One would think it would be the police who would provide logistics and support for such events, but as the director of community security for the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of Greater Toronto, Horowitz’s job is to coordinate with police for such events and ultimately manage risk for the Jewish community.

It is a security position unlike any you will see posted elsewhere in Canada. Ultimately, his mandate is to create a security plan for a community within a community, in a country not used to taking threats too seriously. But, in a time when hate crimes and anti-Semitic threats seem to be on the rise, Horowitz says it’s time Canadians wake up and become more aware of their surroundings and learn to better anticipate and prepare for incidents.

The UJA is a large organization that works to raise funds and provide education and other services to the Jewish community. Ontario, and in particular the Greater Toronto Area, is home to about 200,000 Jewish people, one of the largest populations of Jewish people in North America. Horowitz was hired 18 months ago to develop a template and security standards for Jewish schools, synagogues, community centres and the general public.

Following the events of 9/11, this community felt the threat level had increased and needed to be addressed. Horowitz has witnessed the extreme side of hate and terror. The 42-year-old former Israeli soldier served in combat in the Middle East and was decorated for his efforts.

“The Jewish community, from its inception, has always been under threat and it will continue to be so. Therefore, security is a necessity and, to have a safe and civilized life, it is a requirement,” says Horowitz. “In Canada, we face a great threat because of the high quality of life we have here, and because of our proximity to the United States.”

Canadian born to an Israeli mother and Canadian father, Horowitz grew up in Jerusalem from the age of seven. After serving in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) he travelled to New York City, Miami, Europe and in 1999 returned to Toronto. He also co-founded a crisis management firm called Global Impact.

He was also part of an Israeli team hired to provide personal protection to the captain of the infamous Achille Lauro cruise ship, which had been attacked by Palestinian Liberation Organization terrorists who murdered wheelchair-bound American tourist Leon Klinghoffer in 1985.

In reality, Horowitz has never completely left the military, having returned to service 17 years after leaving the IDF to fight as a reservist in 2002 and 2004 as part of paramilitary group. He was decorated for his efforts during a 2002 tour of duty for successfully taking down an Arab Israeli known to police for involvement in drugs and weapons smuggling. A picture of Horowitz standing with his armoured Humvee during that operation hangs on the wall in his office.

“I like to go back now and then and get my hands dirty,” he says. Here in Toronto, the “battle” is entirely different, but serious nonetheless.

Horowitz came to the job with a deep concern that Canadians are largely complacent about their personal security.

“Canadians live with their eyes closed. They need to at least be conscious of their surroundings and have increased awareness. In real life situations, the true hero is going to be human beings,” he says.

That certainly was true when in March, a man wearing a swastika on his clothing was arrested after vandalizing a Toronto synagogue. A TTC bus driver called police after seeing a man throw something through three main front windows of the Chabad of Midtown Jewish Centre on Bathurst St., south of St. Clair Ave. At the time, community leaders said, by calling police, the TTC driver may have prevented similar hate crimes from occurring.

After such an incident, Horowitz works closely with the Canadian Jewish Congress and its director of community relations, Len Rudner. They meet with police and look into whether it was a hate crime, as opposed to mischievous activity or vandalism. From there, Horowitz works with police to assess the reasons that might be behind the attack. He then provides direction to various Jewish institutions on what they should do to increase security, such as checking alarm systems and lighting, fencing and other security-related components.

One area Horowitz focuses on is schools and all institutions involving children. He regularly gives talks to school administrators and teachers about risk management.

“I talk about how recess is not a break for them — they could be looking out for sexual predators or other threats. They could mitigate the harm of a child if they know what to look for. If a system is in place in each school to provide a safe and secure environment, everyone can feel more safe,” he says.

And while he is increasing security systems at schools in the GTA, he says they will not become fortresses. In fact, without proper education of the staff and children, he says all the security cameras and access systems in the world won’t adequately prepare them for an incident.

Each school has received an emergency handbook containing fire and safety plans and Horowitz conducts regular table top exercises reviewing various scenarios such as if a sexual predator were to enter a campus, or if a bomb threat was called in.

“I don’t want to turn the schools into Fort Knox. You have to find a balance between accessibility and providing a secure environment. At a school, any good security plan has to be flexible — you can’t sustain a high-level of readiness for too long,” he says.”¢