The Community Security Service (CSS), a nonprofit focused on providing security to Jewish communities, announced on June 15 that it is bringing on Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York/New Jersey Northeast Division Vice President Evan Bernstein as its new CEO.
Edward Sugar, the chairman of CSS’ board of directors, said in a statement, “We are ramping up our efforts to create a more robust operation that meets the latest security demands we see first-hand in our work with communal organizations. With new resources, funding, leadership, and dedicated community members, we are now in a better position to push back against the rising tide of incidents singling out Jewish institutions and equip them with the critical tools needed to create secure environments.”
Bernstein told the Journal that after being on the ground in December during the aftermath of the shooting at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City and the Monsey stabbing, he thinks it’s crucially important to be working on security for the Jewish community. Bernstein is looking toward increasing the organization’s outreach to younger people and getting more volunteers to provide security to Jewish institutions.
“What we’re going to try to look to do is create a light-version training that’s … not going to get someone ready to be physical security in front of their synagogue, but for them to become even more aware of the importance of volunteering [for CSS]… and what’s going on in other Jewish communities around the country,” Bernstein said.
He added that the average age of volunteers is older than 50 years old.
“We need to have a deeper bench of volunteers,” Bernstein said. “So not only is this going to empower students, which I think is important at this moment in time when a lot of Jewish students are feeling vulnerable and have experienced record levels of anti-Semitism on campus, I think it’s also important for them when they become adults and they move into certain communities and become involved in synagogues. They’ll already be trained to be able to help out and volunteer [in security].”
Bernstein praised those who currently are volunteering for CSS.
“These volunteers are working full-time jobs, they’re raising families, they have robust lives, yet … they have had such a deep commitment to the organization and trying to help us grow and trying to protect their institutions and help their communities,” Bernstein said. “It’s truly awe-inspiring to be working with this group of volunteers.”
