Community & Security Initiatives

Community

The Interfaith and Intergroup initiative creates and strengthens understanding, respect and unity among different faith and ethnic communities.  To foster this, the Council is involved in various programs including serving as a key partner with AJC Westchester/Fairfield and others for the annual Westchester Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast; facilitating the Interfaith/Intergroup Roundtable; and continuing to be a supportive organization for our interfaith friends and leaders in the community.

“Westchester Stands United Against Antisemitism and Hate“

On June 7th, 2021, 700 community members would be standing in unity against antisemitism and hate in the JCC of Mid-Westchester’s parking lot this past Monday evening. With a program of inspiring speakers from a multitude of local organizations and houses of worship, to the music from Westchester Day School’s 2nd Grader chorus, and then more beautiful music to end the program from representatives of Kol Hazzanim/The Cantors of Westchester, it was a night we are proud to have organized with UJA Federation of NY and in partnership with American Jewish Committee (AJC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center and the host facility the JCC Mid-Westchester. There are so many people and organizations who helped make this meaningful program a success and we could not have done it without them. Please click here for a full list of those that were involved, especially our partners from other religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Security

• We work closely with security professional William Hayes, who is part of the Community Security Initiative (a joint program of UJA, JCRC-NY and in Westchester with the Westchester Jewish Council).
• We host the “Emergency Communication System” to alert our member organizations and their trained professionals of an emergency situation
• Security audits are available by CSI for all of our member organizations. Contact us for more information.
• We host security roundtables to update members on the latest news, techniques and training in security.
• We develop relationships with other faith-based organizations to combat hate.
• We work closely with County wide law enforcement as needed.
• We work in close coordination with our member organizations such as CSS and ADL as well as JCRC, UJA and SCN, etc. (You may not know all these organizations but these are all world class wonderful partners and resources for the Council and community.

Please send any security questions/concerns to security@wjcouncil.org.

Here is a list of security resources:

DHS: www.dhs.gov/hometown-security

FEMA: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS907.asp

DHS: https://www.dhs.gov/cisa/school-safety-and-security

SCN: https://securecommunitynetwork.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0b3c7e1421bd2734b0610a1fb&id=ee68ff9d1a

ADL: https://www.adl.org/sign-up-to-receive-adl-email-newsletters

JCRC-NY: https://groups.google.com/g/jcrcsecurity

CSS: https://www.thecss.org/

CISA: https://www.cisa.gov/employee-vigilance-power-hello

CISA: https://www.cisa.gov/

FBI Active shooter video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55v7fP5nn9c

CSI Overview/Initiatives

• In the wake of the violent attacks against Jewish targets in Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City and Monsey, during 2018-2019, the UJA Federation of New York (UJA) and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) created a new security initiative to better protect the Jewish communities in the greater NYC area. The Community Security Initiative is a multi-year program, which covers Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and the five counties of New York City. Its goal is to enhance security by: improving the physical security of institutions, providing staff training, providing threat intelligence, assisting with assessments and grant applications, enabling connectivity with law enforcement and supplying real-time communication. To read the full CSI overview, please click here.