With unprecedented levels of antisemitism and threats being made to the Jewish community, please see below for vital resources that can help protect Jewish institutions.
This list was compiled by the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America.
While these resources are intended for organizations, community members may find the information helpful.
Secure Community Network offers the following trainings for community organizations and congregations:
- Be Aware: Introduction to Situational Awareness Training
- Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)
- Stop the Bleed Training
You can learn more about these trainings by clicking here.
For more information and to schedule a training session, email security@jewishphilly.org.
Secure Community Network offers resources, guidance and onsite recommendations for your institution’s safety needs. To arrange a free security walkthrough, assessment and consultations, email security@jewishphilly.org.
There are a number of grants that nonprofits and nonpublic schools can receive through the state and federal programs. These include:
- FEMA’S Nonprofit Security Grant Program
- Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Grant
- Pennsylvania’s Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools
Secure Community Network can help walk you through your options and provide guidance on applying for these grants. For more information, email security@jewishphilly.org.
A mass attack occurs in the U.S. every two weeks on average. At only 2% of the population, the Jewish community faces nearly 60% of religiously motivated hate crimes. This reality requires us to be proactive and vigilant. This guide provides low-cost or no-cost actions, designed by security experts in consultation with community partners and law enforcement. These are the immediate steps you can take to take as you work to implement a comprehensive, organization and community-wide security strategy. For more information, contact your local Jewish security initiative or SCN.
The Jewish community faces unique security challenges and its facilities have been targets of anti-Semitic crimes. In order to ensure that these facilities continue to remain places of peace and comfort to members of our community, each facility must own and take charge of its security. Increasing awareness and training of the people who work, visit or are present in your facility on a regular basis – whether staff, faculty, clergy, parents, students or members – is one of the single-most effective ways to enhance the safety and security of your institution. This guidance is intended to outline security measures that are little to no cost and can assist facilities in increasing their overall security.
“Swatting” is the act of making false emergency calls, often to 911 or other emergency services, with the intention of triggering a significant response from law enforcement, particularly specialized units, like SWAT (Special Weapons & Tactics) teams. This guide will break down what you need to know about swatting.
This document outlines actions that faith-based organizations and community leaders can take to increase security. These six steps can help protect places of worship against potential threats of targeted violence in a cost-effective manner that maintains an open and welcoming environment.
This year poses unique challenges for outdoor events and the communal observance of the High Holidays, causing us all to make difficult decisions on how to safely take part. With many synagogues and Jewish institutions holding services and events outside in an effort to socially distance, we must reassess security considerations for conducting these services.
While this guide is focused on high holidays, the information is applicable for all outdoor events and rallies.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines civil disturbance as “an activity such as a demonstration, riot, or strike that disrupts a community and requires intervention to maintain public safety.” These events have the potential to impact the physical security of a facility as well as the safety of those who may be inside it, to include employers, employees, visitors and guests. Preparing for any type of crisis or emergency is a shared responsibility within an organization; preparedness efforts can greatly reduce the risks of incidents for your organization. This checklist has been developed to assist organizations in preparing for potential civil disturbances.
The Department of Homeland security put together a guide of how you can protect yourself and others every day.
Below are the steps you should take to report if you receive a threat:
- Contact your local police department and follow their directions.
- Do NOT delete the email.
- Contact SCN at dutydesk@securecommunitynetwork.org and our Community Security Director, Scott Kerns, at security@jewishphilly.org
- The SCN Duty Desk and CSD Scott Kerns will guide you through the process to obtain the needed information regarding where the email came from and IP information
If you experience, witness or know of an antisemitic incident, please also report it at jewishphilly.org/report.