Written by a member of the JCC Safety & Security Team

At a time when antisemitism is rising across the country at unprecedented rates, and in the wake of recent attacks—including those in Boulder and Michigan—we are especially aware of what it means to stand proudly as a Jewish community organization. These events are painful reminders of the realities many communities face, but they also reinforce why preparation and awareness matter. Preparation gives us confidence, clarity, and the ability to care for one another.

I belong to the generation that experienced the Columbine High School shooting while still in school. In 1999, I watched the news and felt fear entering a space that had once felt safe and full of possibility. Years later, as a college student during the Virginia Tech tragedy, I remember being afraid to leave my dorm, afraid to go to class, and unsure how to process what was happening.

Those experiences stayed with me, not to place blame on schools or institutions, but to highlight something important: we can’t always rely on others to prepare us for unpredictable situations. Sometimes, we have to take responsibility for our own readiness and resilience.

My perspective shifted after hearing a psychologist speak about school shootings and community tragedies. Younger generations are now growing up with active threat drills and situational awareness as part of their routine. They’re learning tools many of us never had. And that made me realize…it’s never too late to learn.

That’s exactly what happened when I attended a Secure Community Network (SCN)* training session. For the first time, I was given simple, practical tools to prepare both my mind and body for how to respond to a potential threat. It didn’t make me afraid—it made me feel empowered.