Thank you
Mark White for the Security Team
Published August 2022
Whether you are aware or not, Temple David continues to maintain a strong focus on security and security awareness. Our exterior entrance doors are locked at all times. We schedule volunteer greeters to be assigned for each Friday evening service, Saturday morning service, other services, and special events, to monitor the front entrance before and during the service or event. The assigned ushers assist in this security effort by watching the monitor on the wall outside the main office door. This monitor shows all outside points of entry.
The greeters and ushers, as well as the Rabbi or service leader, also wear panic buttons while on duty so any threat or perceived threat can be acted upon by pressing the panic button which automatically alerts the Allegheny County 911 system. (For your additional info, 412-856-1111 can also be used in an emergency which goes directly to the Monroeville Police Department.) It is a shame that such procedures are necessary, but the world climate dictates that we remain cognizant of who is desiring access to our wonderful facility. During the week, our employees also maintain this security awareness by controlling entry via the cameras and monitors installed throughout the building. I am guessing that some of you do not see the need for such diligence, but it is very necessary. The best thing that could happen is that nothing ever happens.
However, your security team does need your assistance.
We would welcome more volunteers who are willing to be the Greeter at a specific service. Generally, you would report for duty one-half-hour before the start of the service and remain at the front entrance until ten minutes after the service starts. You would wear the panic button for the full duration of the service and leave your mobile phone number on the board at the front door to be called if someone arrives late after you have left your post. There is an intercom in the upper lobby which allows communication with someone outside in lieu of having to open any doors to talk to a guest face-to-face. Please contact me if you are interested in joining the Greeter Team.
Another point of concern in maintaining proper security is how to manage guests who have been invited to a life cycle event or special affair at Temple David. The Greeter volunteer would have no idea how to distinguish invited guests from potential intruders. It is mandatory that the family or entity hosting the specific service or event provide the Temple office and the TD Security Team with a typed list of all invited guests. Additionally, it is mandatory that the host family station a person knowledgeable of the invited guests at the front entrance to work with the volunteer Greeter to identify visitors not known to Temple David. While this may seem like an inconvenience, prevention of a negative occurrence or situation has to be our primary concern.
Thank you for your understanding as it relates to our security awareness at Temple David. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!!
Published April 2020
Thank-You to the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh
for Providing Go-Bags
The Temple David Security Team, Board of Trustees, and Weiger School Commission thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for providing Go-Bags to the Weiger Religious School, and all other Jewish schools in the area. We also thank the volunteers who performed the mitzvah of assembling the bags.
Message from Jeffrey Finkelstein, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh:
What are Go Bags? They are large backpacks filled with medical and emergency equipment.
On February 23, a group of volunteers assembled more than 500 of them.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Security Committee made the decision to provide this life saving equipment to EVERY classroom in Jewish Pittsburgh. Every classroom means every religious school, day school, and preschool room used to educate our community’s children. This translates into approximately 500 bags, imprinted with the Federation logo and paid for by the Federation, being distributed throughout Western Pennsylvania.
And we don’t stop with just distributing them; our Security Director will train our teachers and school administrators on how to use them in case of any type of emergency or incident. Oskar Schindler in the movie Schindler’s List takes literary liberty and loosely quotes the Talmud by saying that “Whoever saves a life, saves the entire world.”
If we can save a life or even just help someone in distress, every penny we spend on these Go Bags will be worth it.
Learn more about the Jewish Federation’s community security efforts here:
https://jewishpgh.org/security/
Published December 2019
Security enhancements continue to be made around the Temple David facility. Based on recommendations by Brad Orsini of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh during his classroom wing walk-through with the Religious School and JESP teachers on October 10, various things have been done or are in progress in the religious school wing.
Panic buttons and air horns (for immediate notification of an emergency situation) have been placed in each classroom and in the conference room. A front door release and monitor has also been installed in the conference room to enable remote entry access during meetings and during Torah Study. The storage room at the end of the classroom hallway has been reorganized to provide access to the exterior door within the storage room. This room was determined to be a safe haven in the case of an emergency and access to the room is now attainable in the midst of said emergency.
Window blinds have been installed on all interior classroom doors. The installation of door lockdowns (see photos) on doors in all of the classrooms and the conference room is in progress (thanks to the expertise of Randy Boswell). Completion of the lockdowns installation, including necessary instruction, should be accomplished by early December.
Additionally, and with gratitude to the Jewish Healthcare Foundation for their donation of a full-size trauma kit to Temple David, we now have a full-size bleed control kit (BCK) in the library and in the Religious School lobby, as well as a small BCK on top of the defibrillator (AED) unit next to the kitchen door.
Please direct any security concerns or questions to me.
Published October 2019
Keeping Us Safe
Please be advised of the following miscellaneous information regarding Temple security and safety:
- An AED (automated external defibrillator) is located in the wall cabinet next to the kitchen door across from the boiler room. This unit is inspected regularly to ensure the battery is operational and step-by-step instructions are contained inside the cabinet.
- Additional Stop the Bleed kits are being procured. There are currently two kits in the Temple Library, on the right as you enter. The locations of the new kits will be publicized once they’ve been installed. These kits are not to be used as first aid kits.
- Fire extinguishers are located in the main lobby (near the coat room), in the sanctuary (behind the ark on the bimah and near the exit door by the choir location), in the kitchen (next to the coffee maker), in the Religious School lobby (next to the display cabinet), in the boiler room, in the social hall (next to the Sukkah exit door), and in the classroom hallway (next to the water fountain and at the exit door at the end of the hallway).
- Additional panic buttons have been procured for all classrooms and the conference room, these will hang in the rooms next to the doors, and are to be used by the Religious School and JESP teachers, and are to remain in the rooms. The conference room panic button should be worn by whomever is leading the meeting or class; these buttons are part of the security system and must remain in the facility for the system to activate properly when everyone exits the Temple.
- A monitor and front entrance access button will be installed in the conference room (similar to that in room 7) for enabled door access for meetings/classes. Please note that the panic bar on the door adjacent to the front entrance door buzzer must be unlocked for the remote door access buttons to operate; this panic bar must be locked prior to alarming the security system!
There will be Monroeville Police Department Officers monitoring the front entrance during Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services. Please understand that these Officers and/or Security Team greeters will require you to present your ticket at the entrance. If you do not have a ticket, you will be asked for your name and address. Adherence to this ticket verification process is mandatory and will be appreciated.
As always, if you have any security or safety concerns, please contact me.
And if you are interested in being a greeter
and a member of the Security Team,
please reach out to me!
Published September 2019
Regarding Accessing Temple David
Considering the focus we should all have on the safety and security of Temple David, please keep in mind those who may be working in the building when you are choosing to visit and access the facility. Whether it be Rabbi Symons, Beverly Reinhardt, Barbara Fisher, the custodial staff, etc., whenever anyone could be alone in the building (most likely during normal working hours), it is a requirement that those entering find whomever is in the building and “check in.” While this applies mainly to those who are “key-holders”, (those who can access the temple without being “buzzed in”), anyone entering should make their presence known to anyone already inside the facility. There have been cases where a sole person inside has been startled to find someone has entered. The Temple Staff has been instructed to wear, or carry, their panic buttons while working in the building. Please help our Temple Staff feel safe and secure while performing their work.
Published March 2019
Be advised the TD Security team continues to evaluate and monitor the needs of Temple David to ensure that a safe and comfortable atmosphere is experienced by all. We continue to liaise with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh by being involved with their related programming, being reactive to their recommended protocols, and being responsive to their suggestions. For the near future, we will continue to implement the “greeter” protocol at all evening services, holiday services, and special events as the Security Team further evaluates other front entrance security procedures. Anyone interested in joining the TD Security team and/or the Greeter Team, please communicate with me at the e-mail address below. Please be reminded that being a greeter means wearing one of our security panic buttons which immediately alert the Monroeville Police Department if activated in response to an emergency (these panic buttons are not toys and should not be mishandled or made available to children).
Thank you for your continued awareness and adherence to Temple David’s front entrance and associated controlled-access system procedures. All visitors, even members, should be buzzed in by office or school staff (unless you have a key) during normal business hours. Do not be put off if you are asked to identify yourself. If you have any questions or concerns regarding security and safety at Temple David, please let me know.
Mark T. White,
Chair, Temple David Security
Published January 2019
Informational Meeting:
Sunday, January 6 at 3 p.m.
We are continuing to massage procedures related to secured accessing of the temple for services and special events; we appreciate your patience while these procedures are fine-tuned; arriving by the scheduled start times of services and other events will benefit your accessibility and will enable our greeters to fully participate in the specific service or event being conducted.
We are working with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Director of Community Security Brad Orsini (his Brotherhood-coordinated Active Shooter presentation on November 17 was very informative and very well attended) to be on top of and provide the best recommended procedures for facility and membership safety and awareness.
Be assured that Temple David is very current in its security safeguards; beyond the main entrance controlled-access security system most of you are familiar with, our facility is equipped with an array of security cameras and motion detectors which can be monitored at any time. By the end of the year, this camera system will provide 24/7 monitoring of all main interior and exterior ground areas of the facility.
There will be a meeting on January 6 at 3 p.m. at which time our members will be updated on security, emergency exit routes and plans. Please attend and bring your questions and concerns.
All permanent staff will wear or carry panic buttons while at work at the temple. For special events, we will have designated person(s) in attendance who will wear panic buttons for the duration of the event. For services, an usher and a greeter (if applicable) will wear panic buttons for the entire service; these buttons must be returned to their storage location (near the usher table) so the building security system can be alarmed during building lockdown.
Please feel free to communicate with me directly with any questions or comments.
Mark T. White,
Chair, Temple David Security
Published May 2016
Updated Temple David Security Procedures
Recently, we have heard from several members that security is an increasing concern at Temple. In order to address these concerns, we have reviewed and updated our Security procedures. In addition, we are expanding our capabilities specifically in the area of “Access Control.”
We have recently confirmed that we can link our security camera feed to our wireless computer network, which will significantly expand our Early Detection Capabilities by making the security feed available to anyone with a laptop computer or mobile device who has access to our internal wireless network. With this, anyone conducting a meeting anywhere in the Temple can now monitor the security cameras during their meeting.
In addition, House Chair Jeff Baldel reviewed our procedures with the Monroeville Police Chief. He provided valuable feedback regarding emergency response options, and commended us for our attention to the issue of security. As part of our recent discussions, we have prepared the documentation which you may download from:
www.templedavid.org/bulldocs/2016security.pdf
Thank you for your attention and cooperation,
Steve Lippock, Executive Vice President