Partnership for Safer Communities

Safer Communities Initiative is an Innovative Program Promoting Health and Safety in Jewish Day Schools, Synagogues, Camps and Other Settings.

Through education, policy review and community-building efforts, Safer Communities programs engage lay and professional staff – rabbis and clergy; synagogue, school and camp administrators; educators; parents and students – in learning and dialogue about the impact of abuse across the lifespan, improving access to support for those experiencing abusive situations and coordinated community strategies that perpetuate healthy, peaceful homes, families and relationships. Safer Communities supports institutions in their efforts to ensure sustainable safe environments into the future.

Safer Synagogues engages congregational leadership – clergy, professional and lay – in learning and discussion about the impact of abuse across the lifespan, improving access to support for those experiencing abusive situations, and instituting policies that promote safe environments.

Objectives and Benefits

Rabbis and other leaders gain a heightened understanding of their roles and responsibilities – including legal obligations – to intervene when congregants are experiencing abuse.
Congregants are more aware of community resources and feel more comfortable turning to the Rabbi or other synagogue leaders for support and guidance.
The program offers an integrated, efficient way to weave the concept of safe and healthy relationships into synagogue structure, philosophies and agendas.
Synagogues are guided in review and development of individualized protocols and policies that ensure sustainable environments into the future.

Participating Synagogues/Shuls

Am Shalom, Glencoe

Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago

Anshe Sholom, Chicago

Anshe Tikvah, Arlington Heights

Beis Medrash Mikor HaChaim, Chicago

Beth Emet, Evanston

Beth Hillel B'nai Emunah, Wilmette

Beth Judea, Long Grove

B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, Deerfield

Congregation B'nai Tikvah, Deerfield

Congregation Hakafa, Glencoe

Congregation Kneseth Israel, Elgin

Congregation Or Chadash, Chicago

Congregation Or Shalom, Vernon Hills

Congregation Or Torah, Skokie

Emanuel Congregation, Chicago

Ezra Habonim Niles Township Jewish Congregation, Skokie

Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston

Kehilat Chovevei Tzion, Skokie

Lakeside Congregation, Highland Park

Mishkan, Chicago

North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe

North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park

Temple Beth-El, Northbrook

Temple Beth Israel, Skokie

Temple Jeremiah, Northfield

Temple Judea Mizpah, Skokie

Temple Sholom, Chicago

Safer Schools

Safer Schools engages Jewish day school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students in education and training about healthy relationships, handling accusations or disclosures of abuse or unhealthy behavior, and corresponding legal responsibilities.

Objectives and Benefits

School personnel have a heightened understanding of their roles and responsibilities – including legal obligations – to safeguard students' overall well-being.
Parents and students feel more comfortable turning to the school personnel for support and guidance.
The program offers an integrated, efficient way to weave the concepts of healthy relationships and safety into the school's institutional structure.
Schools are guided in the review and development of individualized policies and procedures for protecting students, their families and school staff.

Participating Schools

Akiba Schechter Jewish Day School

Arie Crown Hebrew Day School

Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School boys and girls

Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School

Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School

Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov

Lubavitch Girls High School

Yeshiva Ohr Boruch/ The Veitzner Cheder

Yeshiva Netzach Eliyahu

Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi

Safer Camps

Safer Camps supports Jewish day and overnight camp administration and counselors by heightening their understanding boundaries, abuse and bullying. Training sessions for counselors include discussion about establishing healthy boundaries, the signs and symptoms of child abuse and molestation, responding to disclosures or suspicions of unhealthy behaviors, mandated reporting laws, and bullying intervention.

Objectives and Benefits

Camp personnel have a heightened understanding of their roles and responsibilities – including legal obligations – to safeguard camper's overall well-being.
Camp personnel feel more comfortable responding sensitively and appropriately to stressful situations.
The program offers an integrated, efficient way to weave the concepts of health and safety into the camp's institutional structure.