Influx of Funding to Boost Security at Area Synagogues by G
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FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – 18 SHEVAT 5780 JEWISHVOL 44, NO 14 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG Influx of funding to boost security at area synagogues By G. Jeffrey MacDonald • 46 percent have added a special JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT assessment to pay for increased security expenses North Shore synagogues have scram- • 58 percent of synagogues with bled to beef up security ever since the security fees charge $75 to $200 October 2018 Tree of Life shooting left per membership unit 11 dead and six injured in Pittsburgh. • 52 percent of synagogues now They’ve been on their own to cover the spend upwards of $20,000 per year hefty costs, running well into the six fig- on security ures in some cases. • 69 percent say it is either likely or But some help is on the way. very likely they will increase secu- Combined Jewish Philanthropies rity spending in 2020 of Greater Boston plans to allocate Though anti-Semitism and threats $350,000 in Communal Security grants against Jews are nothing new, Brandeis in the spring, according to spokeswom- University historian Jonathan D. Sarna an Karen Kuwayti. Funding will be dis- said what we’re seeing now is different. tributed to Jewish institutions, including “I cannot recall a time when there was synagogues and other non-profits. the same focus on security and securing “We have looked at these institu- religious institutions as is true today,” tions and needing to spend $100,000 to said Sarna. “There have been many more $200,000 at an institution for security attacks on churches, synagogues, and is not surprising,” said Jeremy Yamin, religious institutions than in the past. associate vice president and director of And worst of all, because of a new style of security and operations at CJP, referring weapons, those attacks tend to be more to large institutions that have no security deadly than they ever were.” Photo: Steven A. Rosenberg/Journal Staff in place. “You get into replacing exterior Rabbi Nechemia Schusterman reviews the temple grounds with his existing security The availability of new funds comes doors, building vestibules, alarm sys- system at Chabad of Peabody. just in time for congregations like Temple tems, all kinds of different things. That’s Ner Tamid. The synagogue spent about a serious need, and those are things that Costs associated with hiring guards rank December – have convinced Jewish insti- $30,000 last year on security upgrades we certainly support.” among the factors requiring budgets to tutions that ongoing vigilance is needed. that were recommended, includ- Details of the grant program have not stretch, he said. Synagogues have incurred mounting ing new locks, shatterproof windows, yet been released. Synagogues can mon- “You have more and more congrega- bills for everything from high resolu- and increased lighting. To fund such itor the CJP Jewish Communal Security tions getting police details – not only tion cameras and improved lighting to improvements, the congregation took Initiative website, cjp.org/communal- at High Holidays, when that would armed guards, according to a November out a loan and began charging members security. have been typical, but every Shabbat 2019 survey from the Union of Reform a security fee on top of annual dues in CJP’s initiative further expands its and when there are lectures or events,” Judaism and the United Synagogue order to afford monthly payments on the communal security program, which has Bernat said. of Conservative Judaism. Among the note, according to John Dunn, chairman grown from a $10,000 budget item in Among the trends he notices: con- insights from 396 responding syna- of the temple’s security committee. fiscal 2015 to $817,000 in the current gregations consulting with Community gogues: Faced with both security concerns fiscal year. Much of the funding has Security Service, a New York-based non- • 91 percent have increased funding and steep bills, congregations have wel- thus far gone toward adding three new profit, to provide threat awareness train- for security over the past year continued on page 20 staffers and providing outreach, such ing for greeters and guidance in how to as free consultations on facilities’ secu- respond in the event of an attack. rity needs, defibrillators for schools, and “Some communities would like to hire consulting for synagogues and other more people who are armed,” Bernat institutions on how to apply for govern- said. “And there are some communi- ment security grants. To date, CJP has ties who have members who might be conducted 80 security trainings directly licensed to carry be involved in that.“ for 2,500 people. To date, security grants have been In its first round of grants, CJP gave aimed at physical hardening of facilities. out $150,000 in fiscal 2019. Those funds And congregations haven’t been waiting went to the region’s 36 preschools and 14 for outside funding to arrive. They’ve day schools. The upcoming round of CJP been making upgrades, such as new funding this spring means local syna- doors that replaced old wooden ones at gogues and nonprofits will have another Temple Ner Tamid of the North Shore in much-needed assistance stream besides Peabody. Now linked to a buzzer entry private loans, government grants, secu- system, the doors are always locked. rity fees, special assessments, and indi- “Some people said: ‘If you don’t lock vidual donations to cover rising security the door, we’re not going to come,’” said expenses. Rabbi Richard Perlman. “And so we’ve Security-related expenses have been locking the door.” been rising fast. Synagogues across In the wake of the Pittsburgh massa- Massachusetts are facing a common cre, more anti-Semitic attacks – includ- set of security challenges, according to ing suspicious fires set at Chabad houses Photo: Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office David Bernat, executive director of the in Arlington and Needham last May and Last month, Governor Charlie Baker announced that the state will provide $1 million Synagogue Council of Massachusetts. stabbings at a New York synagogue in in funding to help houses of worship and other nonprofit groups boost their security. THE MORTGAGE. Our Bi-Weekly Mortgages can save you thousands in interest. Call, click or stop by a Metro Credit Union near you. | MetroCU.org | 877.MY.METRO The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – FEBRUARY 13, 2020 COMMUNITY NEWS Safe, strong, and free: Talking to your teens about healthy relationships By Michael Wittner a senior and you’re a sopho- be in the front row on opening JOURNAL STAFF more – my grades matter more night cheering for you.” than yours.’” At the free JCC event, which MARBLEHEAD – Sometimes New technologies have made is being held in partnership that nice Jewish boy isn’t really controlling and manipulative with the Safe Havens Interfaith so nice. Even if he seems perfect behavior much easier. Youdovin Partnership Against Domestic at first glance, all kinds of dis- and Schön Vainer mentioned Violence and sponsored by the turbing behaviors can be occur- relationships where one partner Jewish Women’s Endowment ring behind closed doors or on will demand that the other turn Fund of the North Shore, password-protected phone on tracking features on their Youdovin and Schön Vainer also screens. phone so they know where they will discuss what to do when “I remember a story of a kid are at all times, or closely mon- you suspect that a friend or in high school where a young itor social media to see who loved one is in an abusive rela- woman disclosed to her friend they’re with and where they are. tionship. Rather than delivering all this really horrible stuff Often, the abusive partner will any stern ultimatums, they rec- that her boyfriend was doing demand that the other give up ommend making yourself avail- to her, and her boyfriend was friends and hobbies. able to that person and letting a star athlete, captain of the them know all the resources football team, and when the that are available to them. friend reported it to the guid- “Open a door for that per- ance counselor, he said, ‘If Julie Youdovin, left, and Elizabeth Schön Vainer will discuss healthy “We hear stories from son to talk, and if that person’s teen relationships at the JCC of the North Shore on Feb. 26. it wasn’t coming from you, I peer leaders that not ready to talk about it, open would never believe it, because a conversation about what a this abuser is seen as such a Against Domestic Violence, harder to see what kind of harm sometimes they’re being healthy relationship looks like superstar in every way,’” said a Boston organization that they can be doing.” told that they need to and try to sound as nonjudg- Elizabeth Schön Vainer, director obtained the funding. Abuse also can take many mental as possible and leave of Journey to Safety, the domes- According to the dating abuse forms, and some are hard- stay up at night and the conversation where that tic abuse program of Jewish education organization Love is er to recognize than others. respond to any text person knows that they can Family & Children’s Service of Respect, nearly one in three girls Youdovin and Schön Vainer will message, because that’s come back,” said Youdovin, Greater Boston. in the U.S. is a victim of physical, discuss the many ways that one who emphasized that parents On Feb. 26, as part of Teen emotional, and verbal abuse. partner – and not always the how they show their should have conversations early Dating Violence Awareness Additionally, girls and young male – exerts unhealthy con- love.” and often about what healthy and Prevention Month, women between the ages of 16 trol over the other.