16 | JANUARY 27 • 2022

whatever way worked for her,”
Miller says. “... It is paralyzing
to simply wait in fear.”
Miller usually does not
use email or social media
on Shabbat, yet he put out a
post to inform the Beth El
community and to ask for
prayers while also protecting
the identity of the rabbi’s family
members. Additionally, he
sent a message to the Temple’s
board of trustees and notified
them that he would only send
out another notice once the
situation was resolved to honor
the family’s privacy.
“We are all so thankful for
the overwhelming support
we’ve received from the
entire community,” says
Cytron-Walker’s Michigan
family in a statement. “We
hope that people will use this
opportunity to follow Rabbi
Charlie’s lead by combating
anger and hate with kindness,
love and decency.”
Beth El’s Miller said the
time following the crisis would
be a time for outreach and
reflection, which would not
only include gratitude that
the four hostages escaped
physically unharmed, but also

“a serious discussion about the
nature of antisemitism and our
security at Temple.”

STAYING VIGILANT
Though Jewish organizations
are built on being inclusive and
welcoming, they must also be
secure for those who use them.
Technology certainly plays a
role, but ultimately training,
policies, procedures and
protocols are key to keeping
everyone safe so they can
have a meaningful communal
experience.
“Going to
synagogue
shouldn’t take an
act of courage,”
says Gary
Sikorski, director
of community-
wide security
for the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit. “It

should literally be a sanctuary,
and so we have to find that
balance between security and
being welcoming and open.
It’s a tough balance to find
sometimes.”
Sikorski emphasizes that
security is “everybody’s
business,” meaning that if
community members see
something unusual, they
should report it, and also that
people should make sure,
when shopping for a school,
daycare or synagogue, that
they consider the security in
place. At the same time, with
that awareness, life at Jewish
institutions must keep thriving.
“I think we have to carry on
as normally as possible,” he
says.
Primarily through Feder-
ation efforts, the community
has invested significant funds
to improve target hardening

and has put technology in
place — with the goal of
making sure every synagogue
has the ability to lock its doors
and vet visitors or guests as
they come in.
But the human element
is critical as well, he says.
“Having trained staff, especially
clergy as well as congregants,
is really an important part of
an all-hazards response plan,”
Sikorski says. “This [Texas]
incident clearly illustrates
the importance of training,
planning and preparation.”
Federation’s security
program started in 2006 and,
in 2008, increased its reach
with security in place at Jewish
agencies and on the Eugene
and Marcia Applebaum Jewish
Community Campus in West
Bloomfield as well as the A.
Alfred Taubman campus in
Oak Park. In 2013, Federation

“GOING TO SYNAGOGUE SHOULDN’T TAKE AN ACT OF
COURAGE. IT SHOULD LITERALLY BE A SANCTUARY,
AND SO WE HAVE TO FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN
SECURITY AND BEING WELCOMING AND OPEN.”

— GARY SIKORKSI

continued from page 15

Gary
Sikorski

MYJEWISHDETROIT.ORG

ANDY JACOBSOHN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES VIA JTA

A police team
at work at
Congregation
Beth Israel,
Colleyville,
Texas, Jan. 15.