The bomb blasts that killed three people and injured nearly 200 others at the Boston Marathon, and suspicious mailings to government officials prompted security advisories from ADL to Jewish Institutions. While no law enforcement authorities saw indications of a direct threat to Jewish institutions, ADL sent the advisories as a reminder for such institutions, often the targets of anti-Semitic extremists, to review their security and mail policies and be extra vigilant.

Some of the recommendations in the advisory included:
• Connect with local law enforcement to discuss security.
• Review the chapter on Security for Special Events, which can be found in ADL’s security
manual Protecting Your Jewish Institution.
• Suspicious behavior should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel.  See
ADL’s Guide to Detecting Surveillance of Jewish Institutions.
• Suspicious packages and strange devices should be promptly reported to the police or
security personnel. See the FBI Advisory (pdf) on what to do if you receive a suspicious
letter or package.
• Ensure that your staff members, including newly hired personnel, know their role in security
and what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Trust your instincts. If something strikes you as being out of place or problematic, call the
police immediately.
ADL also forwarded recommendations on mail handling (pdf) from the Department of Homeland Security.
As we remind Jewish institutions in all our advisories and security bulletins, it is important to
always be thinking of security and to review policies and procedures on a regular basis.