Securing Jewish institutions for the New Year 5785

The upcoming High Holidays will be the first time many synagogues will be gathered as an entire congregation since October 7.

Much has happened since that has raised our collective anxiety about Jewish communal security.

Anecdotally, we know of a few cases when widely reported foreign-based threats prompted lower-than-average attendance at some Jewish schools and Shabbat services.

For some, unfortunately and understandably, the seemingly new and more dangerous world we live in is prompting hesitation, even about showing up for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in-person services. Those feelings are real. But so, too, is the fact that, taken as a whole, our community's institutions, and especially our synagogues, have never been more secure.

Whether you pray in Libertyville or Lincolnwood, Homewood or Highland Park, Naperville or Niles, your synagogue is likely more secure today than ever before, which is partially due partnerships with JUF's Security Department.

In 2023, distinct security services, which includes site and event assessments, trainings, consultations, grants, and more, rose to 226, a 50% increase. This year's pace is already well ahead of that.

Site audits involve assessing strengths and potential vulnerabilities, and are the basis for all subsequent actions. These include the development and implementation of security plans, trainings for staff and volunteers, establishment of board-sanctioned security committees, and determining the viability of submitting a non-profit security capital equipment grant request to the Federal Department of Homeland Security or the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Synagogues, and all Illinois Jewish groups are eligible for JUF technical assistance when submitting and subsequently implementing approved grants. Tens of millions of dollars have already flowed into our community facilities with more on the way. 

These groups are also invited to JUF's annual statewide Jewish community security conference where concerns are addressed by experts.

Additionally, several program enhancements were successfully launched this year under the direction of JUF Security Director and former Chicago Police Department Deputy Chief Dan Godsel. These include:

• Hiring former Skokie Police Chief and US Army Intelligence Officer Brian Baker as JUF's Deputy Director.  

• In partnership with the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the North American Jewish community, hiring an Intelligence Analyst focused on our local Jewish community. 

• In partnership with the Chicago Rabbinical Council, Agudath Israel, and the Associated Talmud Torahs, hiring former Saint Xavier University Police Chief Melvin Cornelius as Assistant Deputy Director to specifically focus on the areas of highest Jewish individual and institutional concentration: West Rogers Park, Lincolnwood, Skokie, and surrounding neighborhoods. 

• In partnership with SCN and the Jewish Federations of North America, developing a plan to extend our umbrella of security services to every Illinois Jewish community. 

• Expanding participation in the quarterly Jewish Professional Security Directors' Working Group  

• Launched an online assessment survey tool soliciting feedback from groups receiving JUF security services in order to strengthen what we do well and improve where needed. 

• Visited a record number of Jewish overnight and day camps in Wisconsin and Illinois to ensure that campers could enjoy safe, meaningful summers.

Deepened our role in:

• Department of Justice Attorney General's Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council 

• Cook County State's Attorney's Hate Crime and its Antisemitic Working Group 

• Cook County Regional Organized Crime Task Force 

• FBI & Cook County's Terrorism Liaison Officer Committee 

• Illinois State Police Terrorism and Intelligence Center 

• Chicago Police Department's Information Center/Terrorism Liaison Officer

• Department of Homeland Security and its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

All of this work is aimed at realizing a vision of Chicago Jewish communal life being secure. No one should be deterred from participating because of fear. We seek organizational security decisions that are based on objective security considerations, not cash flow.

Securing Jewish facilities is a communal priority. Showing up, participating, and praying is an individual mitzvah and collective responsibility, one that we are called to do-with confidence in our security-this High Holiday season.

Jay Tcath is Executive Vice President of JUF.