Please Be Aware
This week, the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, and a coalition of four local rabbis filed a legal challenge to a petition filed last week seeking to place a question on the upcoming ballot to amend the Pittsburgh City Home Rule Charter in response to a recently submitted petition for a referendum on the Pittsburgh City ballot. The proposed referendum seeks to determine whether the city should engage in a boycott of Israel and prohibit investments and public funds from being allocated to “entities that conduct business operations with or in the state of Israel unless and until Israel ends its military action in Gaza.” Please see the press release here.
As we anticipate protest activity on college campuses, we have seen that federal judges are weighing in on their illegality. Please see the first article below for a story on this. Please know we are working closely with our universities, local police and city leaders to ensure that students are safe.
Investigation continues to progress positively into the threatening targeted antisemitic graffiti at Chabad of Squirrel Hill, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and two Squirrel Hill residences. Please know that there are no known threats of violence at this time related to this.
Year to date 2024, the Jewish Federation has logged 187 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 177 year to date 2023. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents via the Incident Report Form.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- UCLA can’t allow protesters to block Jewish students from campus, judge rules (apnews.com)
- Cornell student sentenced to 21 months for online threats against Jewish students (cnycentral.com)
- Secure Community Network releases guidance to protect college students (jns.org)
BluePoint Status
This week we will be starting the installation of BluePoint at JFCS and Weinberg Terrace locations.
Please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org.
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
Personal Safety for Lay & Professional Leadership During the High Holidays
Thursday, September 12 @ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
Empowered Citizenship: Understanding Hate Speech and Crimes
Monday, September 16 @ 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM EDTPittsburgh, PA 15217 United States + Google Map
What constitutes a hate crime? What happens in a federal investigation? What is local law enforcement’s role? How does the Jewish Federation collaborate with law enforcement? What can you do to be an informed and safe citizen? These questions and more will be addressed by speakers representing various law enforcement agencies in this community safety forum. Our goal is to help community members recognize their rights, responsibilities, and best practices, while giving everyone a more infor...
The Power of Hello
Tuesday, September 17 @ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
The Power of Hello
Tuesday, September 17 @ 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
Stop The Bleed®
Wednesday, September 18 @ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
Stop The Bleed®
Wednesday, September 18 @ 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
Situational Awareness & Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)
Thursday, September 19 @ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
Situational Awareness & Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)
Thursday, September 19 @ 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
Combating Emerging Threats
Thursday, September 26 @ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDTHigh Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series Following the terror attacks of October 7th, and amid an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment, please join the Secure Community Network, in partnership with experienced security professionals and law enforcement executives, for our annual webinar series to assist the Jewish community, which is likely to face safety and security challenges this High Holiday season. In addition to informational webinars, two complete series of train...
3rd Quarter Faith-Based Security & Resilience Learning Series
Monday, September 30 @ 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDTThe Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security and partners cordially invite you to attend the third quarterly event of our virtual learning series on Monday, September 30, 2024. In this segment of our series, we will be conducting a panel discussion between faith leaders who have been the unfortunate victims of gun violence along with public officials who are experts in the field of public safety. Panelists: Rabbi Hazzan Dr. Jeffrey Myers - Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh PA Surviving the wors...
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org 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 efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need Go Bags, Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts or medical supplies contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.