Please Be Aware
The federal Hate Crime trial of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter is scheduled to begin April 24th with jury selection. The trial is expected to last several months. It will be held at the Federal Courthouse in Pittsburgh. Please see top article below for more detail.
Security measures related to the trial are ongoing, and we are encouraging everyone to remain vigilant. Be aware of your surroundings and report anything suspicious or concerning to 911, if appropriate, and then to our Security Department.
At the recent Jewish Digital Summit, Secure Community Network (SCN) National Director and CEO Michael Masters and JTA Senior Reporter Andrew Lapin discussed the online threat environment and how we, as a community, must have a comprehensive system to monitor and mitigate threats. You can watch the discussion on YouTube. Part of this discussion related to the “National Day of Hate” on Feb 27, 2023.
On March 14th from 1p-4p ET, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) will hold an encore webinar on Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016-2020. This study examines 173 mass attacks from 2016-2020 in public and semi-public spaces, including businesses, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, houses of worship, schools, open spaces and more. Register on secretservice.gov →
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Bowers Appears In Federal Court As Prospective Jurors Complete Questionnaires In Tree of Life Case (triblive.com → )
- White supremacists take responsibility on social media for carvings on sacred Native site (dailynontanan.com → )
- Bill enhancing criminal penalties for hate crimes clears committee (flvoicenews.com → )
- Blacksburg Jewish group’s sign vandalized, community steps in (wsls.com → )
- NYC park building vandalized with swastika, antisemitic graffiti (israelnationalnews.com → )
BluePoint Status
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
A Compassionate Community Response to People with Mental Illness
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 United States + Google Map
Assessing Risk, Avoiding Bias, and Accessing Resources
Dealing compassionately and effectively with individuals with mental illness is a challenge for Jewish communal professionals, and with the upcoming trial of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, we need these strategies now more than ever. Although safety is everyone’s concern, unusual behavior is not necessarily a security risk (no matter what’s happening in the community) and it’s important to know where to get help for someone who’s in distress. The Federation, in collaboration with The Branch, JFCS, and the 10/27 Healing Partnership is inviting you to a lunch and learn program for Jewish communal professionals on Wednesday, April 19th, that addresses:- The Security Perspective
- Behavior that may occur and de-escalation techniques
- Mental Health Resources
- Open discussion for facilitated problem solving
Advanced Community Active Threat Training (CATT)
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 United States + Google Map
This free, three hour course addresses the mind of an active shooter, predator versus prey, situational awareness, and survival mindset. It focuses on basic self-defense using techniques such as Krav Maga and is hands on for those wishing to do so. It explores weapons awareness and disarming techniques. The last portion of the class builds on skills learned adding more advanced defensive tactics to include team tactics and reality based training.
NEW: De-Escalation Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252 to schedule this training.
Situational Awareness, Active Threat, and Usher/Greeter 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.
If you need more Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
