August 29, 2023
As the Jewish High Holy Days approach we wanted to share an important update regarding communal safety and security. The physical safety of our Temple Israel community is paramount. To accomplish our goal of maintaining a safe and secure community, we rely on our volunteer ambassadors and close partnerships with law enforcement and other entities. We are grateful for the strong relationships we have with the state and local police departments.
Unfortunately, over the last few weeks there have been over 40 swatting incidents across the United States with a concentration having occurred at Jewish organizations, including one in the Boston area. Swatting is the action of making prank calls to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address. At Temple Israel, we plan and prepare for a myriad of safety and security incidents; we have now added additional training to prepare for unlikely swatting incidents. We will continue to review our plans and make adjustments based on guidance from our partners.
One way that you can assist us is by volunteering to be a High Holy Day Ambassador.
This is your opportunity to help us maintain a warm and welcoming environment throughout the High Holy Days and throughout the year.
To sign up, email Nalani Haueter, our Engagement Associate, who will help make sure you are registered for a brief online orientation on Thursday, September 7 at 8:30 a.m or onsite on Wednesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m.
We will train you in some basic safety procedures for Temple Israel and review some of our foundational REDI (Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) approaches.
As an ambassador, all we ask is for you to simply attend the High Holy Day services you are planning on being a part of and provide support to our community. Please sign up and help us make 5784 a successful year for Temple Israel.