The High Holiday season is a sacred time for worship, reflection, and joy. It begins on the evening of Monday, September 22.
“Our synagogues will see significant numbers of congregants coming to connect with their faith and the larger Jewish community,” says Mike Goldsmith, SCN regional security advisor.
“While we are reveling in the season, we need to be sure that we are also staying aware of our surroundings,” he says.
Goldsmith reminds that while “we are focused on faith, we also need to focus on our safety and the safety of those around us.”
Goldsmith suggests that when attending services to keep an eye out for:
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Suspicious behaviors such as people loitering outside our institutions
• Non-congregants who may be attempting to enter the temple, and
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Those who may be using the cover of the crowd to defeat security measures.
“We should also be sensitive to packages and vehicles that are out of place or unexpected,” says Goldsmith.
As always, he says, “if you see something, say something.” Report suspicious behaviors, vehicles, or packages to the temple’s security team and SCN.