The American Jewish community is facing the most complex and dynamic threat environment in modern history. Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has warned that antisemitism in the U.S. is rising to historic levels; Jews are the target of 60% of all hate crimes motivated by religion, despite comprising only 2.4% of the U.S. population.
The Secure Community Network (SCN) is the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. It works with Jewish Federations, synagogues, and other partners to build a security shield over the Jewish community through consistent and coordinated reporting of threats, incidents, and suspicious activity.
Reporting all incidents of bias allows for the compiling of data, which helps to identify trends and notify law enforcement, community leaders, and lawmakers. The Incident Reporting Form (IRF) is a key component of this partnership between the local community and SCN. The use of this standardized, online form ensures a coordinated, best-practice approach to incident reporting and follow-up.
The IRF should be used to highlight threats, incidents, or suspicious activity related to Jewish organizations, facilities, or community members. It can be used to report:
- In-person assaults or threats
- Suspicious persons or activity
- Property damage or vandalism
- Threatening or suspicious phone calls, text messages, or social media
- Suspicious packages or letters
- Spam and phishing emails
- Antisemitic or threatening flyers
- Other incidents of concern to the Jewish community.
Information submitted through the form goes directly to the 24-hour Duty Desk in SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center, where it is reviewed by intelligence analysts, as well as to Mike Goldsmith, Tidewater’s SCN Regional Security Advisor. The SCN Duty Desk works with the Regional Security Advisors to assist and support as needed while protecting the civil liberties of all parties. Credible threats are referred to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Although information can be reported anonymously, contact information is very helpful to analysts or law enforcement officers who may ask for additional information or clarification.
The IRF does not replace the ability to directly contact Goldsmith, using whatever methods of contact are already established, or to call the Duty Desk at 844-SCN-DESK. The form provides an enhanced ability to support the security professional with a 24/7 capability, allows the security professional to collect specific information, and ensures information is properly passed to key federal partners.
In addition to working closely with the Jewish Community Relations Council on issues of antisemitism, where education and follow-up are often needed, SCN partners nationally with Hillel International and the Anti-Defamation League. Information is shared with ReportCampusHate.org for concerns related to colleges and universities and with the Orthodox Union at OU.org/ReportHate for concerns related to the Orthodox Jewish community.
Report an antisemitic incident at
www.federation.jewishva.org/IncidentReporting
In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 first.
If online reporting is not practical, contact local law enforcement and/or the relevant
suspicious activity reporting authority. Also contact Mike Goldsmith, Tidewater’s SCN Regional Security Advisor, at MGoldsmith@ujft.org or by calling 844-SCN-DESK.