16 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019

S

ecurity is not a new issue for Metro
Detroit synagogues, schools and other
communal buildings. But the coming
High Holidays will bring together large seg-
ments of the Jewish community at a time
when hate crimes are more frequent and
lethal.
In October 2018, 11 people were killed
and six wounded during Sabbath services
at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
One individual was killed and three were
wounded this April at the Chabad of Poway
in California. And the rise in anti-Semitism
has included attacks on Jews and swastikas on
synagogues in various parts of the country.
Since these incidents, Gary Sikorski, chief
of community-wide security for the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, said,
“There is much more of an awareness fac-
tor. Synagogues are much more tuned in,
and there is more of a common discussion.
This is not only a local but also a national
topic among security personnel of Jewish
Federations. There is a delicate balance —
being neither paranoid nor complacent.”
Sikorski provides security assessments,
training and other resources for Detroit-area
synagogues, schools, agencies and other facili-
ties. He stresses the importance of training of
staff, congregants and the community.
“We would love to have a community of
first responders, not just for an active assail-
ant but also other emergencies,” Sikorski said.
He strongly recommends “target harden-

ing” to avoid the threat. This is accomplished
by making it more difficult for outsiders to
access buildings by using specialized equip-
ment and trained individuals.
“It’
s important to have some kind of pres-
ence as a deterrent — a person or camera,”
Sikorski explained.
Another component is “response capabil-
ity,” which entails working with local law
enforcement. Sikorski maintains strong rela-
tionships with local and state police depart-
ments, as well as the area Homeland Security
office. He says some local congregations have
armed guards while others rely on members
who have permits for concealed weapons;
others focus on different security
measures.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Executive Director Robert Rich
said the synagogue has had a
very long history of taking pro-
active measures when it comes
to security, dating back to the
horrific 1966 shooting of Rabbi
Morris Adler during Shabbat services.
Over the last year, Rich said Shaarey
Zedek’
s security task force has been work-
ing closely with the Federation and the
Southfield Police Department to better secure
doorways, upgrade camera systems, and pro-
vide seen and unseen security personnel for
Shabbat and High Holiday services. Also,
there are laminated instruction cards placed
in the aisle pockets of each pew offering sim-

Holiday
Safety

SHARI S. COHEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
AND
STACY GITTLEMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rosh Hashanah

Robert Rich

A year of rising
anti-Semitic incidents

brings heightened
security measures.

KELLI DADE HAINES/SHAAREY ZEDEK

SHAARY ZEDEK

continued on page 18

Security instruction
cards are in the pews
at Shaarey Zedek.