By Zalman Myer-Smith
Many times, it takes a tragedy to create movement or activity to remedy a security flaw that may have been previously ignored. Thankfully, by the Grace of G-d, there were no fatalities this past Shabbos when a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas was overtaken by an armed terrorist who took fellow Jews hostage.
What lessons could be learned from this incident?
While the investigation is still ongoing, it seems to me that this incident could have been over very quickly with lives lost, G-d forbid. It was a miracle it ended so well, Baruch Hashem.
Here are some practical items you could apply to your shul, school or community center:
1. Have a security plan in place. Everyone should understand the plan and responses to various security or medical emergencies and run an active shooter drill. Terrorists and criminals make a plan to attack your site. You should do the same to thwart and respond to an attack factoring in multiple scenarios.
2. Onsite guard. Hire a private licensed armed security or off-duty police onsite during high traffic times or during Shabbos/Yom Tov. If that isn’t possible (for financial reasons, for example), organize and train a volunteer security team to provide a security bubble.
3. Door stopper. Add a shul or staff member to help screen people coming and aid your private security or off-duty law enforcement who may not necessarily be able to distinguish who is a regular or visitor.
4. Use deterrents methods. Install outside cameras, door locks, fences, lighting and alarms to ensure no breaches after hours or during services/events. Many of these options are low-cost methods to make your site harder to breach.
5. Weapons are just a tool. They are only as good as the person operating them under severe stress. They can also be life-endangering if they get in the wrong hands. If you have a fire, you hopefully have a fire extinguisher. If you have an armed attacker attempting to breach or attack your site, have an appropriate response with well-trained people operating a tool to defend your location. The carrying of weapons varies from state to state. If firearms or weapons are being carried, ensure there are protocols in place including training standards, insurance and law enforcement liaison.
6. Get to know law enforcement. Build a relationship or reconnect with law enforcement agencies before, not during or after an incident. Offer them to train onsite when the site is empty.
7. Record the layout of your location. Create a walk-through video of your site and have the building plans in a safe place or secure website. If there is a security situation at your location, you would be able to give this important info to law enforcement so they have a clearer understanding of the layout of your location. This increases their chances of a successful breach to neutralize an attacker.
8. Get a security assessment. Have more than one security assessment of your site to identify weaknesses and rectify them as quickly as possible.
9. Receive funding. Apply for Federal or State security grants to harden your facility and make it much more challenging for an attacker/s to breach your site or event.
10. See something, say something. Create a culture where everyone knows to report suspicious activity or items and who to report to internally.
Stay safe and healthy and remember, security is a community effort. Everyone is a stakeholder in keeping each other safe and preserving life.
–Zalman Myer-Smith, Director Of Security at Chabad of Florida and Director of the Community Security Organization, focuses on liaising, training, and working with law enforcement agencies and serving thousands of Jewish community synagogues, schools, and centers. Disclaimer – This document is for informational purposes only. The reader or user of this guide must seek their own legal and insurance advice to see if the suggested guidance is approved.
VIDEO:
Exclusive video from WFAA photographer Josh Stephen captures the final moments of the hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas
Start asking questions at your Shul/School.
Don’t say “Nah, that won’t happen here!”
Rabbi, “Why isn’t there a guard at the door?”
Rabbi, “What’s the plan here if C’V somebody came in causing trouble?”
Is every single phone locked away for Shabbos? Could you call for help? Where would everyone go toward to escape?
Yesterday was already too late for making these plans–get going on it NOW to help keep people safe!
May Hashem protect us all but make the effort, too!
Mr. Cytron-Walker said that what helped him best was remaining calm He also said that he had been taught in FBI and Anti-Defamation League security workshops that bold action was sometimes necessary.
The brain rules the heart. Maaseh hu ha’ikar.