By Eileen Freed

 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor and local area Jewish communal organizations have long attended to issues of community safety and security. Over the years, improvements to several area facilities have been achieved through Homeland Security Grants, and significant time and effort has been paid to developing security protocols.

Recent events, particularly the attacks against synagogues in Pittsburgh and Poway, have demonstrated the critical importance of focusing even more effort as a community to develop communication protocols; provide training to staff, volunteers and community members; assess risks and address physical vulnerabilities; share knowledge and experience; and implement a sound security strategy those involved hope will never have to be used.

Since November, Federation has convened community leaders to discuss security issues, and this group continues to meet on a regular basis. In concert with the community-wide process, each of the communal organizations have convened and activated security committees and have been thoughtfully and seriously assessing their own needs and developing and implementing protocols.

Community volunteer and professional leaders have met with law enforcement officials to learn about resources and develop relationships with the front-line personnel who are the community’s partners in training, prevention and response. Contact lists were exchanged and there has been regular contact between local organizations and these important resources. The Ann Arbor Police Department has been particularly helpful in providing additional protection during community events for Yom Ha’Shoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut which came just on the heels of the Poway shooting.

“We are living in a new reality,” says Federation Board President Stephen Aronson. “We are working hard - as we have for several years - with individual organizations in the community to ensure access to grants, access to training, and access to the expertise that will keep us vigilant and safe.”

Federation has been seeking advice and consultation from the Secure Community Network (SCN), the national homeland security initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America & the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Through information sharing, security awareness, training and security consultation, SCN strives to empower individuals, organizations and communities in establishing a culture of security awareness, preparedness and resiliency. A state-of-the-art emergency notification and communication system (SCNAlert), made available and affordable by the Secure Community Network, has been acquired and implemented, and the security committee continues to enhance communications technology and protocols.

The National Director and CEO of SCN, Michael Masters, will address the community at the Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting, Wednesday, June 5, 7pm at the JCC. During his visit, Michael will consult with the community security committee and with individual organizations to help prioritize next steps needed to provide for a more prepared and secure community.

For more information about community security or to become involved, please contact Eileen Freed at eileenfreed@jewishannarbor.org or (734-773-3537).