Happy Passover! We wish you all a safe and meaningful holiday.
Please Be Aware
A federal judge denied defendant Mohammad Hamad’s request that his current home detention be lifted in United States v. Hamad, Lubit (the July 29, 2024, graffiti attack at Federation and Chabad of Squirrel Hill). The government revealed it uncovered additional evidence post-arrest that indicates Hamad is both a danger to the community and a flight risk. The additional evidence is extremely compelling, especially for those who view this as, “just graffiti;” it is listed in detail in the Jewish Chronicle article linked below.
So far in 2025, we have logged 96 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 76 for 2024. We continue to collaborate 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
- With Passover celebrations near, concerns about antisemitism rise (NBCChicago.com)
- New evidence revealed against defendant in Chabad and Jewish Federation vandalism case (jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com)
- Poale Zedeck, Shaare Torah formalize unification talks (jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com)
- Pro-Hamas vandal of federal statue gets 10 days in jail, must pay $1,500 (JNS.org)
BluePoint Status
BluePoint installation at Riverview will be completed by 4/11/25. Charles Morris and Yeshiva Boys installation to follow. BluePoint has now been installed in 30 of the 33 locations. Police boxes have been installed at 18 of our organizations, with 10 more locations to follow.
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.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need Go Bags, Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts or medical supplies contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252.
