General Recommendations
Recognizing and Dealing With:
•	Suspicious People
•	Unwarranted Interest in Your Facility
•	Recognizing and Dealing With Suspicious Objects
•	Suspicious Vehicles

The High Holy Days raise special security concerns for the Jewish community. This year many factors contribute to that concern: the situation in Israel, the war on terror, increased anti-Semitic activity (compared to this time last year) and more virulent anti-Semitic attitudes.

This guide is designed to help Jewish community institutions prepare for holiday (and every day) security in a calm and rational manner. Enhanced security does not have to come at the expense of an open and welcoming environment. And it doesn't have to come at the expense of a balanced budget. But it requires a commitment from an institution's management and constituency to make security a part of an institution's culture.

General Recommendations

• Think Security. Bear in mind that it is everyone's responsibility to keep a watchful eye on their community institutions and we must all take responsibility for security.

  1. Leadership should assess the risks and realities facing the institution and develop a security plan ­­ seeking professional guidance, if needed. Of course, not all institutions run the same risk, but all run some risk.

  2. Congregants and community members must care about security and let others know that they do. Active cooperation with security procedures and your powers of observation are two of the most important assets you have.

In sum, we must all keep security in our thoughts. We must think security.

• Have a security (prevention) and an emergency (reaction) plan which includes (but is not limited to):

  1 Notifying people and evacuating them, if necessary. Designate a meeting place to ensure that everyone is safe.

  2 Having a cell phone handy in case you need to call for help from outside the facility. Consider having the local police department's emergency phone number as well as 911 programmed into the phone.

  3 Having a person in charge of security and prevention -- and vesting that person with the authority to direct a response during an incident.

ADL's guide Security for Community Institutions can help you develop a plan by alerting you to certain security considerations. Contact your ADL Regional Office for more information. Once a plan is written, make sure that all leaders, employees and community members are familiar with it and implement it. Also, consider conducting drills, including role-playing.

• Speak to local law enforcement about High Holy Day schedules and invite officers and the fire marshal to the facility for a security review -- especially if the facilities are not the one you usually use. Ensure patrol officers are aware of the times during which you will be holding events and during which large numbers of congregants will be walking on the local streets. Consider presenting copies of schedules for distribution at your Police Department's roll call.

• Coordinate ushering and security staff. This is especially important when you are bringing in outside help for the holidays (e.g., off duty police or a security guard). Review ADL's guidelines for hiring a security contractor, which are available from your ADL Regional Office. Note: ushers and security should be placed in reasonable proximity to each other so that ushers can quickly alert security to a problem.

• A facility should have as few entry points as possible (ideally, one). However, remember to obey all fire codes and ensure adequate routes for exiting the building.

• Ensure that existing safety devices are working and used -- especially if you are renting a facility. Video cameras should have tape, parking lot lights should work, etc.

• Ensure that ushers understand that they play a critical role in security matters (even where there is a security staff) as they are often used to control access to the sanctuary (e.g., by taking tickets) and are in a position to spot trouble early on. Meet with your ushers prior to services to make sure everyone understands their role and security procedures.

Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday. . . and think security!