FBI Director Wray Addresses Jewish Community During “Passover Without Fear” Webinar

The Secure Community Network (SCN), in partnership with The Jewish Federations of North America, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), yesterday hosted a timely pre-Passover webinar titled “Passover Without Fear: Preparedness & Security Considerations In Today’s World.” The webinar featured keynote remarks from FBI Director Christopher Wray.

“As I look back over my career in law enforcement, I’m hard pressed to think of a time when so many different threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at the same time,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray in his remarks. “Today, we at the Bureau remain particularly concerned that lone actors could target large gatherings, high profile events, or symbolic or religious locations for violence. Particularly a concern of course, as we look to the start of Passover on Monday evening.”

SCN is urging that those in charge of security, community leaders, and all community members maintain the already enhanced safety and security measures many have implemented since October 7th. With those in place, we are not advising that organizations need to take additional steps, at this time.

“The spike in antisemitism our community is facing is unprecedented, but we are prepared,” said The Jewish Federations of North America President & CEO Eric Fingerhut. “Thanks to our LiveSecure initiative and our close cooperation with law enforcement at every level of government, we can be confident in our safety this Passover and proudly urge our communities to live their Jewish lives.”
 
“At a time of rising antisemitism and anti-Israel protests outside Jewish institutions and in the public square, security awareness and threat detection are more important than ever,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “We deeply appreciate our ongoing partnerships with the FBI and state and local law enforcement and their determined efforts to help keep our communities safe during the Passover holiday and all year long.”
 
“While we face unprecedented antisemitism here in the United States, we are extraordinarily grateful for FBI Director Wray and the commitment that federal and local law enforcement have shown in making sure Jews in America feel safe,” said Conference of Presidents CEO William Daroff. “While we head towards Passover, we recognize the difference when government is not on our side versus today. We are grateful to co-host this important meeting to ensure the Jewish community knows the resources available to us.”

Expert panelists from Jewish community security and law enforcement joined a panel discussion on physical security, security personnel, operational procedures, and protest preparedness, which included ADL Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs George Selim, former NYPD Chief of Department Ken Corey, Aventura Police Chief Michael Bentolila, Utah Statewide Information & Analysis Center Director Captain J. Tanner Jensen, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Director of Community Security Shawn Brokos, and safety and security experts from SCN, in a discussion moderated by SCN Interim Deputy Director of Intelligence and former FBI Assistant Director Kerry Sleeper.

In response to this complex and dynamic threat environment, SCN, The Jewish Federations of North America, ADL, and the Conference of Presidents have worked in coordination with local, state, and federal authorities and local and national Jewish community partners to respond to antisemitism, hate and violence, and ensure coordination between law enforcement and the Jewish community across North America.

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