10 Steps to Take Now to Secure Your Jewish Community Site

There is no real letup when it comes to protecting the Jewish community. Anyone responsible for running a Chabad House, synagogue, school, or Jewish community center must understand that security is not optional—and it cannot be reactive. It is a fundamental leadership responsibility to be proactive, intentional, and prepared.

Since October 7th, 2023, there has been no downtime for security planning and implementation. That date marked a permanent shift in the global threat environment facing Jewish institutions. The intensity, frequency, and boldness of threats have increased, and Jewish sites worldwide have been forced to operate in a heightened security posture ever since.

Today’s Chanukah terror attack in Sydney is yet another painful reminder of this reality. Based on initial reports, the attackers were seemingly able to operate for a considerable period of time without immediate intervention by law enforcement or private security. While details will continue to emerge, the lesson is already clear: response delays cost lives, and Jewish sites must be prepared to protect themselves in the critical minutes before help arrives.

Threats against Jewish communities remain at record levels. They can originate from lone actors, organized extremists, or individuals exploiting perceived vulnerabilities. They can occur on Shabbos, Yom Tov, during school hours, or at public celebrations. There is no predictable pattern—and no safe assumption.

Security is not a one-time project. It is an ongoing operational function that must be regularly evaluated by security professionals and coordinated with law enforcement. Whatever level of security you currently have in place must be stress-tested, updated, and improved as conditions evolve. We have seen sites with extremely limited budgets significantly improve their security posture in as little as 36 hours.

Here are 10 foundational steps you should take now to secure your facility, staff, congregants, students, and community members.

1. Conduct Professional Security Assessments
Arrange for security assessments by qualified security professionals and by local law enforcement. Law enforcement evaluations vary in depth, but their perspective is essential. Multiple assessments provide broader insight into vulnerabilities, strengths, and realistic threats.

2. Evaluate Your Site from the Outside In
Begin at the perimeter and move inward. Most attacks succeed because of failures at exterior access points. Doors, lighting, visibility, landscaping, fencing, and access control all matter. A layered defense always starts outside.

3. Prepare for Active Shooter Scenarios
This is the worst-case scenario—but any breach is a failure of security. How would your staff, teachers, congregants, students, and volunteers respond? How do you slow an attacker, limit movement, and reduce casualties? “Run, Hide, Fight” is a baseline framework, but it is far from sufficient without site-specific planning, training, and drills.

4. Plan for Breach Prevention and Mitigation
How easily could someone bypass your security? What if they appear legitimate—a delivery driver, contractor, utility worker, or even someone who looks like a parent or congregant? Differentiating between known individuals and unknown visitors is not discrimination—it is proactive threat detection, and it saves lives.

5. Apply for Security Grants Now
Begin the application process for DHS/FEMA Nonprofit Security Grants, as well as any state-level funding opportunities. These grants are competitive and administratively complex, but they can dramatically improve your security capabilities. Every eligible nonprofit should apply.

6. Implement a Modest Security Fee
If feasible, add a small security fee to tuition, membership, or program costs. This signals seriousness about safety, helps offset expenses, and removes the excuse that security upgrades are unaffordable.

7. Build Strong Relationships with Law Enforcement and EMS
Do you know your local police commanders and EMS leadership by name? Have they visited your facility outside of an emergency? Invite them in for coffee, donuts, or even cholent at kiddush. Relationships built before a crisis lead to faster, more coordinated responses when seconds matter.

8. Create a Visible Culture of Security
Security should be obvious, not invisible. One controlled entry point, signage, trained volunteers, licensed armed security or off-duty police all send a clear message. Ask yourself: If someone were watching this site, would it look like a hard target or a soft one?

9. Establish Internal Emergency Communications
Do you have a clear, reliable way to alert staff and occupants to a security or medical emergency? Everyone on campus must know how alerts are issued and what actions to take. Planned, drilled responses save lives.

10. Focus on Slowing the Attacker and Speeding the Response
Your primary security objective is to delay an attacker and accelerate intervention—whether by trained on-site personnel or responding authorities. If that fails, the tragic reality becomes stopping the killing and stopping the bleeding. This reality must be acknowledged and prepared for, however uncomfortable it may be.

Since October 7th, the Jewish world has learned—again—that preparedness cannot wait. Today, in Sydney, Australia, we are reminded, yet again.
Those who wish to harm Jewish communities are watching, probing, and testing.

The responsibility to act is ours.
Are you ready?

For a free consultation, visit www.UnitedCommunityGrants.com or contact me directly at [email protected]