The Jewish security organization Magen Am keeps the community safe amid heightened threats
The Jewish security organization keeps the community safe
After the conflicts in the Middle East, synagogues and Jewish places are on high alert for any possible threats. Magen Am is a Jewish-run non-profit organization focused on social security.
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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Law enforcement agencies across the United States are on high alert due to the heightened terrorist threat, prompting Jewish communities in particular to tighten security after a series of recent attacks, including the incident at the Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan.
Experts warn that the most pressing danger comes from so-called lone wolf predators – individuals who are private and difficult to spot before they strike.
Concerns intensified after two separate attacks occurred nearly two weeks ago on the same day: one targeting an ROTC class at Old Dominion University in Virginia and the other at Temple Israel in Michigan.
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Magen Am, a Jewish security organization, has a small presence in Phoenix, where the Jewish community is less prominent than in Los Angeles and Orange County. (Amalia Roy)
In synagogues across the country, security has become the norm. In Phoenix and other cities, Jewish organizations are taking steps to prepare for potential threats. One such group, Magen Am, a non-profit organization focused on public safety, trains volunteers to respond in the event of an attack.
During a recent training session, volunteers practiced self-defense tactics, preparing for what they hope will be an unlikely scenario – putting themselves between an attacker and their community.
“Magen Am – the national shield – is about standing up and saying, ‘You are not successful,'” said volunteer Valerie Smilovic.
The organization, which operates in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Phoenix, was founded after the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Ian Turner, who heads the Phoenix branch of Magen Am, said the tragedy served as a wake-up call for many in the Jewish community.
“American Jewry got the memo that they need to do some kind of security,” Turner said.
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Ian Turner runs the Phoenix branch of Magen Am, an organization focused on Jewish community safety. (Amalia Roy)
Jewish organizations have reported a recent increase in online threats, particularly following US and Israeli military actions against Iran. Experts say monitoring those threats is important, though challenging.
“The only way to stop attacks is to target people before they do something,” said counterterrorism analyst Aaron Cohen, “Right now, law enforcement is very limited in that ability.”
The urgency of preparedness was underscored on March 12 when a man armed with a gun and explosives attacked a truck entering Temple Israel in Michigan. Authorities say the synagogue’s security team responded quickly and prevented further injuries.
Shooting classes are one of the ways Magen Am aims to equip the Jewish community with ways to defend themselves. Volunteers work as security guards in synagogues. (Amalia Roy)
Despite serious concerns, community leaders agree that there are limits to what can be done.
“In addition to increasing security and staying vigilant, we did everything we could,” said Turner. “This is something we prepare for every day.”
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The FBI has not determined a motive for the Michigan attack. However, Israeli officials say the suspect, identified as Ayman Muhammed Ghazali, is the brother of a Hezbollah commander who was killed earlier this month in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.
