Community Security

Protecting Jewish Life in Northeast Florida

The Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida and Secure Community Network (SCN) have partnered to bring the Community Security Initiative (CSI) to Northeast Florida. The launch of CSI followed nearly a year of extensive community engagement and planning.

Alex Silverstein hit the ground running in March of 2023 as our new Community Security Director. Many of you already know Alex, as he had been a Special Agent with the FBI for 26 ½ years, with 16 of those years here in Jacksonville. He supported our community many times during security planning and incident response. Alex works across our region to support every synagogue, community center, school, healthcare facility, and other center of Jewish life.

Key services include:

facilities assessments

physical security consultation

incident response

assistance in applying for federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds

The Federation conducts frequent trainings and exercises using SCN's flagship courses in topics such as how to identify and report suspicious activity; prepare for the possibility of an active threat; apply the nationally-recognized principles of Run-Hide-Fight if an active threat scenario occurs; and Stop the Bleed® if someone is hurt. These proven approaches, which have already been credited with saving lives during incidents across the country, help empower participants with skills that can be used at home, in the workplace, or in public, in addition to Jewish gathering places.

Contact to Arrange Training

The official safety & security organization for the Jewish community in North America

As the official safety & security organization for the Jewish community in North America, SCN works across 146 Federations, 50 partner organizations, over 300 independent communities, and other partners in the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. SCN runs the National Jewish Security Operations Command Center in Chicago, which includes a 24-hour Duty Desk that serves as the central intake and distribution point for incident and threat reporting, analysis, information sharing, and incident tracking. SCN's intelligence analysts identify and review threats around the clock and coordinate as needed with law enforcement agencies and Jewish facilities.