$1 million in funding
for security initiatives each year
As the dog days of summer headed toward their conclusion, our family, like many of yours, I am sure, experienced the highs and lows of the back-to-school reality. My three kids’ emotions were all over the place. My oldest was indifferent, my middle child was experiencing both excitement and anxiety, and my youngest had his bags packed and was counting down the minutes until he could jump on the bus and be back at school with his friends and the teachers he loved.
For my husband Matt and me, this school year requires an approach with greater caution and heightened awareness during these unprecedented times for our country and the Jewish people. We want to ensure our kids can learn and live vibrant Jewish lives. We don’t want them to worry about their safety and security, and yet we also need them and our Jewish educational institutions to be aware and prepared.
At JewishColumbus, we are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that our schools are safe and secure places for learning. Your generous support provides more than $1 million to protect our local agencies, synagogues, schools, and Jewish life on campus. Our Director of Community-wide Security, Steve Flowers, works tirelessly with our day schools, preschools, and religious schools to provide the best practices and resources for safety and security.
As you head back to school, we urge you to be proactive and vigilant and share these simple tips with your kids from Steve:
1. Heighten your situational awareness: Always be vigilant and observe your surroundings, noting what is typical, unusual, suspicious, or threatening.
2. Report the suspicious: Vigilance is crucial. If something catches your eye and raises concern, do not hesitate to report it—your actions can significantly impact our community’s safety.
3. Respond to threats: If danger arises, remember to RUN to safety, HIDE to avoid detection, or FIGHT if necessary to protect your life or the lives of others.
Our commitment to Jewish education goes beyond securing our institutions. We proudly contribute:
To the students, teachers, and staff at OSU Hillel, OSU Chabad, Gan Ephraim, JCC preschools, CJDS, and CTA: You are the shining stars of our community, and we sincerely appreciate your dedication and passion for teaching and learning. May the year ahead be filled with curiosity, discovery, and success.
Shabbat Shalom!
