18 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019

ple instructions in case of an emergency or
active shooting situation.
“We have been conducting drills with
various members of our synagogue, includ-
ing greeters, ushers and security guards,”
Rich said. “Though some members
approached us to ask if they could conceal
carry, we told them it was unadvisable.
(Congregants and guests) need to know
there are armed guards, both uniformed
and plain clothed, as well as technological
enhancements for security. We take this
very seriously. When people come into
this building to pray, we want
them to be able to focus on
just that and not worry about
their safety.”
Shaarey Zedek’
s Rabbi
Aaron Starr said, “We are
committed to doing our very
best to keep our members and
those who enter our build-
ing safe, while at the same time fulfilling
the mitzvah (sacred obligation) of hachna-
sat orchim (welcoming guests into our

home). In so doing, we engage in a number
of activities — some overt and some covert
— to aid us in our goals of safety and cel-
ebration.”
Marty Babayov of Southfield attended
an on-site training session held at his syn-
agogue, Ahavat Yisrael in Oak Park, given
by Aaron Tobin, a nationally certified
Concealed Pistol License (CPL) instructor.
Tobin, who attends Congregation Shomer
Israel in Oak Park, says he trains many in
the Jewish community across the obser-
vance spectrum, including rabbis.
Members of Babayov’
s synagogue, which
caters primarily to Russian immigrant
families, expressed concern
after recent synagogue shoot-
ings. They invited Tobin to
talk about gun safety and
improving synagogue security,
Babayov said.
“There is no blanket policy
in our synagogue that allows
anyone who has a CPL to carry,” he said.
“There are a few members, however, who
have had military or police training, who
can respond under pressure, who are arm-
ing themselves.”
Tobin told those gathered for his talk
that a less powerful handgun would be no
match if an attacker was armed with an
automatic assault rifle.
“I learned that carrying a weapon with
so much firepower (above a 9-millimeter)
would be too much for me,” Babayov
said. “I do not know if I could live with
hitting the wrong person and am glad to

know there are professionally
and militarily trained profes-
sionals working as security.
Plus, for me, carrying a weap-
on to shul takes away from the
atmosphere of prayer.”

POLICE RESPONSES
West Bloomfield Township
and Oak Park have multiple synagogues.
West Bloomfield Police Chief Mike
Patton says, “Every time there is an event,
there is an elevated concern. We have con-
tact with Jewish institutions and houses of
worship. We assign officers to those that
want them (during services). They reim-
burse the township, but we also provide
some township patrols. Cost is not a con-
cern. We want peace of mind for those who
attend.”
Oak Park’
s Chief of Public Safety Mike
Pinkerton says the Jewish community is
good about letting the department know
the dates and times of High Holiday ser-
vices. That enables their road patrols to be
aware of extra people walking to services
and homes at different hours. They provide
some additional patrols in those areas.
West Bloomfield Township’
s Public Safety
Department has an officer assigned to an
area anti-terrorist task force that monitors
communication media for active threats.
Like Sikorski, Patton stresses the importance
of “hardening the target,” including safe-
guards for “how you meet and greet and vet
people coming into the facility.”
Sikorski helps local Jewish congregations
and agencies apply for federal and state
grants to cover some of the cost of security
personnel and equipment. (Temple Beth El
and Congregation Beth Shalom are two of
the local congregations that have received
such grants.)
Individual synagogues and temples are
taking different approaches to security,
only some of which they are willing to dis-
cuss publicly.

LEFT: Congregation Shaarey Zedek placed these
cards in the pews to provide congregants with
safety information — one step in beefing up
security in the past year. TOP: Gary Sikorski,
chief of community-wide security for the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
provides assessments, training and other
resources for Detroit-area synagogues,
agencies, schools and other facilities.

“There is a delicate balance —
being neither paranoid
nor complacent.”

— GARY SIKORSKI,

FEDERATION COMMUNITY-WIDE SECURITY CHIEF

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Aaron Tobin

FACEBOOK

Marty
Babayov

FACEBOOK

Rabbi Aaron
Starr

SHAARY ZEDEK

JOHN HARDWICK/JEWISH FEDERATION

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