It is with tremendous gratitude to G-d that I write to you in the wake of the crisis that took place at Colleyville’s Congregation Beth Israel on Saturday.
I am grateful beyond measure that all four hostages were returned to their families safe and physically unharmed. I deeply appreciate the dedication and professionalism of the local, state, and federal law enforcement officials who prevented this act of terror from ending in tragedy.
Furthermore, I am humbled by the support our Jewish community received from all corners of the world. Our sages teach us, “kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh,” - as Jews, we are all responsible for one another. That sentiment is clearer today than it has ever been.
Throughout the day on Saturday, the Federation’s Community Security Initiative (CSI) and Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) mobilized to work toward a peaceable solution:
- Community Security leadership collaborated with law enforcement to ensure the safety of the hostages and that the situation was diffused without endangering those involved.
- Increased police presence and protection was quickly deployed to all Jewish institutions in the Greater Dallas area.
- Text, phone, and email alerts were dispatched to over 10,000 recipients in the greater Dallas area informing them of the ongoing active situation.
- Our JCRC communicated with elected officials at the local, state, and national levels, other leaders, and communities of faith.
- We were there to support our colleagues at the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth & Tarrant County and to facilitate a coordinated response to the crisis.
These are relationships and systems our Federation has spent years cultivating, so that in moments of crisis, we are able to act swiftly to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. This is the best testament of your dollars at work through the Federation.
In days to come, you will hear more about the Federation’s increased vigilance in spaces where Jews gather, learn and worship, and a vigorous advocacy effort for more security funding to help protect our Synagogues and Jewish institutions. We will work with all Greater Dallas Jewish institutions to ensure their professional and lay leadership benefit from security trainings and facility assessments, the type of training which Beth Israel’s Rabbi Cytron-Walker credits, in part, for his ability to successfully navigate the crisis. We have offered these training programs to our Jewish community at no charge for several years and will continue to do so.
Finally, we hope you will join us on Thursday evening, January 20 at 7 PM for a virtual, multi-faith community event we are hosting with the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth & Tarrant County to bring our community together and offer support and gratitude. Click here to register for this Zoom program.
