(Courtesy of Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey) On July 28, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, in partnership with the Jewish Federations of Greater MetroWest and Northern New Jersey, presented H.A.R.M. (hostility, anger and rage management) training for Jewish communal leaders on how to recognize, deter and de-escalate hostile or violent acts directed at their organizations, people and facilities.
The web-based training was attended by approximately 250 participants from synagogues, Jewish schools, cultural centers, and community centers in more than 10 counties throughout New Jersey, local, state and federal law enforcement professionals, and Jewish federation security directors from across the country.
Steven Crimando, an internationally known consultant and educator specializing in behavioral science applications in crisis management and emergency response, provided instruction in:
• Recognizing and defusing acute anxiety, anger and hostility
• Pre-incident risk indicators of lone actor and homegrown violent extremists
• Understanding hostile approach behaviors
• Applying a three-step model to the management of fear and anxiety
• Verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques
• De-escalating groups and crowds
In a special address, Jared M. Maples, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, expressed appreciation for Jewish Federations’ partnership in collective leadership in securing the state not only through target hardening, but equally through education and training.
“Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey has recently brought more than a dozen security workshops to Jewish communal leaders as well as individual community members to make Jewish life in Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties stronger and safer,” said Amy Keller, director of security initiatives at Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, as bias incidents increased, Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey joined other federations across the state and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to connect Jewish organizations with guidance on bias incident awareness, facilitated by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Throughout the pandemic, Federation has directly consulted with Jewish organizations and provided them with access to regionally and nationally recognized experts on topics ranging from cybersecurity required for virtual operations and security measures for unoccupied buildings to guidelines on applying for government security grants and considerations for returning to on-site operations.
The work relating to security grants yielded another $1 million in government funds being awarded to Jewish organizations in Monmouth and Greater Middlesex, bringing the five-year total for the Heart of NJ to $5 million for security enhancements.
For more information, contact Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ’s Director of Security Initiatives and External Affairs Amy Keller at [email protected] and access additional resources from the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness at www.NJOHSP.org.
