Jewish security officials from five North American cities joined top police officers in a tour of Israel to examine its security practices.
Four U.S. metropolitan areas — Cleveland, Memphis, Detroit and Kansas City, the site of a deadly attack on Jewish institutions last year — were represented on the weeklong trip that started on Nov. 15.
Organized by Secure Community Network, the security arm of the national Jewish community, the tour also included directors of security for Montreal’s Jewish community, a representative of the New Jersey State Police and a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security.
The Jewish Federations of North America and local federations are paying for the tour. The aim of the trip is to examine Israeli methods of increasing public awareness of a security threat. Israeli officials will brief participants on terrorism, international threats and cybersecurity, among other issues.
The timing of the massive terrorist attack in Paris made the need for the training especially acute, said SCN’s director, Paul Goldenberg. — jta