TORONTO — Hundreds of Jewish organizations in North America have been advised to reassess their security procedures in light of the situation in the Middle East.

The Secure Community Network (SCN), which co-ordinates security for North American Jewish institutions, held a conference call Jan. 6 with representatives of more than 500 Jewish organizations, including synagogues, and similar calls later in the day with representatives of Jewish community centres and the following day with local federation executives.

Doron Horowitz, community security director for UJAFederation of Greater Toronto and one of the conference call speakers, along with representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, outlined a “top 10 list” of security precautions, and detailed concerns that should be addressed, in order of priority.

He declined to be more specific about his recommendations in order not to compromise security, but he said “it’s about being vigilant and taking preventive measures, and being aware.”

The federation has a close relationship with law enforcement authorities, he added.

Horowitz– who works with Canadian Jewish Congress and UJAFederation and affiliates – noted that, while “rhetoric has increased,” there are “no specific threats in terms of an inevitable or imminent attack.”

However, he added, in light of the situation in the Middle East and “strong anti-Israel sentiments,” the Jewish community and its institutions are in a “heightened state of alert,” given recent incidents in Europe and also that emotions regarding the situation run high.

Any responses from the Jewish community should be “driven by reason and logic, not by emotion or fear,” Horowitz said.

David Brown, president of Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto, the country’s largest Jewish day school, sought to reassure parents in a letter sent out last week.

“As a result of recent events in Israel, security has become an even greater priority for Associated’s leadership. To that end, we are in close contact with and following the recommendations being made by security specialists at UJA Federation and Canadian Jewish Congress who are continuously monitoring and assessing the communal security situation,” he said.

He did not list new security measures in detail, except to note that “uniformed security personnel will be on duty” at Associated’s three campuses.

One of those guards supervised drop-off procedures last Friday at the school’s southern elementary campus.

Also last week, B’nai Brith Canada issued a country-wide security alert that called for heightened vigilance at Jewish institutions.

In a Jan. 8 news release, B’nai Brith said that there had been “a spike in incidents against Jews in Canada, including harassment and death threats. This comes amidst reports of violence abroad, notably the firebombing of a synagogue in Paris, and credible reports emerging that point to possible other global targets.”

The document advised that Jewish institutions “ensure that proper security measures are in place at all times” and urged people to report suspicious activity to its anti-hate hotline.

Paul Goldenberg, U.S. national director of SCN, said organizations were advised to reassess their security with a particular emphasis on counter-surveillance measures.

“At this point in time, there is nothing imminent or specific” as far as threats against American Jewish institutions, said Goldenberg. But he said organizations were also advised to test their security systems and procedures by running simulations to ensure everyone fully understands them.

In Montreal, Rabbi Reuben Poupko, chair of the security co-ordinating committee for the Montreal Jewish community, said there is no need for alarm.

“We are in touch on a daily basis with all levels of the police, and CSIS, who have been extraordinarily co-operative and helpful, and there is no intelligence that there is a specific threat in Canada or Montreal,” he said.

“All we are asking is that Jewish institutions review their existing security procedures and make sure everyone is up-to-date in how to use them.”

Montreal police have increased patrols around Jewish sites, he added.

With files from JTA, Janice Arnold and Daniel Wolgelerenter.