Strong, Secure and Proud
Our community is vibrant and resilient — and that remains unchanged.
Every day, our schools continue to fill with children’s laughter. Our shuls continue to welcome families in prayer. Our camps, community centres and programs bring people together in strength and pride.
What has changed is the environment around us.
There was a time when doors could remain wide open. Today, that is no longer the reality — not because we seek to isolate ourselves, but rather to ensure that we are protecting what matters most.
For Jewish institutions, this means:
- Entrances that are welcoming — but controlled;
- Knowing who is present around or spaces and who is entering them; and
- People, procedures, infrastructure and technology working together to deter, detect and protect.
Every school, synagogue, camp and community centre has its own rhythm and vulnerabilities. Using structured, individualized assessments, JSN works directly with institutional leadership to identify risks, prioritize improvements and implement changes that create lasting impact.
The JSN Shield Grant Program further strengthens this work, investing up to $250,000 per qualifying institution. Supported by UJA, the program provides synagogues, schools and community facilities with funding, expert guidance and ongoing support to upgrade critical security infrastructure — whether access controls, surveillance systems, protective barriers, or other measures designed to deter and protect. These are not cosmetic upgrades. They are long-term resilience investments.
Additionally, together with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), we are working closely with Public Safety Canada to reduce barriers to accessing funds, accelerate approvals and take a coordinated approach to ensure funding turns into stronger doors, smarter systems and safer Jewish communities.
Security does not rest on one initiative. It relies on a coordinated ecosystem — infrastructure, procedures, trained people, intelligence-led monitoring and active partnerships. When those layers align, security becomes a seamless part of everyday life, as it has been for many Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora for decades.
To learn more about how we can help strengthen security at your Jewish institution, please connect with JSN here.
Active, well-trained volunteers are a critical part of that layered security approach. Volunteers who are embedded in their community are best positioned to spot security concerns early – be it an unusual vehicle or package, a door that shouldn’t be left open, or a suspicious individual attempting to enter the building.
To register for JSN’s training programs, please connect with us here to sign up for our Community Watch training or (more in-depth) Protector training.
In the coming days, our community will gather to celebrate Purim — a holiday rooted in courage, resilience and the triumph of Jewish continuity. Purim reminds us that even in challenging times, we remain proud and unshaken.
There are no known, specific threats related to Purim. However, significant dates on our calendar naturally bring larger gatherings and increased risk. That simply calls for thoughtful, responsible preparation.
As you plan and host events for Purim, please remember the following best practices:
- Ensure JSN is aware of your events;
- Coordinate with local law enforcement where appropriate;
- Maintain secured entrances and controlled access points;
- Where costumes include masks, confirm identification before granting entry;
- Trust your instincts — and report anything that feels out of place.
If you witness suspicious activity, experience a concerning incident, or have a security question, please contact JSN’s 24/7 Security Hotline: 437-222-3999. In an emergency, always call 911 first.
As always, we will not hesitate to issue a community alert should we receive critical security information. To receive more JSN security updates in the future, please sign up here — and invite your friends and family to sign up and stay informed.
Thank you in advance for doing your part to help keep our community secure. On behalf of our JSN team, I wish our entire community a happy, healthy and safe Purim.
Chag Sameach,
Jevon Greenblatt
CEO