Since the October 7 attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, incidents of hatred towards Jews in the U.S. have skyrocketed, including here in Ohio. As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, there is reason to believe these incidents will continue as anti-Israel rhetoric fuels antisemitism. With this in mind, it is critical that our Jewish community gets lifesaving security training and recommits to prioritizing personal safety.

On Tuesday, August 20th, JFC Security, LLC and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, in partnership with HBO and the Secure Community Network, will host a special screening of the 2022 HBO acclaimed documentary, A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting at the Mandel JCC Stonehill Auditorium. This 82-minute documentary (rated PG-13) on the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting tells the story of the resilience of the survivors, family, and community healing after the deadliest antisemitic attack in U. S. History. Immediately following the film, we will have a 30-minute panel discussion – including a Tree of Life survivor and security experts – about the lessons learned from this tragic incident.

On Wednesday, August 21st, we will offer the FBI’s “National Active Shooter Attack, Prevention & Preparedness” (ASAPP) training course for non-law enforcement audiences. This course will empower you with the ability to respond confidently in the event an active threat to your personal safety were to occur. ASAPP training combines lessons learned from years of research on active shooter incidents – including the Tree of Life incident – with interactive training techniques to provide a concise, educational, and relevant course in a user-friendly manner. Participants will gain a deeper understanding on how to use situational awareness to reduce exp; learn lifesaving strategies and skills if involved in an active shooter incident; and see why “Run, Hide, Fight” is the national standard for civilian response.

The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting: Lessons Learned