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Threat, yes. Is it credible?

January 27, 2014

Today, Jewish organizations were made aware of an email threat sent to a national Jewish organization threatening violence.  It is unknown at this time if the threat is credible and no specific locations were named.

Given the nature of the email and threat of violence, law enforcement officials are actively investigating the threat. In light of the number of shootings at universities, schools, malls and other public places over the past several weeks (none of which had any Jewish connection), we are sharing this information out of an abundance of caution. We encourage Jewish organizations to increase security awareness and vigilance at your facilities, review security plans and ensure appropriate security measures are in place.

Action Steps

  • Connect with local law enforcement to discuss security. If you have not established personal relationships with key police personnel, set up a meeting to do so.
  • Ensure that your institution’s rules and procedures dealing with who gets into your facility and events are sufficient and are functioning (access control). See JCRC-NY’s Sample Building Access Policies & Procedures (PDF).
  • A facility should have as few entry points as possible (ideally one), so that no one is able to enter your facility without being greeted and observed. Be sure to obey all fire codes and ensure adequate routes for exiting the building.
  • Suspicious behavior should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel. See ADL’s Guide to Detecting Surveillance of Jewish Institutions.
  • Suspicious packages and strange devices should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel. See US Postal Inspection Service Guide to Mail Center Security (PDF).
  • Ensure that your staff members, including newly hired personnel, know their role in security and what to do in the event of an emergency.
  • Ensure that existing safety devices (video cameras, lights, walkie talkies, etc.) are in good working condition.
  • Trust your instincts. If something strikes you as being out of place or problematic, call the police immediately.

Jewish organizations should work to create a “culture of security” that balances keeping everyone and everything safe, with an organization’s need to be warm and welcoming. If your organization has a culture of security you will have a plan to implement when there is a threat.

Are you ready to start? The resources on JCRC-NY’s Security Info Webpage, JCRC-NY’s Security Resources Webpage, ADL’s Security Website, ADL’s security manual Protecting Your Jewish Institution and Emergency Planning Manual: Disaster and Crisis Response Systems for Jewish Organizations, published by United Jewish Communities and written by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and JCRC-NY are great places to start.

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Schumer, Gillibrand secure over $3.4 million for 39 at-risk Jewish organizations

September 04, 2013

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND SECURE OVER $3.4 MILLION TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS & ORGANIZATIONS IN-AND-AROUND NYC; GRANTS AWARDED TO 39 AT-RISK JEWISH SCHOOLS AND CONGREGATIONS

Schumer and Gillibrand Secured over 30% Of Total Funding For Organizations Based in New York – Out of the Total $10 Million Granted to Awardees Across the Country

The Awardees Include 39 Jewish Educational Institutions and Congregations; The Money Will Help These At-Risk Nonprofits For Security Preparedness

Schumer, Gillibrand: These Schools and Congregations are Vital Parts of our Community and Like Institutions Have Been Targeted Before; We Must Do All We Can to Protect All At-Risk Institutions

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that 39 New York Jewish organizations, including schools and congregations, and more have received a combined total of $3,425,148 for the 2013 fiscal year as Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Awardees. The program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), awards federal funds to nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk of a national terrorist attack to encourage preparedness efforts.

“Would-be evildoers have previously targeted schools and congregations for attacks and that’s why FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program is critical in making sure that high-risk organizations like Jewish schools and congregations are safe and protected from terrorist attacks,” said Schumer. “It is especially important for organizations in and around New York City to receive this federal funding, which will go a long way to ensure that they are fully prepared for whatever may happen in the future.”

“New York’s religious institutions and non-profit organizations are the backbone of our communities,” Senator Gillibrand said. “No New Yorker, or American, should ever have to live or worship in fear of being targeted because of who they are or what they believe. As we have seen, New York City’s places of faith, worship and community gatherings continue to be targeted by hatred. These homeland security dollars will help arm our non-profits with the resources they need to guard us from attacks and keep us safe.”

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is run under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). For the 2013 fiscal year, the UASI NSGP was budgeted $10 million. Only eligible nonprofit organizations, as described by the 501(c)(3) tax code of 1986, may apply for this grant. To be eligible, the nonprofit must be at high risk for an international terrorist attack and must be located in one of the designated urban areas throughout the country.

The 39 Jewish organizations that received funding from the New York City area are the Bay Terrace Jewish Center, Bnos Square of Williamsburg, Bnos Zion of Bobov, Boro Park Hatzolah, Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side, Chabad Lubavitch of Brooklyn Heights, Chabad of Great  Neck, East Meadow Jewish Center, Greater Five Towns YM & YWHA-DBA-JCC, Hatzolah of Williamsburg, Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, Jewish Foundation School of Staten Island, Jewish Institute of Queens, Lincoln Square Synagogue, Magen David Yeshivah, Manetto Hill Jewish Center, Mayon Chai, North Shore Hebrew Academy, Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation, Park East Synagogue, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School, Ramaz School, Shulamith School for Girls of Brooklyn, Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, Talmud Torah D’Nitra, Temple Israel of Great Neck, Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, The Bialystoker Synagogue, The Center for Jewish Life, United Talmudical Academy, Yeshiva Beth Hillel of Williamsburg, Yeshiva of Brooklyn, Yeshiva Tifereth Moshe, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Young Israel of Flatbush, Young Israel of Midwood, Young Israel of Woodmere and Young Mens and Young Womens Hebrew Association of Bronx.

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More info on the NYS Sandy grant opportunity

August 01, 2013
Thanks to Edie Mesick of UJA-Federation of NY’s Government Relations Department for digesting and distributing information on this opportunity. The latest information can be found immediately below. Scroll down for the information on the grant.

Additional information has been posted by NYS OCFS on the Federal SSBG RFP opportunity for funding for certain Superstorm Sandy losses not covered by other resources. Use this link to view the Q&A post.

From our brief review, of particular interest are the following points:

  1. Houses of Worship and Parochial and private schools are eligible to apply for this funding (assuming that the services are provided to a population that was directly impacted by Sandy and that the program meets all other eligibility requirements).
  2. Insurance deductibles are eligible for reimbursement under the Sandy SSBG.
  3. For sites that were damaged that you rent, the entity responsible for the building would have to be an eligible applicant.

Use this link to view the bidder’s conference and access the PowerPoint used during the conference, for more insight that might help you in determining whether to apply for this funding.

Hint: In order to be considered for this grant all not-for-profit organizations must be prequalified in the Grants Gateway by the time of contract award. To register go here.

Superstorm Sandy Social Services Block Grant (SandySSBG)

NYS has $200,034,600 in federal Superstorm Sandy Social Services Block Grant (Sandy SSBG) funding for eligible health and human services providers. Sandy SSBG resources are dedicated to covering necessary expenses resulting from Superstorm Sandy, including social, health and mental health services for individuals, and for repair, renovation and rebuilding of health care facilities, mental hygiene facilities, child care facilities and other social services facilities.

Sandy SSBG funding must be used for costs that are 1) directly related to Superstorm Sandy and populations that were impacted by it; and 2) not reimbursed and not currently eligible for reimbursement by the federal government (including FEMA), private insurance and any other public or private funding sources. Duplication of benefits is prohibited. Read More More info on the NYS Sandy grant opportunity

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Updated: Bomb Threat Guidance 2013

June 25, 2013

OBP_DHS DOJ Bomb Threat Guidance Image

Did you hear the one about a forgetful British bridegroom who made a hoax bomb threat rather than admit he’d neglected to book the venue for his wedding? He was sentenced to a year in jail.

What should you do if your organization receives a threat? The FBI and DHS released a new “pocket” bomb threat guidance document available here. It provides a two-page overview to help  you deal with bomb threats: planning and preparation, your “emergency toolkit”, what you should do if you receive a threat, how to assess the threat and the possible responses.

Now is a good time to review, or to think through your own plans. Our own Emergency Planning: Disaster and Crisis Response Systems for Jewish Organizations has a longer chapter discussing the issue. Learn how to handle a phone threat with this checklist.

Finally, read an New York Times account of an October 15, 2012 bomb threat (with an actual pipe bomb) to the Home Depot store in Huntington, NY. The store’s bomb threat plan was put to good use.

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Conducting Security Assessments: A Guide for Schools and Houses of Worship

April 08, 2013

Key Dates: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EDT)

Background Information: In support of the Presidential Initiative on Reducing Gun Violence, this virtual roundtable explores how to assess and strengthen security at houses of worship and K-12 schools and will have representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and from religious and educational communities will discuss how to:

  • Develop assessment teams
  • Assess security measures
  • Create a culture of security throughout the institution

This free, online, interactive roundtable will include panel discussions, a question-and-answer session, and additional resources.

 Who should attend:

  • Leaders, administrators, staff, and volunteers from schools and houses of worship
  • Law enforcement and Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial officials

See the resources page here.

 

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Kudos to Manhattan DA and NYPD on synagogue bomb plot conviction

December 05, 2012
Mayor Bloomberg, DA Cy Vance and Police Commissioner Kelly announce the arrests of two plotting to blow up Manhattan synagogues.
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Considerations for digital & online security at Jewish institutions

November 28, 2012

The hackings of 82 synagogue websites during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense by the “Moroccan Ghosts” brought appropriate responses from law enforcement agencies. The intrusions should remind us that cybersecurity is in our own hands. The following recommendations from the ADL make sense.

Read More Considerations for digital & online security at Jewish institutions

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NYPD High Holiday Briefing: Increased vigilance

September 10, 2012
Michael Miller addresses
NYPD High Holiday Briefing

Unfortunately, some of it sounded familiar. At the NYPD High Holiday Briefing on September 5th, NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly reported that, once again, the Jewish High Holidays brought with them heightened threats against Jewish institutions. Fortunately, the NYPD will respond with additional coverage.

Commissioner Kelly invited Michael S. Miller, Executive VP & CEO of the JCRC-NY to speak at the briefing. Michael Miller spoke of the role that the leaders of Jewish institutions have played as partners to the police and how they can do more. He also recognized the importance of intelligence operations, which interrupted the Riverdale and Manhattan bomb plots against synagogues.

Read Michael Miller’s remarks after the jump.

Read More NYPD High Holiday Briefing: Increased vigilance

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It’s Elul — planning security for the High Holidays

August 27, 2012

As the High Holidays approach, organizations should be refining their security arrangements, along with their other planning obligations. Those responsible for synagogue security are not alone. Some important resources follow:

  1. Attend the NYPD High Holiday Security Briefing with Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly at One Police Plaza on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 11AM. RSVP’s are required. Email your reservation to Sgt. Richard Taylor in the Office of the Chief of Community Affairs by clicking here. See the information about the Nassau County Police Department’s meeting to discuss its High Holiday Policing Strategies at http://www.facebook.com/JCRCLI.
  2. Review the ADL Security Recommendations for the High Holidays below.
  3. Check out the JCRC-NY’s presentations on High Holiday access control and preparing for the unexpected below the ADL recommendations. Read More It’s Elul — planning security for the High Holidays
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