Secure Community Network’s 2024 Annual High Holidays Safety and Security Webinar Series Logs Record Attendance
The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, hosted a record-breaking twenty-five national safety and security webinars and trainings ahead of the High Holidays — aimed at empowering and equipping the Jewish community across North America with the tools, guidance, and best practices to keep their communities safe amidst a time of increased antisemitism, heightened threats, and elevated security concerns. Nearly 15,000 participants signed up to attend this year’s webinar series, which was hosted in partnership and collaboration with key partners to include The Jewish Federations of North America, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, ADL, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ).
Each webinar covered a unique area of safety, security, and other High Holiday considerations and was led by SCN’s team of security professionals and national security experts, joined by expert guest speakers and faith leaders. The webinar series took on particular significance this year as it led up to the first anniversary of the 07 October Hamas terror attacks, a reminder of the unprecedented threat environment impacting the Jewish community worldwide.
SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters
This year’s webinar series carries even greater urgency, as we reflect on the first anniversary of the 07 October Hamas terror attacks. In addition to preparing for the High Holidays, these sessions allow us to focus on the unique challenges and threats facing our communities today. Whether it is ensuring synagogues are ready to welcome congregants safely or helping individuals sharpen their personal safety toolkits, our goal is to equip every participant with the resources and confidence they need to pray and gather without fear during this sacred time.
The webinar series began on 06 August and continued weekly through 26 September. All 30 High Holiday resources and six full webinars can be accessed on the High Holidays page on SCN’s website.
The series included the following webinars or training courses:
- The Power of Hello
- Welcoming and Safety: The Role of Greeters, Ushers, and Volunteers
- Guardian: Identify. Protect. Respond.
- Navigating Conflict: The Power of De-Escalation
- Situational Awareness & Countering Active Threat Training (CATT)
- Stop the Bleed ®
- Securing the Synagogue
- Personal Safety for Lay & Professional Leadership During the High Holidays
- Firearms and the Faithful
- Combating Emerging Threats
- Accessibility and Emergency Preparedness
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