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

can 
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Aaron Tobin

FACEBOOK

Marty 
Babayov

FACEBOOK

Rabbi Aaron 
Starr

SHAARY ZEDEK

JOHN HARDWICK/JEWISH FEDERATION

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