As antisemitism and terror attacks become sadly more commonplace, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey (JFNNJ) is offering two active-shooter training sessions next week.

“Whether in a house of worship, a mall, a supermarket or even a movie theater, active-shooter incidents across our nation have become all too common. The ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ training paradigm, simply put, unlocks the average person’s brain and allows them to act quickly and decisively to survive,” said Tim Torell, director of Jewish Community Security for JFNNJ. “This is a training that every member, young or old, needs to take. ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ empowers [rather than] frightens.”

According to Brad Orsini, senior national security advisor for SCN (Secure Community Network), since Hamas’s horrific Oct. 7 attacks there has been an “an increased pace in the volume of potential threats.” He noted that the Jewish community “has adapted to this environmental change, and many communal organizations continue to be on a heightened state of alert.”

That being said, Orsini said “there has been a marketable rise in Jewish programming across the country and we want to make sure everyone is consciously planning for safety and security at these events. We are encouraging all interested in planning an event to reach out to their federations or SCN headquarters to ensure best safety and security practices.”

The “Run, Hide, Fight” program is one such program, and has already been proven lifesaving. Members of Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas credited their security training with SCN in helping them stay calm and know how to respond when a gunman took them hostage in January 2022.

The “Run, Hide, Fight” active-shooter training will be offered for free on Thursday, April 11 at 2:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m.. To register, visit JFNNJ.org