As you may likely hear, an Ohio man was arrested this morning for planning an attack on a synagogue in Toledo. This individual was closely monitored by the FBI for months prior to his arrest and is believed to have been acting alone. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice for their diligence and effectiveness in preventing what could have been another tragedy.
This incident, coming on the heels of the terrible massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, is a stark reminder of the virulence and danger of anti-semitism in our society. It also reaffirms the critical need for vigilant and ongoing security throughout Jewish Detroit.
As the steward of our community, the Federation remains deeply committed to the security of our Jewish individuals and families. To that end, we raise over a million dollars a year to provide for the safety of our schools, agency buildings and Jewish campuses.
Central to this effort is the Federation Community-Wide Security Department, which collaborates closely with our partner agencies as well as with local and national law-enforcement entities—including the Secure Community Network, a national homeland security organization working on behalf the American Jewish community. A team of highly-trained and experienced officers are stationed at our Jewish Day Schools, camps and campuses. The team also assists Jewish institutions across the community by providing training, consultation, education and advocacy to instill a culture of awareness and safety.
As the arrest in Toledo illustrates, the efforts of law enforcement and security teams can be highly effective at discovering and preventing terrorist attacks. And while there can never be a 100% guarantee, our investment in security personnel and technologies is clearly essential in maintaining our safety. On behalf of the entire community, we are grateful to our many supporters who make our robust community-wide security efforts possible.
We will continue to keep our community informed of any important security issues that arise. We ask that anyone with information or concerns they would like to share do so at 248-642-4260 or send us a message here.