Making sure local Jewish institutions are secure is an important priority for the Anti-Defamation League as it recently provided security conferences for them throughout South Florida.
“These security conferences are crucial to ensuring that Jewish institutions have the tools and resources necessary to create atmospheres that are both secure and welcoming,” said Sheri Zvi, ADL Florida regional director. “We are proud to facilitate these conferences in cooperation with the Jewish Federations of Palm Beach County, Broward County and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation as well as with Broward Sheriff’s Office. Working proactively to foster relationships between law enforcement and religious institutions and jointly create security plans must become a normal practice.”
Among the recent conferences for local Jewish institutions included a High Holiday Community Security conference that took place at the GMJF. The ADL partnered with the GMJF and its Office of Community Security for this conference, which was attended by representatives of local Jewish institutions and covered such topics as “High Holiday Preparedness,” “Crisis Communications Plans” and “Homeland Security starts with Hometown Security,” as well as a Federal Bureau of Investigation threat briefing and an update on current incidents and reporting.
“I think that when it comes to any kind of heightened concern, security or crime, you trust your instinct,” said Brenda Moxley, the GMJF’s director of community security, regarding what the attendees could take away from the conference in an interview. “I spent a lot of years with the FBI and when people would ask me, the one thing I always say ‘When you see or feel or think something seems a little bit off, don’t dismiss it. Trust your instinct.’ I think when it comes to protecting the Jewish community, there are a lot of low cost, no cost options, and it starts with training and education.”
Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, director for Chesed Shel Emes’ Florida Division and a chaplain for both Florida Highway Patrol and North Miami Beach Police Department, provided “High Holiday Preparedness” and discussed the importance of preparing security measures for the upcoming holidays in an interview.
“You can never prepare enough, and I think every rabbi and other congregational leaders should double check with law enforcement if they prepared enough.”
Gary Rosenberg, who’s on the security committee at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, attended the conference in Miami and thought it was “very informative.”
“All congregations and all religious organizations should have meetings like this before the High Holidays. We have a duty to our congregations to help secure them.”
This conference, which took place at the Urban League of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, covered issues such as conducting counter surveillance of your institution, de-escalating confrontational situations, improving critical infrastructure and preparing for active shooter situations.
Other recent security conferences ADL hosted included one at the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and a cybersecurity streaming call in Boca Raton for Jewish institutions.
Visit adl.org to download ADL’s guide, “Protecting Your Jewish Institution.” Visit florida.adl.org or call 561-988-2900 for more information on the regional office.