During High Holy Days ADL Urges Heightened Security

Date: September 3, 2009

In a year marked by extremist attacks against Jewish institutions across the globe, ADL Plains States reached out to community centers and synagogues in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas with the latest security recommendations for the upcoming High Holy Days. The regional ADL office also is facilitating relationships with area law enforcement and Jewish institutions.

With the tragic shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the thwarted bomb scheme against two synagogues in the Bronx, the need for enhanced security is clear – even in the Midwest. Last month, the playground at Beth Israel Synagogue in Omaha was burned down on Tisha B'Av – a sorrowful day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples. The High Holidays – beginning on September 18 with Rosh Hashanah – raise additional security concerns.

"We encourage Jewish institutions in our area to prepare security measures at least two weeks before the High Holy Days begin," ADL Regional Director Alan Potash said. "Our office can also help coordinate relationships with local law enforcement, which is key to security."

For security strategies and tips, see the ADL's 2009 security manual, "Protecting Your Jewish Institution: Security Strategies for Today's Dangerous World." For more information on security issues, contact us.