Dear Friend,

In light of yesterday’s horrific incident where Rabbi Shlomo Noginski was attacked on the street outside the Chabad Shaloh House, (may Hashem protect us from all harm) it is incumbent on our Chabad Naples security team to make sure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure that we all are safe in our Chabad Naples campus.

Chabad staff is in regular contact with the Naples Police Department and with our private security firm to ensure that everything is being done to maintain the absolute highest standards of safety at Chabad's facilities. After the attack in Pittsburgh, we convened with our Security Committee - including staff and community leadership - in order to review all of our procedures and make changes or enhancements as necessary.

In addition on October 18, 2017, our Chabad Center and Preschool of the Arts were targeted for vandalism and theft in an unfortunate break-in that may have been partially motivated by anti-Semitic sentiment. We are grateful that on November 16, 2017, less than a month after the incident, Naples law enforcement arrested the alleged perpetrator of this criminal activity.

In light of these events, we have spent the last week carefully assessing Chabad’s current security procedures to determine if there are any areas in which we can improve at this time. We have carefully analyzed our facility’s potential weak points with the Naples Police Department and a private security company. The security risk analysis resulted in a few strong recommendations for protocols that would better secure our center and ensure the continued safety of all our constituents.

We sincerely thank those families which have come forward to contribute toward the cost of the upgraded security apparatus. If you are able to contribute toward this important cause, please do so by clicking here - and thanks! If you would like to speak with Ettie or Rabbi about this project please email  [email protected]

We pray that G-d's protection going forward becomes very apparent to anyone who seeks to cause harm, to the point that we will once again be able to enjoy the "open" and welcoming atmosphere that is the hallmark of Chabad, to the fullest extent possible.

 On behalf of the Security Committee -

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos

Arthur Seigel

Urgent Needs to Strengthen Chabad Center Security:

1. Electronic Gates

   Electronic Gates around the Orchid and Alamanda Road entrances that could be controlled to allow certain cars to enter Chabad premises. Currently, the sides of our campus are unsecured, so these gates present an urgent need and are a top priority. The cost of this addition is $75,000



2. Security Cameras

   30 additional new security cameras to be dispersed throughout the campus. Our current video cameras were critical in helping film the intruder in action and determining if there was an accomplice with a car at the scene of the crime. However, additional cameras are urgently needed. The cost for the camera purchase and installation is $20,000



3. Torah Safe/Vault

   A safe and vault for the Torah scrolls. Torah scrolls have historically been targeted for theft both for their religious significance and for their monetary resale value. A high-quality safety vault would protect these sacred religious items. The cost of the Torah vault is $15,000



4. Security Guard

   Increased security guard hours. We are proud that our current safety protocols include the watchful eye of a trained, professional security guard. The presence of a guard on duty, which is currently during primary school hours, has to date always deterred any potential negative activity. It is recommended that we increase the guard’s hours both on a daily basis. Hiring an additional guard is also suggested due to the sheer size of our campus. The cost of an increased security presence is $30,000

5.     Security Alarm and Fully Integrated Access Control System

The cost is $90,000. This includes updated security alarm systems that would notify us at Chabad building and a fully integrated Access Control System including keypad readers to secure doors.

  6. Additional Exterior Safety Lighting

         Lighting for outside areas: $20,000

Please consider helping us institute these recommendations by helping offset the costs of these initiatives to the best of your ability. There is an urgent need to implement these recommendations as soon as possible in order to reassure our community that we take their security seriously and make them feel comfortable and safe on our campus at all times. So many people and over 100 children walk through our doors every day, and their safety and wellbeing is our absolute priority. We want our community to feel confident and secure in their decision to continue coming to a Jewish center and preschool.

Please let us know if you are able to defray the costs of any or all of these security needs. We are also available to meet with you in person if you would like to discuss particulars.

Thank you for your steadfast friendship and support of our community center. It is our hope that taking these actions will prevent anyone who seeks to cause harm.

Rabbi Fishel & Ettie Zaklos