Steps You Can Take to Increase the Security of Your Community

The recent events of Colleyville, TX taught us that security can be extremely important and that having staff throughout your synagogue who are prepared to respond during the worst of circumstances can make your site more secure. 

As we all find ourselves asking how we can make our communities both more secure, while prioritizing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion, we have compiled a list of steps your leadership can commit to now:

If you need help accessing URJ resources on Safety and Security, contact the URJ Knowledge Network at urj1800@urj.org.

1. Ensure that your security practices affirm and reflect a wide range of marginalized and often underrepresented identities by following the guidance in this blog. 

2. Connect with resources from the URJ and our partners in the URJ Tent in the Safety and Security group. 

3. Have all your leadership and even congregants participate in SCN’s three core training courses – BeAware, Countering an Active Threat, and Stop the Bleed. To access these trainings online, check out the SCN website for announcements about dates, monitor the URJ’s Safety and Security group in the URJ Tent, or watch URJ-sponsored Countering an Active Threat. You can also contact SCN, your local Federation security staff, or local law enforcement to bring training onsite to your congregation. 

4. Conduct your own SCN Facility Assessment using their tool in The Tent. 

5. Report incidents of concern to the SCN Duty Desk at dutydesk@securecommunitynetwork.org.

6. Report antisemitic, bias, or discriminatory incidents to the ADL. 

7. Access the ADL "Responding to Antisemitic Incidents" toolkit by registering. 

If you need help accessing URJ resources on Safety and Security, contact the URJ Knowledge Network at urj1800@urj.org