In the wake of the devastating attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27^th, the issue of security in Jewish institutions around the country has been on the forefront of the minds of many in our communities. Hearing news reports about the Rabbi who had recently completed an active harmer training resonated deeply with the staff at CU Boulder Hillel. Due to his training, he was the only one who didn’t freeze under threat, enabling him to save the lives of numerous congregants. We contacted the CU Police Department about active harmer training after completing an audit of our own security protocols and realizing that we came up short. Initially, the intention was to train the staff, then the student leaders, and finally, after consulting with CUPD, anyone in the greater community that is interested in joining us.

For leaders in Jewish institutions, this training is a no-brainer. What would you do if someone entered your space intending to harm innocent people? If you can’t immediately answer that question, this training is for you. According to Sgt. Zizz with the CUPD, “everyone in this nation should have this training,” whether you are going to the movies, a restaurant, or as we tragically learned this week, your favorite bar or nightclub.

The training will take place at CU Boulder Hillel, 2795 Colorado Avenue, on Friday, November 16^th, from 1:00-2:30 pm. The training will not be specific to our building, is open to anyone, and there is no cost to attend. Please RSVP to nherreid@cuboulderhillel.org if you plan on coming so that we know how many are coming. Prior to attending this training, please view the following short video to become familiar with some of the basic options available to those involved in an active harmer scenario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0&feature=youtu.be

We hope as many people can receive this training as possible and, even more so, that it will never be necessary to use the skills learned.