Since its launch in 2013, JFC Security has grown into a robust, community-centered operation. While its work spans safety awareness, facility protection, and law enforcement partnerships, one of its most significant advancements has been the expansion of security training for Jewish Clevelanders.
Today, free, community-wide training is a cornerstone of JFC Security’s work. Sessions include Active Threat Response; Run, Hide, Fight; Situational Awareness; Men’s and Women’s Self-Defense; Usher/Greeter protocols; and Bomb Threat Management. These programs equip participants with practical, real-world skills while building confidence and a shared sense of responsibility. The goal is not only to respond effectively in an emergency, but to prevent incidents by fostering vigilance and preparedness across the community.
Community members say the trainings heighten awareness and empower them to identify vulnerabilities before situations escalate. By making safety education widely accessible, JFC Security is helping cultivate a culture in which more individuals know what to look for and how to act.
Provides security coverage across a service area with nearly 100 Jewish organizations.
Serves over 60 synagogues for services and Sunday schools, eight early childhood programs, nine Jewish day school locations, the Mandel JCC, the Maltz Museum, and many social service organizations in the Greater Cleveland Jewish community.
Employs close to 70 highly trained and seasoned professionals (along with another 115 off-duty police as independent contractors), including former FBI agents, a SWAT team commander, Explosive Ordnance Specialist, and five former police chiefs. JFC Security leadership has a combined 160+ years in law enforcement.
Operates a fleet of six mobile patrol vehicles that canvas the community thousands of hours annually, day and night, to provide enhanced security oversight seven days a week.
Runs a wide range of security training programs, training more than 3,700 community members since 2019.
Maximizes security technology by connecting 26 locations, 1,300 surveillance cameras, 33 automated license plate readers, and 160 portable two-way emergency radios to the Chagrin Valley Regional Dispatch Center (CVRD).
In summer 2025, JFC Security introduced a tethered drone pilot program at Mandel Jewish Community Center’s Camp Wise as part of a broader effort to enhance safety across community spaces. The drone, operated by trained JFC Security personnel, provided real-time, high-resolution visibility over the camp’s wide perimeter, improving situational awareness and supporting ground-level security operations.
The addition of this cutting-edge technology complemented other recent security upgrades at Camp Wise, including a staffed guard gate and strengthened access controls, and reflected a forward-looking approach to protecting the Cleveland Jewish community.
While the system is sophisticated, its presence on site was intentionally low profile. Most campers were unaware of the drone, and those who noticed it felt reassured rather than disrupted. The goal was to balance vigilance with peace of mind so that the camp experience remained safe and carefree.
The pilot provided valuable insights and helped inform future security enhancements at other Federation-supported sites. The drone technology is now being utilized across the Cleveland Jewish community, helping ensure the community remains safe, vibrant, and welcoming.
In response to rising concerns about community safety, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, in partnership with JFC Security, LLC, launched a pilot program to train volunteer security teams at local synagogues. The initiative equips community members to support professional security staff by providing additional eyes and ears to monitor potential threats and respond effectively during emergencies.
With guidance from the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official nonprofit dedicated to the safety and security of Jewish communities across the U.S. and Canada, the program is currently active at Congregation Mishkan Or, Green Road Synagogue, and B’nai Jeshurun Congregation. Volunteers receive comprehensive, hands-on training covering physical security techniques, emergency preparedness, situational awareness, Stop the Bleed methods, and reporting protocols.
Training also familiarizes participants with both routine and crisis procedures specific to each congregation, ensuring they can act confidently and collaboratively with professional staff and law enforcement.
This approach strengthens layered security while fostering active community involvement in synagogue safety. It also provides volunteers with practical skills applicable beyond the synagogue, promoting awareness and preparedness in daily life.
The pilot program is recognized nationally as a model for integrating trained volunteers into professional security operations. By combining professional expertise with engaged community members, the program ensures that synagogues remain safe, welcoming spaces while building resilience and shared responsibility across the Jewish community.
Copyright 2026 Jewish Federation of Cleveland. All Rights Reserved
