FOLLOWING BETH ISRAEL HOSTAGE TAKING, SECURE COMMUNITY NETWORK LAUNCHES “BeAware”

A New Security Training Program To Train and Prepare Community Members 
“Every Synagogue and Jewish Facility Should Participate”
 
In the aftermath of the attack on Temple Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, the Secure Community Network (SCN), as the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, announced today the release of a new training designed for all members of the Jewish community. The training will provide attendees with an improved ability to recognize suspicious behavior and criminal activity, guidance on how to report it, and strategies to protect themselves and others from violence.

Known as “BeAware,” the program is an interactive training course that can be delivered either online or in-person. BeAware is available to all members of the Jewish community; no background in security is required. The course is designed to improve the ability of members of the Jewish community to recognize and react to dangerous situations in their everyday lives – from going to synagogue and dropping off children off at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM.

The training teaches best practice techniques on how to observe, report, and react to suspicious behavior, evaluate threats, and “commit to action” in dangerous situations. Participants will learn to distinguish between different situations, from individuals with mental health issues to civil unrest, and learn when something needs to be reported.

Designed with the community by security professionals with experience in training thousands of members of the Jewish community, as well as law enforcement both in the United States and abroad, the training is for everyone – from parents to professionals, and from receptionists to rabbis.

SCN will be hosting a national on-line preview of the training on January 27th, 2022, at 1:00PM ET. Participants can register here.

“As we saw in Texas, we cannot pick the time and date of the next incident that will impact our community, but we can choose to prepare,” said Michael Masters, CEO of SCN. “A critical component of preparing is training, and this training will provide crucial skills the Jewish community needs to stay safe. I hope every synagogue and Jewish facility in the United States will participate.”