Please Be Aware
In a court hearing this morning, The Project for Responsive Democracy (PRD) acknowledged that it’s Not on Our Dime anti-Israel referendum petition, filed on February 18, 2025, lacked enough valid signatures from registered Pittsburgh voters to qualify for the Primary Election ballot. This referendum posed a direct threat on Pittsburgh’s financial stability, jeopardizing Pittsburgh’s ability to provide vital services, to include security. Please read this press release for more information Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and StandWithUs Celebrate the Second Defeat of Anti-Israel Referendum to Pittsburgh’s Home Rule Charter | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
An 18-year-old male from Lancaster, CA pled guilty to “interstate transmission of threats”, or in other words – making over 375 hoax bomb threats and swatting calls to religious institutions, schools, universities, government officials, and homes across the US. He has been sentenced to four years in federal prison. While we cannot attribute our Pittsburgh-based incidents to him, hopefully the sentence serves as a deterrent to others who may consider this conduct. Read this article for more information Office of Public Affairs | California Teenager Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Nationwide Swatting Spree | United States Department of Justice.
The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security is hosting its first quarter virtual learning series for faith-based organizations on Monday, March 24, 2025, 1p-3:30p. The guest speaker is a survivor from Norway’s deadliest mass casualty known as the 2011 Norway Attacks. For more information and to register please go here 1st Qtr Faith-Based Security and Resilience Training.
Please join the Secure Community Network (SCN) and Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) for an update and discussion about the FY2024/2025 Non-Profit Security Grant Program. To register for this webinar please click here SCN FY2025 NSGP Webinar – 13 March.
We are hosting a PCCD Security Grant Workshop on Thursday, March 27th from 6p-7:30 at our Jewish Federation office. Learn the keys to success for obtaining this grant, to include best practices for budgeting, narrative writing, and implementation. Space is limited. Please RSVP by COB March 14th to efagan@jfedpgh.org if you are planning to attend. For more information, please click PCCD State Security Grant Workshop.
So far in 2025, we have logged 56 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 41 for 2024. We continue to collaborate closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents to us using this link Incident Report| Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (jewishpgh.org).
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and StandWithUs Celebrate the Second Defeat of Anti-Israel Referendum to Pittsburgh’s Home Rule Charter (jewishpgh.org)
- Jews targeted in nearly 70% of hate crimes in NYC last month — police (timesofisrael.com)
- Barnard protesters distribute Hamas pamphlets during library takeover (timesofisrael.com)
- Congress must fully fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (jpost.com)
- Office of Public Affairs | California Teenager Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Nationwide Swatting Spree (justice.gov)
BluePoint Status
BluePoint installation at Upstreet is now complete. Charles Morris is scheduled to begin next week. Riverview and Yeshiva Boys installation to follow. BluePoint has now been installed in 30 of the 33 locations. Police boxes have been installed at 16 of our organizations.
Security Resources and/or Training
First Quarter Faith-Based Security and Resilience Learning Series
The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security and partners cordially invite you to attend the first quarterly event of our virtual learning series for faith-based organizations on Monday, March 24, 2025. In this first segment of our series, we will be hearing from Mr. Magnus Hakonsen, a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting in Norway's history. On July 22, 2011, Mr. Hakonsen was attending a political youth camp on the island of Utoya when a lone gunman attacked, killing 69 people and injuring 3...
Advanced Community Active Threat Training (CATT)
Pittsburgh, 15213 + Google Map
This event has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience. Feel empowered on campus with this class that teaches: The mind of the active shooter-predator vs. prey Situational awareness and survival mindset Basic self-defense techniques and weapons awareness and disarming techniques Reality based training Led by Dave Wright from Wrights Gym. Geared for college students but open to everyone. MADE POSSIBLE BY LEE AND LISA OLEINICK.
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If you need Go Bags, Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts or medical supplies contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
