We are deeply concerned about the recent attacks on Jewish institutions. Are we as prepared as we should be? How would we have reacted to an armed intruder like the one in Colleyville, Texas? How do we balance our safety with maintaining our identity? How can we be open and welcoming and safe…or at least safer? We do not want to make Temple Beth Hillel a fortress. We must continue to do what we as Jews are commanded to do and make us the, although small, mighty community that we are. On the other hand, we must do the best we can to keep each other safe.
So far, as you are reading this, Rabbi Dean, David Brown, several members of our board, and I have attended a Regional Security Training workshop with the Federation, cameras have been installed in our parking lot, we are seeking grant(s) to pay for architectural improvements to help protect us from intruders, and next week Brinks Security will visit our site to explore more cameras and 24/7 monitoring.
In addition, we will continue to have greeters who will check ID’s for our guests along with the vaccination status of everyone who joins us in our building, and we are planning more training for our leadership, clergy, religious school staff, office administrator, and any other volunteers who are willing to help.
This will be an ongoing process of learning and implementing that I will continue to report on in this message. Meanwhile, if you have knowledge or expertise in security, have helpful ideas, or just want to help, please contact me (mcohen@tbhrichmond.org).
From the President – Feb. 11, 2022
February 11, 2022 by tbhrich • president
We are deeply concerned about the recent attacks on Jewish institutions. Are we as prepared as we should be? How would we have reacted to an armed intruder like the one in Colleyville, Texas? How do we balance our safety with maintaining our identity? How can we be open and welcoming and safe…or at least safer? We do not want to make Temple Beth Hillel a fortress. We must continue to do what we as Jews are commanded to do and make us the, although small, mighty community that we are. On the other hand, we must do the best we can to keep each other safe.
So far, as you are reading this, Rabbi Dean, David Brown, several members of our board, and I have attended a Regional Security Training workshop with the Federation, cameras have been installed in our parking lot, we are seeking grant(s) to pay for architectural improvements to help protect us from intruders, and next week Brinks Security will visit our site to explore more cameras and 24/7 monitoring.
In addition, we will continue to have greeters who will check ID’s for our guests along with the vaccination status of everyone who joins us in our building, and we are planning more training for our leadership, clergy, religious school staff, office administrator, and any other volunteers who are willing to help.
This will be an ongoing process of learning and implementing that I will continue to report on in this message. Meanwhile, if you have knowledge or expertise in security, have helpful ideas, or just want to help, please contact me (mcohen@tbhrichmond.org).
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Michael R Cohen, President, Temple Beth Hillel