On most Saturday mornings, between 30 and 40 congregants gather for Shabbat services at Temple Sinai in Sharon. Parking is plentiful, the sanctuary calm.
But when the High Holidays arrive, the synagogue transforms: More than 1,200 people come through its doors over the course of the holidays, enough to fill two back-to-back morning services with 600 worshippers each. The sudden swell is both a spiritual high point and a logistical challenge, especially when it comes to security—met with a blend of police, volunteers, and procedures.
For people like David Shore, who focuses on safety and security in his role as a member of the synagogue’s Board of Trustees, the High Holidays are a delicate dance of creating an environment that is welcoming but vigilant.
“We depend largely on volunteers to ensure the safety of our members and guests while on the property,” Shore said. “For all services year round, volunteers act as greeters and ushers to demonstrate a welcoming atmosphere and know who is entering and present in our facility.”
Across Greater Boston, institutions like Temple Sinai have leaned heavily on a mix of local law enforcement, well-trained volunteers, and security experts at CJP’s Communal Security Initiative (CSI).
This year, CSI has provided ongoing support to 250 Jewish organizations in Greater Boston and 100 more in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It’s a big job for a relatively small team, but it’s one that is even more critical given the confluence of global events and key moments on the Jewish calendar.
“There are no known, specific, credible threats to our community right now, but the concern is what we and the authorities don’t know—what an individual, acting on their own, could do without any advance warning or notification,” said Jeremy Yamin, vice president of security and operations at CJP. “The current situation in the Middle East, rising antisemitism globally and locally—these can fuel incidents that have little or no advance warning, and that’s why proactive preparation is key.”
Yamin noted that Temple Sinai has partnered closely with CJP’s Communal Security Initiative for many years. It has received collaboration and training, benefited from CSI security grants, and received CSI support to obtain government security grants.
Just as vital as training is the forging of partnerships and connections. Temple Sinai maintains close relationships with the Sharon Police Department (SPD) and Sharon Fire Department (SFD), which partner on traffic and parking control, as well as providing input on the temple’s day-to-day security and safety protocols. SPD and SFD officers are in regular contact with the synagogue’s volunteers and professional staff. New officers tour the facility and grounds, and SPD and SFD members have participated in Temple Sinai’s Shabbat summer barbecues.
At Temple Sinai, CSI staff participate directly in annual safety and security training for staff and volunteers, alongside representatives from the SPD and SFD. CSI instruction ranges from situational awareness and de-escalation techniques to CPR, first aid, and the “Power of Hello” approach—training that helps greeters and ushers balance warmth and vigilance at the door.
And that ensures the High Holidays are both meaningful and as safe as possible for all.
“Balancing openness with vigilance is key,” Yamin said. “With more people come more challenges, but with training, procedures, and dedicated volunteers working together, the kind of joyful Jewish life we celebrate during the High Holidays together will continue to flourish.”
Learn more about CJP’s Communal Security Initiative and available training.