The Community Security Alliance (CSA), an umbrella organization for Brooklyn’s Sephardic community, with 23 buildings under its auspices, is proud to announce that for the fourth year in a row, we have assisted community organizations in securing large grants from the US Department of Homeland Security, to enhance building safety.
The nonprofit security grants have ranged from $75,000 to $150,000 depending on the year. Each year, six to seven CSA member institutions have received grants. In 2020, CSA believes at least 10 CSA members will be receiving grants of $100,000 each.
All around the community, extra cameras are being installed, guard protection has increased, locks are being changed, and entry doors to facilities are being more carefully monitored. The security of the 10,000 students attending yeshivot in our community is a major concern, as well.
What is more important than the safety and security of the thousands of people who enter our synagogues, our schools, and other community buildings? As a community, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in our infrastructure and these buildings—and the people who use them—must be protected.
Bias crimes against Jews represent more than 60% of religious based hate crimes, according to the FBI’s Unified Crime Reports. Three Orthodox men were attacked on their way to synagogue in August. The previous Friday night, there were two other attacks in Williamsburg. There was the Chabad shooting in Poway, CA and attacks in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles in 2018.
The world as we know it has changed. Global terrorism is now a fact of life. Jewish residents have become the target of hate crimes and terrorist attacks, many of which are increasingly violent and deadly. Threats to the Jewish community are constantly evolving, and it’s important that we, as a community, remain proactive in our efforts to understand and combat them.
CSA ensures the security and the safety of our community’s institutions through a thorough, carefully designed and coordinated plan of actions and protocols.
The organization has contracted with security professionals who specialize in risk assessments, operational training and security design for schools, camps, community centers, houses of worship, private businesses, and government institutions. These professionals also have decades of experience helping to better secure government facilities, power stations, military installations, embassies, and airports.
Volunteer-based initiatives have been effective worldwide. One of the most important parts of the CSA plan is the recruitment of teams of volunteers who will be trained to prevent incidents. We will train volunteers to protect and prevent incidents at their respective buildings. It is these volunteers who know the facilities, know the congregants and have a vested interest in protecting their families and friends. To become a trained security volunteer at your synagogue, visit: csalive.org/volunteer.
