The Synagogue Security Council Films Safety and Security Footage in Rockland for Upcoming Training Seminars

by M.C. Millman

The Synagogue Security Council of North America (SSCNA) filmed a number of scenarios around Rockland this morning with plans of utilizing the footage for a training curriculum focused on safety and security training.

The SSCNA is a nonprofit organization singularly focused on developing effective volunteer first responders within our own communities.  The SSCNA's mission is to make our synagogues and Jewish institutions safer by providing lifesaving skills and technology to committed community members, helping to cultivate cost-free, capable, and effective first responders within every minyan.

This is done by providing standardized technology systems, real-time intelligence, training, and certification programs to community volunteers, giving them the necessary tools and skills to help prevent or respond to a targeted attack.

The video footage from today featured Greg Williams and Brian Marren of training firm Arcadia Cognerati, who are considered world-renowned experts in human threat detection. The training film stressed, among other things, the importance of not getting comfortable or predictable in daily activities. It also focused on safety awareness, such as the predictability of using an ATM without thinking about the environment surrounding it.

"Our organization,"  Tzvi Waldman, Director of Synagogue Security Council, shares with Rockland Daily, "focuses on creating effective volunteers and enhancing security in shuls, schools, and yeshivas. Our goal is to improve skills and abilities by leveraging the expertise we have with connections with top-tier security experts in their fields in various niches in the community and bringing that expertise to organizations and volunteers who are helping to keep the community safe."

Some of the areas filmed for this morning's scenarios included  Monsey's Town Square and Exxon station located at 165 NY-59 and Pascack Plaza Mall.