As the High Holidays approach, American Jewish communities are bolstering their security and emergency preparedness with critical training from Israeli medics. Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service, has partnered with the U.S.-based Community Security Service to equip synagogue security volunteers nationwide with vital skills for responding to attacks. Senior paramedic Aryeh Myers highlighted the palpable fear within communities, stating, “There is this heightened sense of concern, of worry that these attacks are now a question of when rather than if.” The “First 7 Minutes” training, developed by Myers, focuses on immediate post-attack first aid and effective communication with first responders, drawing on Magen David Adom’s extensive experience in mass casualty events, including terror attacks and war situations. This initiative comes amid a significant global surge in antisemitism, particularly amplified since the October 7th terror attacks in Israel, with U.S. universities becoming focal points for anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents. The urgency is underscored by recent reports detailing escalating antisemitic violence and a troubling trend of Jewish educators facing rampant antisemitism within teachers’ unions, leading to self-censorship and a sense of betrayal as these organizations, meant to protect all educators, fail to adequately address the concerns of their Jewish members.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
