Following Sydney massacre, US Jewish security groups reiterate guidelines

US Jewish security groups release guidelines for Hanukkah events after the massacre at a Hanukkah event today in Sydney, Australia.

The Secure Community Network, the Community Security Initiative, and the Community Security Service — three leading Jewish community groups in the US — issue a set of recommendations, including:

Coordinating Hanukkah events with local law enforcement and security professionals; extending the security perimeter for events as far away from gatherings as possible; only allowing identifiable and pre-screened invitees into events, and not sending out mass invitations to the public; requiring registration and verification for all entrants; only providing event details, such as time and location, after invitees have registered; implementing access control, such as locked doors and security at entrances, for all events; reporting any suspicious activity; and adding armed on-duty or off-duty law enforcement, private security, and volunteer teams for additional security.

The guidelines are backed by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Anti-Defamation League.

US Jewish security groups have repeatedly shared similar guidelines following threats and attacks against American Jews in recent years, as US Jewish institutions have increasingly tightened their security due to the dangers.

In New York, city and state leaders say they will increase police protection at Jewish community events following the Australia attack.