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BombTh reats Won’t Derail
Th e Vital Activity Of JCCs

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January 26 • 2017

jn

bomb threat is never an incon- play a vital role in the lives of their
local communities and in Jewish life.
sequential thing. But 16 in
And to help guide their missions as
one day is inconceivable — at
least it was until Monday, Jan. 9. That’s inclusive, engaging community gath-
ering places that are safe for all, we
when 16 Jewish community centers
will continue to help them liaise with
in nine states received calls threaten-
local and federal law enforcement to
ing a bomb on site. A little more than
develop thorough plans spe-
a week later, 28 more JCCs,
cific to their organizations,
including Detroit’s, were
buildings and communities.
threatened.
It is a harsh but wise reality
While the threats turned
that all JCCs have such struc-
out to be hoaxes, the calls
tures and relationships in
themselves were not. They
place, and are spending more
were designed to create a
time and money on security
kind of disruptive terror in
than ever before.
places that serve as visible
None of us wants to think
David Posner
community hubs of activity.
of this as the new normal.
The JCCs affected stretched
And none of the JCCs tar-
from Florida to New Jersey,
geted do. They are all back at
where the temperature was
work, doing what they do best
11 degrees and, once evacuated to
— serving those who come looking for
ensure their safety, JCC participants
community.
had to wait outside in the frigid air.
Each JCC seeks to model within its
Everyone from the youngest souls to
walls the kind of community it wishes
the frailest and elderly had to leave.
their wider ones — both Jewish and
If there was a method to the callers’
general — will be. The values we
(or caller’s — the FBI is now investi-
embrace, welcoming guests, treating
gating these incidents) madness, it
all with respect and dignity, doing
was one meant to strike at the heart
right by people and understanding the
of normalcy and everyday activities, to
communal responsibility in raising the
sow uncertainty and fear in places we
next generation, are universal. JCCs
love and feel most safe.
understand that the well-being of the
JCCs handled the situation profes-
Jewish people is based on interaction
sionally, taking the advice of security
between diverse groups of Jews, and
staff and local law enforcement and
that we benefit, and benefit from, our
executing well-rehearsed safety plans.
larger communities. No threat of ter-
JCCs were able to do this seamlessly,
ror will change that.
working together with police and
The JCC movement was founded
reopening by the end of the day.
a century ago this year. The impe-
It is a testament to the professionals
tus was to support the needs of
who work at these community institu-
the Jewish community, many new
tions across the country and the mil-
immigrants and first-generation
lions of people who walk through the
Americans, who were learning
doors of JCCs every day and depend
just what that meant — to be an
on them as safe spaces to gather,
American.
learn, play and find meaning.
In the 100 years since, JCCs have
JCC Association of North America
evolved to meet not only Jewish
works closely with JCCs across the
needs, but to serve their commu-
continent, encouraging them to devel-
nities more broadly. Informed by
op security protocols, ones we hope
Jewish values, they are warm and
they never have to use. But we live
welcoming to all.
now in uncertain times, and expres-
JCCs are places where people
sions of anti-Semitism have been on
want to be. They are filled with joy,
the rise around the globe.
creativity, knowledge and the end-
The safety of local JCC members is
less possibilities of doing something
always the top priority. As the conven-
new. In hundreds of cities and towns
ing organization of JCCs across the
across this continent, they are
continent, we work closely with the
places where we still have face-to-
Secure Community Network (SCN),
face interactions in a social media
which was established in the after-
universe.
math of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
And it’s a loud and vibrant con-
to address security concerns in the
versation, one that we won’t allow
Jewish community. SCN has a close
any amount of threatening calls to
relationship with the Department of
disrupt. •
Homeland Security, which is critical in
situations like these.
David Posner is vice president for strategic
And so, we are committed to con-
performance at JCC Association of North
tinuing to support our JCCs, which
America.

