DENVER — Safety and security in public places do not often require help from the public.
A Denver synagogue has prepared its congregation to be part of an emergency response.
“What a lot of people don't realize is that for Jews and other religious minorities, going to our houses of worship is not something that we can take for granted from a safety standpoint,” Hebrew Educational Alliance Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald said.
The sanctuary at the Hebrew Educational Alliance contains information for congregants that is not normally seen in many places deemed a sanctuary.
“We have these informational cards, and they have two sides to them,” Gruenwald said.
One side is about the synagogue being inclusive and diverse.
It tells congregants about all-gender restrooms, gender pronoun pins, hearing aids and large print prayerbooks available for those in need.
“It really talks about being a warm, safe community,” Gruenwald said.
The back of the card is a bit darker.
“The other side of this card has some basic advice that we got from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies about some steps that people can take in the event of violence breaking out at the synagogue,” Gruenwald said.
Among the prayer books are the laminated cards that describe how someone can run, hide and fight in the event of a violent attack.
“Nobody wants to think about a water landing, but it can happen. And if you know what to do, you're more likely to survive and help people around you survive,” Gruenwald said.
The cards have existed for about a year.
“It saddens and, frankly, it angers me that I have to spend time as a rabbi on safety and security,” Gruenwald said. “We spend a lot of time and effort and resources on security in a way that most churches don't have to.”
The last part of the card explains how someone can “stop the bleed.”
“Yeah, nobody wants to come to synagogue or to their house of worship and think about the possibility that they would be putting a tourniquet on somebody whose arm has been blown off,” Gruenwald said. “We have tourniquets and other bleed control kits throughout the building. We have people that are trained to use them, and making people aware of that can make the difference.”
Five miles from the synagogue is the Colorado Muslim Society and the mosque off Parker Road and Dayton Street in Arapahoe County.
"Security at the mosque has really never changed,” said Colorado Muslim Society Spokeswoman State Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora.
Prayer service at the mosque does not have the same safety and security cards like the synagogue, but safety and security are always front and center.
"We've always maintained a sense of needing to keep our congregation safe. We have a 40-year relationship with the [Arapahoe County] Sheriff's [Office] and we have made sure they have a constant presence here at the mosque, especially on Fridays and holidays,” Jodeh said.
As a state lawmaker, she is in a position to help Muslims pray in a space that can remain a sanctuary.
In 2022, Jodeh co-sponsored House Bill 1077, which allowed places like mosques to apply for grant money to enhance security measures.
The Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides has a fund of $500,000 and provides up to $50,000 for nonprofits that are “high risk of a terrorist attack.”
"It was a great bill that increased security for houses of worship,” Jodeh said. "We want to make sure that this place remains a sanctity and sanctuary for all Muslims.”
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