New York, NY, September 10, 2007 … In advance of the Jewish High Holidays, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has once again urged Jewish synagogues and community institutions across the country to take stock of the security measures they currently have in place to make sure they are adequate.
ADL's regional offices are also conducting local security training seminars in partnership with law enforcement officials to help Jewish institutions review their security plans. The Jewish High Holy Days commence on the evening of September 12 with Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish calendar year.
"We always need to be conscious of the security needs of the Jewish community," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "This imperative is especially important around the High Holidays, when Jews gather together to worship. The community's heightened visibility at this season is often tempting to perpetrators of anti-Semitic vandalism and harassment, so we must be vigilant."
In a message to the community, ADL pointed out that "Good security isn't only about cameras, locks or fences. It's about people being aware of what's going on around them. It's about good planning. It's about building relationships with your local police. And it's an ongoing process."
A longtime leader in security awareness, ADL's resources, including its security manual, Protecting Your Jewish Institution: Security Strategies for Today's Dangerous World, are available at www.adl.org/security.