The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region hosted a security seminar on Aug. 30 to help Jewish institutions prepare for the upcoming High Holy Day season. Nearly 40 representatives from 20 different Jewish institutions in the Denver-metro area participated in the training at BMH-BJ Synagogue in Denver.

The training featured specific security recommendations for the High Holy Days, active shooter/active threat training and a question-and-answer session with a panel of law enforcement and security professionals. Participants in the panel conversation included:  Captain Chris George, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office; Commander Magen Dodge and Lt. Carlos Aragon, Denver Police Department District 3; Melanie Pearlman, President and CEO, Mizel Institute; and Jamie Richards, Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection.

ADL staff also participated in a security training for Boulder-area Jewish institutions on Aug. 28 at the Boulder Jewish Community Center.

In addition to the security seminars, ADL reached out to senior law enforcement officials in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming to provide information about when the Jewish High Holy Days will take place and request that law enforcement take extra measures to ensure the safety and security of Jewish individuals and places of worship. ADL also distributed security recommendations and resources to key leaders of Jewish institutions in the three-state region.

All of ADL’s security resources for Jewish institutions and other religious and communal organizations can be accessed online by clicking here. Specific ADL security resources include:

• Security Recommendations for the High Holidays
• 18 Best Practices for Jewish Institutional Security
• What Every Congregant Should Know About Security
• Considerations for Digital and Online Security at Jewish Institutions
• Guide to Detecting Surveillance of Jewish Institutions
• ADL Guide to Protecting Your Religious or Communal Institution

For more information on ADL’s Jewish Institutional Security resources or to arrange a security seminar for your institution, please call 303-830-7177 or send an email to mountainstates@adl.org.