February 9, 2023

Run, hide, or fight? These are the options one must consider if faced with the unthinkable. Not a pleasant thought, but we have to think about it, and we have to prepare.  And that is exactly what we did last Thursday evening as members of the JFED security team conducted active shooter drills with more than 60 members of our faculty, staff, and clergy.  We started with a full staff discussion on the Run/Hide/Fight concept, which basically states that if you can run and safely get out of the building, that should be your first course of action. If running and escaping is not an option, know where you will lock down and hide.  And finally, if the threat is too close to run or hide, you do what you can to save your life.  We then separated into different groups to actually walk through, and in some cases run through (literally), what we would do in an active shooter event.  ECEC and religious school teachers practiced drills with the trainers in their classrooms while administrative staff and clergy practiced drills in their respective work spaces.  All groups then practiced scenarios throughout different areas of the entire building.  

Training on situational awareness and responding to an active threat are critical components of security preparedness. Participating in these types of trainings and drills will help one be better prepared to act, to assess the situation, and determine if one should run, hide, or fight.  We will be conducting similar drills with the congregation at large in the near future, similar to what we did several years ago.  Stay tuned for information on the scheduling of those drills, and please try to attend.

In the meantime: 
•    Be aware of your surroundings at all times, no matter where you are 
•    If you see something, say something
•    Know where the nearest exit is at all times 
•    Know where to hide if you have to 
•    Please be sure to close outside doors after entering or exiting the building 
•    If you see a front entrance door open, or any outside door open, please close it 

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom, and I look forward to seeing you in shul! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can always reach out to me at rons@tbsonline.org or (856) 751-6663 x218.

B’Shalom,
Ron Safier
Executive Director