L.A. Jewish organizations and law enforcement address safety concerns following Colleyville attack

(Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX)

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, FBI Los Angeles and representatives from the Beverly Hills Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department held a press conference at Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Beverly Hills on Friday Jan. 21 to address community concerns in the wake of the hostage crisis at Beth Israel Congregation in Colleyville, TX on Jan. 15.

ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffery Abrams said, “Last Saturday, an unidentified man took four hostages in a Jewish synagogue on the holy day of the Sabbath, sending shockwaves throughout the American Jewish community. But as Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, the leader of the Colleyville synagogue and one of the four hostages said, one of the keys to his survival that day was training and partnership – resources provided both through the Jewish Federation of North America and by the ADL.”

Newly installed Los Angeles Federation President and CEO Noah Farkas said, “Our work securing the Jewish community of Los Angeles is a top priority for The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. That’s why we established our Community Security Initiative (CSI) in 2012. CSI works diligently with the ADL and our valued law enforcement partners including the FBI and LAPD to keep all of us safe. We are stronger together and grateful they joined us here today.”

In a statement issued by the Federation, the organization noted, “ADL and The Jewish Federation have long worked together, as partners, ensuring that Jewish communal institutions are physically safe and secure, and that the Jewish community has the intelligence, information, and resources necessary to protect itself. Together, ADL and the Federation fiercely advocated for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides non-profit organizations, including Jewish schools and houses of worship, with much-needed financial assistance to bolster security.”