Jewish Community In New York Launches Security Program

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — In response to rising antisemitism, the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County is building its own security program, saying it's the first to benefit from a project called LiveSecure that is designed to help protect the Jewish community across North America.

One of the first moves was to hire a director of security. His top priorities will be helping Jewish institutions throughout Rockland assess their security and apply for grants to help cover the cost of improving it, and offering active threat training.

And there are real threats.

"Our community doesn’t need to reach back to remember Pittsburgh, and Poway, Jersey City, Dallas, or our own streets, where antisemitic violence has taken lives," Ari Rosenblum, CEO of the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Rockland County said at a recent news conference. "Our partners at the ADL share statistics regularly, and those statistics show a doubling of violent incidents right here, and a massive increase in antisemitic incidents across the country. The challenge isn’t unique to Rockland, but our geography, demography, density, diversity and proximity to other Jewish communities makes us the right place to build and deliver a comprehensive approach to this very real challenge."

(The Anti-Defamation League reported finding 2,717 antisemitic incidents nationwide in 2021, a 34 percent increase from 2020 and the highest number on record since the organization began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.)

With more than 105,000 community members, out of a total county population of 330,000, Rockland’s is the highest density of any Jewish community in the United States. There are several hundred institutions in the community, including schools, synagogues, camps, and community centers.

The deadly machete attack on 100 people in Monsey at a Hanukkah celebration in 2019 is one of the violent antisemitic incidents across the country that the LiveSecure project names on its webpage. At the news conference, the Times of Israel reported, Mitch Silber, head of the UJA-Federation New York's Community Security Initiative, said, "What we really want to do is create sort of an iron dome of protection from Monsey to Montauk, to protect Jewish communities all throughout this area of New York State. So I’m really glad to be in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Rockland."

The new initiative has the financial support of UJA Federation of New York and of the LiveSecure Program — a partnership of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Secure Community Network. Money raised through LiveSecure will enable the creation of new programs and the continuation or expansion of existing programs.

Director of Security Ethan Erlich is a retired NYPD Detective with more than two decades of experience. Erlich has training and experience in special weapons and tactics, active shooter response, dignitary protection, site security, surveillance & counter-surveillance, WMD/suicide bomber detection and prevention and more. He is certified from NYS DCJS and others to train and instruct police, security, and civilian courses.

Erlich is also tasked with developing relationships with law enforcement, sharing information and intelligence, creating communication networks across Jewish community institutions and working with law enforcement to identify and address additional vulnerabilities.

Rosenblum said outreach to Jewish institutions across Rockland has already begun.

"Integral to our efforts as well is our partnership with Agudath Israel, introducing the security initiative to synagogues, schools, and camps in the Haredi community, including those that we do not yet have relationships with," he said. "We've worked to integrate as many Jewish institutions and groups as we can reach into our planning, and we've included our local beneficiary agencies as well."

Federation officials said they had received full support elected officials.

Erlich will also be making connections outside the Jewish community.

"There are a number of communities across Rockland that are also targeted by hate and challenged to be secure," Rosenblum said. "What we learn from building this initiative will be valuable to them too, and we look forward to continuing consultations and discussions with them."

Rosenblum thanked many who shared suggestions and advice, specially singling out Steve Gold and Marcy Pressman, JF&F co-presidents; Richard Levin & Evan Karzhevsky, Chair and Vice Chair of the CRC; Rivkie Feiner, Board and CRC member; David Heskiel, Board member and Security Committee Chair; and all of the members of the CRC and Board who have devoted years to leadership and to confronting antisemitism in Rockland.

"This initiative also has the potential to do something those of you who have regularly been reading my messages will know is of critical importance to me," he said. "It can bring this diverse and sometimes divided community closer together on an issue of common interest. This commonality, no matter where it comes from, is something we can and we must build upon."

SEE ALSO:

• Man Dies Of Machete Injuries From Hanukkah Attack
• Four Teens Accused In Drive-By Assaults On Hasidic Jews
• Anti-Semitic Remarks At Rockland Meeting Shock Officials
• Rockland Leaders Grapple With Development, Anti-Semitism
• $10K Reward Offered Over Worshipper Stabbing In Rockland
• Political Signs with Anti-Semitic Undertones Appear in Rockland
• Rockland Attack Latest In Region's Series of Hate Crimes
• 'Hate Packets' Thrown On Clarkstown Lawns
• Rockland Man Sentenced For Anti-Semitic Harassment In CT
• Antisemitic Graffiti Found On Rockland School Playground

Editor's Note: The Rockland Jewish community is among many across the country who have created security programs. They were the first to benefit from a LiveSecure grant. The original version of this article was incorrect. Patch regrets the error.