Please Be Aware
Israeli embassies worldwide are on high alert due to increased threats of Iranian attacks on Israeli diplomats following an alleged April 1st Israeli strike on Syria, which killed several senior Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members. Scaling back Israeli foreign mission operations is indicative of the escalated threat environment facing the Jewish community.
Update from Secure Community Network (SCN): SCN’s Duty Desk logged 483 threat incidents and suspicious activity reports in February, reflecting a sustained increase in reports since the Oct, 7 Hamas terror attacks. In February alone, SCN’s Duty Desk referred 74 individuals to law enforcement authorities.
Today, the Jewish Federation is launching a Virtual Block Watch Program, a volunteer network that can be called upon to provide residential or business video surveillance footage to help prevent, deter, and possibly solve crimes. The program is entirely voluntary and is designed to keep our community safe through collaborative efforts. We are starting this program in Squirrel Hill and will look to expand it from there. For more information, please visit our Virtual Block Watch page.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Governor says antisemitic vandalism has ‘no place’ in Pennsylvania (thehill.com)
- Sign outside Wynnewood synagogue vandalized with antisemitic graffiti (cbsnews.com)
- Gaza war leads to ongoing strife on UVM campus (wcax.com)
- Drexel University, Philadelphia police investigating vandalism caught on video at Raymond G. Perelman Center for Jewish Life (6abc.com)
- Ben-Gvir assassination attempt thwarted by Israeli security forces – Israel News – The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)
BluePoint Status
Please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected].
Our BluePoint training video and refresher video are available on YouTube. These are useful for new staff or as a reminder for existing staff.
Security Resources and/or Training
Navigating Digital Threats: Strategies to Prevent Online Child Exploitation
Ahead of the next school year, please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse for a virtual training on preventing and responding to online child exploitation in K-12 communities. This session will feature a panel discussion with experts from the U.S. Department of Justice and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who will share valuable tools and resources to combat online child exploitation and educate teachers, students and families.
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252 to schedule this training.
Situational Awareness, Active Threat, and De-Escalation Training
If you or your organization have not yet had these training modules, please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need more Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252.
