Adam Minsky
President and CEO, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Editor Yoni Goldstein’s latest column (Shul security has become a year-round concern) is a stark reminder of how much has changed since the horrific attacks on shuls in Pittsburgh and Poway, Calif. So too must our approach to communal security change. We will not remain a thriving community unless we can continue to gather at shuls, day schools and community centres and be confident in our security and wellbeing.
This is why UJA Federation of Greater Toronto launched our Community Security initiative in the spring. In a few short months, we have provided security training to hundreds of community members and on-site guidance to more than 30 synagogues across the GTA – with more to come.
Working hand-in-hand with police, our security team’s best practices are rooted in the fact that training, procedures, and vigilance save lives. And through our advocacy agent, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), we are calling on government to help offset growing security costs that our community institutions struggle to afford.
With the right strategy and resources, we can build our collective resilience and protect what matters most.