Jewish leaders meet with Homeland Security Chief Napolitano

Jewish leaders met with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano about the community’s partnership in a new public awareness campaign.

The Jewish Federations of North America and the Security Community Network (SCN) have joined the Department of Homeland Security in the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, according to the department.

Napolitano, along with the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, John Carson, met June 10 with the Jewish leaders.

The launch of the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign partnership with Jewish Federations and SCN, a mechanism for sharing information with faith- and community-based organizations designed to improve overall security awareness in a crisis situation, will feature print and social media materials distributed to the thousands of centers and organizations reached by the organizations.

“The American Jewish community and the places we gather are, unfortunately, often targets for terrorists,” said Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America. “This new partnership with the Department of Homeland Security will empower us to counter this threat as we become more actively involved in our own protection.”

Following the meeting, Napolitano said, “Homeland security begins with hometown security, and our nation’s faith-based organizations play a critical role in keeping our communities safe. Expanding the ‘If You See Something, Say Something’ campaign to national Jewish groups, the first faith-based partnership for the campaign, is an important step in the department’s ongoing effort to engage the American public in our nation’s security efforts.”