Rockland Community Security Initiative

In the Spring of 2022, in the wake of COVID and in response to the growing threat of antisemitic violence, the Federation began development of a comprehensive security strategy. We secured multi-year funding with local donors, UJA Federation of New York, and the national LiveSecure initiative of Jewish Federations of North America and the Secure Communities Network. Your Federation was able to launch our local initiative in July 2022. Funding was secured - outside of Rockland’s annual campaign - for three years through June 2025, a commitment going forward from all parties totalling $600,000.

We have now come to the end of year two of this initiative, which has become more important than ever. Since October 7th, demands on our resources and expertise have skyrocketed. We were able to respond swiftly and effectively to safeguard our community.

Our extraordinarily capable Director of Security, Ethan Erlich, has led our initiative to broaden and deepen our engagement in and support for the security needs of the entire community. Here are some of our highlights from this past year:

• Brought five local Police Chiefs to Israel for advanced consultations and an exchange of best practices with Israeli police and security services. This delegation was in Israel and under fire on October 7th, and returned with an even deeper appreciation and understanding of the global threat environment.
• Worked closely with analysts at our partner Community Security Initiative to provide detailed and up to date intelligence to law enforcement on threats of various kinds, including violent demonstrations as well as potential violent activities being contemplated and discussed online and more.
• Sourced, received, and deployed an additional $237,500 to fund security guards at 19 vulnerable institutions in Rockland on a short-medium term basis in late 2023.
• Sourced, applied for and received an additional $50,000 from the Tepper Foundation to fund security guards at 5 vulnerable institutions for 0-5 year olds at Jewish camps and schools. This initiative has begun for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
• Secured a gathering of over 2000 on October 10th rallying for Israel.
• Secured events and programs for Federation and its local partner institutions at a scale and pace never contemplated in Rockland’s history. The total number of event participants secured over the past year approached 10,000.
• Provided advice and consultation to vulnerable allied organizations beyond the Jewish community.
• Engaged in initial or advanced consultation with over 150 local Jewish institutions.
• Provided over 35 vulnerability assessments to Jewish institutions essential to applying for state or federal grants.
• Enhanced an alert network for over 150 local Jewish institutions, integrated with regional alert systems.
• Deployed and enhanced a four-part comprehensive training program customized for synagogues.
• Trained over 100 responders and community members in ‘Stop The Bleed’ and provided essential emergency equipment.
• Worked with local law enforcement to provide ‘Active Threat’ training to over 300 people in synagogue, school and camp settings.
• Developed, enhanced, and leveraged working relationships with local law enforcement senior leadership at village, town, county, state and federal levels (30+).
• Conducted community wide education and greeter training sessions pre Rosh Hashana for over 120 participants.
• Conducted community wide education and enhanced security concepts training for over 200 participants pre Passover.
• Conducted lockdown training for 80 people at 5 synagogues.
• Provided security advice and resources for Jewish students at Rockland Community College.
• Provided briefings on current and potential threats to local government, law enforcement, and Jewish community leadership with security responsibilities.
• Additional consultations on cybersecurity (5), grant management (15), and other security issues are ongoing with multiple institutions and organizations in Rockland.
• Developed working relationships with local emergency response organizations like Nanuet EMS Hatzolah, Chaverim, New Square security patrol and other similar organizations.

We thank the national organizations who have partnered with us, including Community Security Service, ADL, regional Jewish Security Alliance, JCRC, Agudath Israel, Secure Communities Network, and LiveSecure. We are especially grateful for the support and partnership of UJA Federation of New York and the greater New York Community Security Initiative. We could not accomplish what we have without the cooperation of all of our partners, local, regional, and national.
 

Looking forward, the Rockland Community Security Initiative will engage 250 Jewish Institutions in Rockland by 2025. The Initiative will provide multiple briefing and learning opportunities each year to participating institutions, conduct additional training and assessments as per demand, and continue to develop improved and increased engagement with law enforcement. This key element of our strategy confronting hate and antisemitism will continue to raise the level of security for Rockland’s Jewish community.