The attacks on two synagogues in December, 2014 (in Har Nof, Jerusalem and Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn) and the shooting in the Charleston church should inform our High Holiday planning. Security and emergency response planning must be an important component of your overall planning.

While there are no specific threats to U.S. Jewish institutions or individuals — out of an abundance of caution — JCRC-NY recommends that Jewish institutions increase their levels of vigilance. This is especially true during the High Holidays, when people know that Jews congregate.

• High Holiday-specific resources and beyond:
  • JCRC-NY High Holiday Security Thinkplate ®
  • Houses of Worship & the High Holidays, from Emergency Planning: Disaster and Crisis Response Systems for Jewish Organizations (published by Jewish Federations of North America, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and JCRC-NY). Reading this overview will help your congregation to make the best use of the template.
  • In advance of the High Holidays, ADL has released a 2015 edition of our Jewish communal security manual, Protecting Your Jewish Institution. The manual was first published in 2003 to assist a variety of different types of Jewish institutions in coming up with security plans and procedures.  The updated and newly released 2015 edition provides important information on topics which include: security planning; physical security and operations; relationships with emergency personnel; guide to detecting surveillance; computer and data security; explosive threat response planning; active shooters; dealing with protesters; crisis management, and more. The manual can be found at www.adl.org/security.
  • Access control considerations during High Holiday services (PDF)
  • See our page with the latest house of worship security and emergency planning tools from governmental agencies here.

As a general rule, synagogues should:

• Create a culture of security. Institutions shouldn’t merely subcontract security. Even buildings with well-trained security personnel should expect that staff and constituencies should be part of the security equation. Everyone should have heightened vigilance in times like these. For tips on security awareness, click here and the ADL’s Guide to Detecting Surveillance of Jewish Institutions and 18 Best Practices for Jewish Institutional Security.
• Be in contact with your local police. Someone (or more than one) should have ongoing personal relationships with key police personnel. They should know you, your building and your organizational activities:
  • Discuss your security procedures with them and ask them for suggestions for improvement.
  • Inform them of the dates and times of your services, regular events and special events.
  • Police coverage on the High Holidays
    • Special attention is given to a synagogue based on an assessment of the current threat balanced by the availability of resources. In some jurisdictions it is a longstanding practice to assign police personnel to synagogues during services. In others, patrol cars are directed to visit synagogues at regular intervals. Discuss your situation with local police officials as soon as possible so that they have time to make their assessment and to secure the resources that they need to protect you. They will be in contact with federal, state and county officials, as well as the regional fusion center to make their assessment. They also factor in local incidents.
    • In some instances the traffic conditions surrounding services warrant police attention and officers will be assigned.
    • Some police departments allow private parties to hire uniformed officers for events. For more information click on our contact form here and someone will get back to you.

Read More Looking forward to a safe 5776

We mourn the victims of the Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher Supermarket terror attacks and pray for the recovery of the injured hostages and police. The hostages were taken –and some lost their lives –merely because they were Jews. The decisive actions of French authorities helped to mitigate these horrible situations and prevent the further loss of life and we pray that the second hostage-taker be quickly apprehended without any further loss of life or injury.

Most importantly, these attacks make us even more grateful to the NYPD and other local police, the FBI and state agencies (DHSES) and the US Department of Homeland Security. Since Wednesday, the NYPD has paid  special attention to Jewish institutions. The law enforcement world knows that the Jewish community is in the cross-hairs of the terrorists and they have done an exceptional job protecting us here in New York.

Updates:(1:59 PM) According to open source media, Said and Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly were killed following police seiges in France. The female suspect, Hayat Boumeddiene, is still at large. The hostage being that was being held at the printing shop in Dammartin-en-Goele was released and is safe. At least four hostages were killed being held at the kosher supermarket in Paris.

(12:28 PM) According to open source media, Amedy Coulibaly, one of the suspects in the kosher market hostage situation, has also been killed during a police siege. The status of his companion, Hayat Boumeddiene, is unknown at this time. It is believed that at least four hostages have been killed, 4 wounded and 4 French police officers were wounded.

Comment: Abraham Foxman of the ADL observed:

“The attacks on Charlie Hebdo and on a kosher store are linked by the perpetrators’ ideology, not just their acquaintance. Islamic extremism is a common enemy of Jews and democratic states. That message needs to be heard and internalized by governments and mainstream society.

Anti-Semitism is at the core of Islamic extremist ideology, interwoven with its hatred of basic democratic freedoms, and continues to motivate adherents around the world. The packaging of anti-Semitic narratives has radicalized followers and influenced numerous international and domestic extremists with tragic results.”

Official summary: Gunfire has been reported at a store in Porte de Vincennes in eastern Paris Friday. According to Agence France-Presse, an armed man has taken five hostages in a kosher grocery store. As of 0900 EST, open source media is reporting at least two people are dead and one injured.

Media are now reporting on the identity of the two individuals that are reportedly involved with the ongoing hostage situation at a Paris grocery store as Amedy Coulibaly, DOB 27 Feb 1982 (NUIN 5391291) and Hayat Boumeddiene 26 June 1988 (NUIN 5385979). A search of DHS holdings indicate both suspects have no connection/travel to the US. Hayat Boumeddiene is the first female to be associated with the attacks in France.

Media is linking these two suspects with the Kouachi brothers based on their social and criminal activity. Media is also claiming that Coulibaly is responsible for the fatal shooting of a French policewoman on 07 January, 2015. At this time however, we have seen no official connection between the incidents.

Implications for New York: There are no known, credible threats against New York or its Jewish community. Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD is giving special attention to many Jewish institutions.

Recommendations:

• Remember, one of the most important recommendations is to establish a close, working relationship with your local police authorities. They should know about your services, school schedules, special meetings, etc. Be in contact with the community affairs officer of your local precinct and let him/her know about the times of daily services and school arrival and dismissal times.
• DHS just published: Potential Indicators, Common Vulnerabilities, and Protective Measures: Religious Facilities. This is an new (April 2014) and excellent overview of facility security and emergency planning. Ie used as the agenda for your security/building committee work to plan for the unexpected. There is also a good table with indicators of suspicious activity. Another new resource is Protective Measures for Enhanced Facility Security. Please review the documents and act accordingly. 
• Law enforcement and Homeland Security leaders recommend that organizations train their staffs and constituencies in security awareness, especially the signs of suspicious behavior — i.e., it just doesn’t look right. If you see something, say something: in New York City-1 (888) NYC-SAFE or elsewhere in NY:
• Click here for more information on active shooters and armed intruders.

• Demonstrating an unusual interest in or unusual questions about security procedures, or engaging in overtly suspicious actions to provoke and observe responses by security or law enforcement officers;
• Demonstrating an unusual interest in entry points, peak days and hours of operation, security personnel, surveillance assets (including cameras), and access controls such as alarms, barriers, doors, gates, or locks;
• Demonstrating an unusual interest in security reaction drills or procedures;
• multiple false alarms or fictitious emergency calls to same locations or similar venues;
• Loitering, parking, or standing in the same area over multiple days with no reasonable explanation;
• Unusual interest in speaking with building maintenance personnel or security guards;
• Attention to or avoidance of surveillance cameras;
• Interest without justification in obtaining site plans, ingress and egress routes, and information on employees or the public; and
• Garments not appropriate for the weather or season without a reasonable explanation.
• Suggested Protective Measures
  •  Increase visibility of armed security and law enforcement personnel in areas adjacent to and in front of security checkpoints to deter unwanted activity; 
  • Raise awareness among employees by conducting “all hazards” awareness training;
  • Establish liaison and regular communications with local, state, and federal law enforcement, emergency responders, and public health organizations to enhance information exchange or clarify emergency responses;
  • Report missing or stolen equipment, to include weapons, to the proper authorities; 
  • Raise community awareness of potential threats and vulnerabilities; and
  • Encourage employees, tenants, and visitors to report anything that appears to be odd or suspicious.
•  If you have any questions you can contact JCRC-NY here.

Today, Jewish organizations were made aware of an email threat sent to a national Jewish organization threatening violence.  It is unknown at this time if the threat is credible and no specific locations were named.

Given the nature of the email and threat of violence, law enforcement officials are actively investigating the threat. In light of the number of shootings at universities, schools, malls and other public places over the past several weeks (none of which had any Jewish connection), we are sharing this information out of an abundance of caution. We encourage Jewish organizations to increase security awareness and vigilance at your facilities, review security plans and ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

Action Steps

• Connect with local law enforcement to discuss security. If you have not established personal relationships with key police personnel, set up a meeting to do so.
• Ensure that your institution’s rules and procedures dealing with who gets into your facility and events are sufficient and are functioning (access control). See JCRC-NY’s Sample Building Access Policies & Procedures (PDF).
• A facility should have as few entry points as possible (ideally one), so that no one is able to enter your facility without being greeted and observed. Be sure to obey all fire codes and ensure adequate routes for exiting the building.
• Suspicious behavior should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel. See ADL’s Guide to Detecting Surveillance of Jewish Institutions.
• Suspicious packages and strange devices should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel. See US Postal Inspection Service Guide to Mail Center Security (PDF).
• Ensure that your staff members, including newly hired personnel, know their role in security and what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Ensure that existing safety devices (video cameras, lights, walkie talkies, etc.) are in good working condition.
• Trust your instincts. If something strikes you as being out of place or problematic, call the police immediately.

Jewish organizations should work to create a “culture of security” that balances keeping everyone and everything safe, with an organization’s need to be warm and welcoming. If your organization has a culture of security you will have a plan to implement when there is a threat.

Are you ready to start? The resources on JCRC-NY’s Security Info Webpage, JCRC-NY’s Security Resources Webpage, ADL’s Security Website, ADL’s security manual Protecting Your Jewish Institution and Emergency Planning Manual: Disaster and Crisis Response Systems for Jewish Organizations, published by United Jewish Communities and written by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and JCRC-NY are great places to start.