September Monthly Update
- Arrests, Convictions, & Sentencing
- High Holidays
- Intelligence & Information Sharing
- Planning and Preparedness
- Stop the Bleed
- Threat Landscape
As we approach our High Holidays and the one-year mark since the horrific events of October 7th, we pause to reflect on a year marked by both unprecedented challenges as well as remarkable resilience within our community. In the face of increased threats, we have refused to be defined by fear or intimidation. The challenges we face remain significant, but our resolve to protect and engage proudly in Jewish life across North America and around the world remains as strong as ever.
This past month has invited sobering reminders of the threats we face. The FBI’s 2023 Hate Crime Report confirms what many in our community have experienced firsthand: hate and violence against our community remains alarming. The FBI reported a record increase in both the number of hate crimes perpetrated against the Jewish community (1,832) and the percentage of religiously motivated hate crimes (67%) directed at us. Yet, in the face of these challenges, we are preparing our community to face them better than ever before.
The response to our High Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. In response to this unprecedented demand and the complex threat environment, SCN provided a record number of opportunities for the community to participate, hosting 23 webinars and trainings over nearly two months and introducing two new training programs to our curriculum. As always, our series covered a wide range of critical topics, ensuring that our community entered the High Holiday season prepared and empowered in their safety and security. Nearly 15,000 individuals registered for our training sessions, a clear reflection of our community’s commitment to proactive security measures.
The overwhelming participation in these webinars is not just a number — it is a powerful statement of our community’s commitment and determination to celebrate our traditions safely and openly. It demonstrates that in the face of challenges, we do not retreat — that instead, we educate, prepare, and unite. This proactive posture is precisely what we must do as we navigate the current threat landscape.
As we look ahead to the new year, we do so with a sense of vigilance and optimism. While our community has faced the unimaginable, we have emerged from it with a renewed sense of purpose. SCN is no different: our expanded services, our growing team, our added partnerships, our increased collaboration with government, federal, state, and local law enforcement, communal leaders, camps, and campus organizations have bolstered our ability to protect Jewish life in all its forms.
To each and every member of our Jewish family — know that SCN stands ready to support you. Our work continues, driven by the unwavering belief that a safe and secure Jewish community is the key to a thriving Jewish community. We will continue to face the challenges ahead as we always have: together.
Stay safe,
Michael G. Masters
National Director & CEO
Secure Community Network
Notable Arrests And Convictions
New York, New York: On 04 September, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani citizen in Canada, was arrested for allegedly planning an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack targeting Jewish people in Brooklyn around the 07 October anniversary. He is charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. The FBI and Canadian law enforcement cooperated in the investigation.
Elk Grove, California & Boise, Idaho: On 09 September, Dallas Humber, 34, and Matthew Allison, 37, leaders of the Terrorgram Collective — a white supremacist chat forum — were indicted on 15 federal counts for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The pair allegedly used Telegram to promote white supremacist ideology and murder plots targeting U.S. officials, including a Jewish politician.
Ann Arbor, Michigan: On 15 September, a 19-year-old man was allegedly assaulted after being asked if he was Jewish. The Ann Arbor police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Staff Updates
This month, SCN was excited to announce and welcome two new members of our Operations team, Regional Security Advisor for Florida’s West Coast John Murtagh and Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina Bruce Gourlie.
Murtagh will serve as the official security liaison for the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. His previous experience includes having served with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for over two decades, including more than half that time as a Detective in the Intelligence Bureau. Murtagh also holds field experience with the Marine Corps Reserve and the Navy Reserve.
Bruce Gourlie will oversee the safety and security of approximately 36,500 Jewish residents across the Greensboro Jewish Federation, Jewish for Good/Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill, the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh, and The Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal. During his 21-year career at the FBI, he held several distinguished roles, including Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the New York Field Office, overseeing human intelligence efforts in criminal investigations, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence. He also led the Policy and Strategy Unit in the National Security Branch at FBI Headquarters. After retiring from the bureau, he served as the security director for a large healthcare facility.
National Engagements
On 23 September, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its 2023 Hate Crime Report, revealing that the Jewish community remains the most-targeted religious group, with 1,832 anti-Jewish reported hate crimes accounting for 67% of all religiously motivated hate crimes recorded by the FBI, up from 56% (1,124) the prior year in the wake of the 07 October Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
The FBI’s report carries added significance following the 07 October attacks, which fueled increased violence and harassment against Jewish communities across North America. Additionally, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) saw a marked improvement in data collection, with participating agencies increasing from 77.5% to 83.5% compared to the previous year. Accurate data is essential for informing law enforcement and partners about evolving threats, enabling better community protection by directing appropriate resources, and adjusting security strategies to meet the threat environment.
“The historic increase in hate crimes against the Jewish community, as demonstrated by both FBI and SCN data, underscores an unprecedented threat environment, particularly after the 07 October Hamas attacks,” said SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters. “We commend those state and local law enforcement agencies participating in the FBI’s UCR for improving their hate crimes collection efforts in the last year — critical progress that helps provide a more clear and complete picture for law enforcement and Jewish communal security partners to operate within to protect our communities and ensure dignity and justice for victims. Whether in synagogues, community centers, or university campuses, SCN is continuing to work in partnership and close collaboration with the FBI to ensure that Jewish life in North America thrives and remains secure, no matter the challenges we face.”
Read coverage detailing SCN’s reaction and the impact of the report on the Jewish community in JTA, Jewish Insider, and the Jerusalem Post.
During the 18 September High Holiday Briefing: Federal Partnerships for Jewish Communal Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters addressed attendees and joined key partners — The Jewish Federations of North America, ADL, the Orthodox Union (OU), and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations — in briefing members of Congress and their staff on the threat environment facing the Jewish community as the High Holiday season approaches.
Attendees also heard from key members of Congress including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), Senator Chris Murphy (CT), Senator James Lankford (OK), Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06), and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01).
On 04 September, SCN proudly announced its membership in a distinguished public-private sector cohort with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as part of the Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program (AEP).
Through the AEP, government analysts and partners from the private and non-profit sectors collaborate to share timely intelligence and trends and produce joint analytic products. Through its participation, SCN will enhance its capabilities to protect the Jewish community through even stronger partnerships with the ODNI and the network of its participating organizations.
SCN is one of two faith-based nonprofits admitted to the AEP, marking the first time non-profit entities have been selected for inclusion — a milestone that enhances the program’s diversity and bolsters SCN’s capacity to receive and share actionable intelligence. This membership improves the accessibility and effectiveness of SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center (JSOCC), while also fostering enhanced collaboration and integration of field intelligence from SCN’s security professionals and the network of Jewish community security directors with government partners and private sector counterparts.
The AEP includes 60 government participants and 64 private sector representatives. Government entities involved include the FBI, U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Transportation, National Security Agency (NSA), ODNI, state and local governments, and fusion centers. The private sector is represented by companies such as Amazon, Meta, The Walt Disney Company, and Citi.
Read more about SCN’s participation in the ODNI’s Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program in Jewish News Syndicate.
Community Engagements
In September, SCN debuted two new training courses that will be incorporated into our training curriculum. Early in the month, we were excited to announce Guardian training to help community members become active bystanders. Building upon SCN’s foundational “BeAware: An Introduction to Situational Awareness” curriculum, this course was developed to provide a higher level of training specifically for staff, leadership, and community members who regularly work in or frequent Jewish community organizations. Recognizing that those who regularly visit and work in Jewish facilities, whether as paid staff or community members, may be in a unique position to recognize people, items, and issues that may be out of place or abnormal, this training helps participants be “Active Bystanders,” individuals with developed skills in threat identification, emergency preparedness, de-escalation techniques, and incident response to protect community centers, schools, senior centers, and other facilities.
Last week, we were proud to announce De-Escalation training to enhance Jewish community safety. Developed by the network of Jewish security professionals and our team of curriculum developers, and featuring input from lay and professional leadership from organizations across the country as well as specific guidance and input from mental health professionals, SCN’s new De-Escalation course has been designed to provide staff, volunteers, and security personnel at Jewish organizations and facilities, as well as community leaders and members who frequently interact with the public, with a basic understanding of the skills and techniques needed to defuse or reduce tension, hostility, or conflict in various situations.
Both courses premiered with multiple sessions as part of our annual High Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series, which concluded last Thursday.
This month, SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters and SCN leadership were proud to welcome key members of the leadership team from Hillel International, including Vice President and Chief of Staff Jamie Schiffman, to SCN Headquarters to discuss our critical partnership and ongoing safety and security efforts on campuses across the country and around the world, including our recently-announced Operation SecureOurCampuses effort to surge resources to colleges and universities facing the greatest risk and threats to Jewish students.
Joining the meeting were SCN Principal Deputy Director Patrick Daly, Deputy Director of Operations Grant Mendenhall, and Director of Campus Safety and Security Kerri Reifel.
High Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series
This month, SCN wrapped up our 2024/5785 High Holidays Safety & Security Webinar Series. We were thrilled to see nearly 15,000 participants sign up to attend this year’s webinar series. Over nearly two months, SCN’s National Security and Training teams conducted 25 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 heightened importance and security concerns.
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 attack, a reminder of the unprecedented threat environment impacting the Jewish community worldwide.
All 30 High Holiday resources and six full webinars can be accessed on the High Holidays page on SCN’s website.
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