and Israel. We appreciate the News continuing to run submissions from our Jewish community which help readers better understand Israel's difficulties and dilemmas and the shared interests and values that bond Israel and Alabama. Here is the text of the letter:

Auburn University graduate Amir Eshel has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Air Force. He is one of a number of Israelis who have come to our state over the years to attend schools, something that has further strengthened ties between Alabama and Israel.

In a story on Eshel, the Jerusalem Post noted, "The appointment of a new Israeli air force chief traditionally makes headlines, but this time it is particularly intriguing due to the possibility that the government will order the next commander to oversee a strike on Iran's well-protected and distant nuclear infrastructure."

Eshel, a son of Holocaust survivors, clearly understands Jewish history and Israel's anxiety over Iran, which has vowed to destroy the Jewish state. In 2003, during an air show in Poland, Eshel led a contingent of Israel Air Force F-15 Eagles as they flew over Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi death camp. As the planes were flying, Eshel broadcast this message: "We pilots of the Air Force, flying in the skies above the camp of horrors, arose from the ashes of the millions of victims and shoulder their silent cries, salute their courage and promise to be the shield of the Jewish people and its nation Israel."

Upon running the story of his appointment and Auburn connection in our Birmingham Jewish Federation daily email, we received the following from one of our readers, a retired U.S. Army officer who graduated from Auburn: "Please forward to Gen. Eshel a hearty 'War Damn Eagle' from us here in Alabama. We are so proud of him, and wish him, his family, and his country God's protection and peace."

We in Alabama should be proud Eshel went to Auburn. It's one more connection between the people of Alabama and Israel, a connection based on a mutual commitment to democracy, free enterprise, freedom and human dignity.

Six women from Birmingham, full of spunk, spirit and hometown pride, were in Israel recently on a national Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) trip called "Heart To Heart."

This unique trip and its innovative agenda, developed by JFNA's National Women's Philanthropy, not only brought the Birmingham ladies closer to one another, it created friendships between our women and many of the 150 other women from across the country who participated.

Our Birmingham group, the largest delegation on the trip per capita, was a hit with many of the other women. "You and your entire community are AMAZING. Our whole team wants to move to Birmingham," one of the national trip coordinators wrote to our group a few days after the trip. "We belong in Birmingham!" she added.

In responding to thank you emails received from members of the Birmingham group after the trip, another one of the national coordinators wrote, "All of your emails will remain a constant reminder of why I do what I do. Thank you so much for allowing my colleagues and me to be part of your Birmingham family! How proud and blessed we feel to work with people who are so inspired."

The purpose of the trip was to provide participants with a better understanding of Israel today -- its strengths, its challenges and the diversity of its people -- and to provide insight into the impact of Federation-funded programs in Israel.

The Birmingham women are pictured here at Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda market. From left, are Amanda Weil, a BJF Board member and Jewish Community Relations Coalition Co-Chair, who will be joining The BJF staff on March 1; Sally Friedman, Executive Director of The Birmingham Jewish Foundation; Caren Seligman, The BJF's Director of Outreach, who was on her first trip to Israel; Sheryl Kimerling, VP for Campaign for National Women's Philanthropy and a board member of Jewish Federations of North America; Hilary Gewant, this year's BJF Joanie Plous Bayer Young Leadership Award Winner and a member of The BJF Board, and Brittany Saag, an ex-officio member of The BJF Board.

The BJF already is developing plans to participate in the next Heart to Heart journey to Israel and would not only like to recruit women from Birmingham but also from all of Alabama. Amanda will be our staff coordinator. If you are interested in learning more about Heart to Heart, please contact Amanda at 205-879-0416 or amandaw@bjf.org starting March 1.