The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, today released 10 recommended actions that every Jewish facility should consider in 2026 to help safeguard congregants, community members, staff, and visitors. These best-practice recommendations are designed not only to enhance security and situational awareness but also to empower communities to embrace the joy of Jewish life, keeping spaces open, welcoming, and vibrant while remaining safe.

These 10 recommendations can be applied by a wide range of institutions that support Jewish life, including synagogues, day schools, community centers, and senior programs, providing clear, practical steps that can be implemented immediately while supporting a holistic security and preparedness posture.

10 Actions:

• Form a security committee and appoint someone to oversee security matters. Every institution has unique concerns and challenges when it thinks about security. Having a security committee will help to ensure the safety and comfort of the members of the organization; having one individual who oversees this effort will ensure follow-up and coordination with other facilities and law enforcement partners.
•  Conduct a thorough risk assessment. A security strategy begins with understanding your facility’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Evaluate entry points, windows, public areas, and event spaces. Contact your local community security professional or SCN to schedule a Threat, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment; if direct support is not immediately available, SCN offers self-assessments that can be reviewed and validated by a Jewish community security professional.
•  Coordinate closely with Jewish community security professionals and local law enforcement. Ensure your Jewish community security professional (whether local or regional), police, emergency responders, and security partners are informed about events and activities and have the most up-to-date facility information, including names and contact information of designated points of contact, along with internal facility diagrams.
•  Develop and implement a physical security plan. Incorporate measures such as access control, automatic locking doors, security cameras, and reinforced entry and exit points to reduce exposure to potential threats. Utilize SCN’s updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) template to guide planning.
•  Address perimeter security and access control. Individuals are increasingly seeking to disrupt Jewish life by staging demonstrations and, often, blocking access to Jewish facilities and impeding the movement of Jewish community members. In recent instances, individuals have tried to gain access or have gained access to Jewish institutions and events.
•  Train staff, volunteers, and the community. Then train again. Training saves lives. Provide regular training for staff, leadership, volunteers, and community members on situational awareness, recognizing suspicious behavior, and responding to emergencies. Involve volunteers in structured safety roles, where appropriate.
•  Plan for special events and high-risk days. Revisit each event’s size, space, and layout, along with the potential audience and specific threats, to help inform and modify security plans to fit specific needs. Utilize SCN’s updated event planning guides.
•  Stay up to date on current threat information. Monitor local and national threat reporting and sign up for alerts from your local and regional security professionals to ensure timely and verified information.
•  Review, evaluate, practice, and update regularly. Treat security as an ongoing process by running drills, reviewing protocols, and making updates based on lessons learned or changes in the threat environment.
•  Maintain first aid and medical supplies. Ensure every facility has a functional AED, first-aid kits, and Stop the Bleed supplies readily available for emergencies.

“Securing our communities is a year-round responsibility, but the approach of a new year is the perfect time to resolve to take these 10 actions. These 10 actions are the best preventive steps our community can take to be safe in 2026,” said Michael Masters, SCN National Director & CEO. “These 10 steps are practical, proven measures that facilities can put in place now to keep congregants, community members, staff, and visitors safe while preserving open and welcoming spaces.”

###

About the Secure Community Network 
The Secure Community Network (SCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. Founded in 2004 under the auspices of Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, SCN serves as the central organization dedicated exclusively to the safety and security of the American Jewish community. Learn more at securecommunitynetwork.org. 

About the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia partners with SCN. Since 1901, the Jewish Federation has served as the hub of the region’s Jewish communities, providing an infrastructure of support for Jewish people and organizations in need. Through grants, emergency funding, restricted gifts, endowments, and our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, we annually invest in caring for those in need, combating antisemitism and global crisis, and securing a vibrant Jewish future. For more information, please visit: jewishphilly.org.