Keeping Our Children Safe in School: A Security Guide by Frank Storch

“Keep Your School Safe” is a new guidebook written by Frank Storch, security consultant and coordinator for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) of Northern Park Heights in Baltimore. The booklet is a 40-page handbook designed to help schools, yeshivas, and other institutions where children gather, to assess their security level and strengthen it if needed.

The Guide is available in hard copy, and has already been distributed widely, with 10,000 copies already printed and in circulation. Frank Storch is working hard to maximize the guide’s distribution by making it available as a downloadable PDF file on-line to anyone who wants it, for absolutely no cost or other obligation.

The handbook was reviewed by security professionals, including members of various law enforcement agencies and SWAT officials. Experts in the field of security from both the United States and Israel also examined and approved the guide.

Funding for the production and publication of the guide came from the Chesed Fund and Project Ezra of Baltimore, organizations in which Frank Storch has taken an active part on a regular basis in the past.

As Frank Storch says in the introduction to the guide:

“We were all shocked by the horrific tragedy that took place in December 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. This incident, along with the more recent Boston Marathon terror attack, calls attention to our schools’ crucial responsibility to protect our children.”

Therefore, Mr. Storch continues,

“The purpose of this guide is to help your school ask the right questions, the answers to which will help you create a safety and security program customized to your own particular needs.”

Ohr Simcha Offers Baltimore a Warm Shul Environment

After more than twenty years Congregation Ohr Simcha has been a vibrant, but small gathering place for Jews in Baltimore. About one and a half years ago the decision was made to take the leap, and more their premises and see if they could continue to offer the warm, intimate feel of the small shul, while at the same time expanding into a larger, more comfortable facility.

With the generous help of Frank Storch and his wife Danielle Ohr Simcha was able to more into larger premises on the Storch’s property. Since then the congregation has been growing by leaps and bounds. Yet, they have not lost their special welcoming character which allows all different types of Jews to feel comfortable within. The characteristics that made the shul so special in the first place are still present: sincere and respectful davening (prayer), a warm atmosphere, and a strong feeling of community.

The Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy: Baltimore Responded with Frank Storch

In a recent edition of the on-line edition of Jewish Action Frank Storch told the story of how he and several other volunteers from Baltimore brought truckloads of emergency equipment to the victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York City.

“I was in Israel when I heard about the hurricane. I changed my ticket so I could return earlier and help out.
A member of Hatzalah called, saying he was interested in taking some generators from Baltimore to New York. Instead of bringing just a few generators, I thought, Let’s make a large purchase of generators, gas cans, flashlights, batteries, lanterns—everything the communities would need. 

Home Depot in Baltimore was suspicious of the fact that we wanted to purchase hundreds of generators; they assumed we would be bringing them to New York to resell. I told them to speak with the attorney general of Maryland who knows me personally and could vouch for me. They contacted the attorney general and realized we had truly come to do a good deed. We ended up bringing 120 generators, 250 gas cans and thousands of batteries, flashlights, sump pumps, trash bags and more. With a caravan of four large rented trucks, one mini truck and my four-wheel drive, we left for New York with more than $150,000 worth of emergency equipment.”

Frank Storch in Yellow Jacket with Volunteers Helping Out During Hurricane Sandy

Growing Strong at Congregation Ohr Simcha

For fifteen years Congregation Ohr Simcha met in the private home of Mr. and Mrs David Wolf without even the benefit of the services of a rabbi. Five years ago the shul finally took the plunge and hired Rabbi Ari Storch to lead them, and lead them he did. Straight to a larger location, and the shul has not stopped growing since!

Frank Storch at Congregation Ohr Simcha During Purim

Thanks to the generous support of Frank Storch and his wife Danielle, Congregation Ohr Simcha was able to move to a larger facility, at the back of Frank Storch’s property, and watch their membership climb. On the first Shabbat after the change in venue about twenty of the congregations regular attendees came. Within just one week that number was already double. Today the shul can be proud of its 100 participants every Shabbat, all responding to the shul’s emphasis on a sincere, respectful service, a warm, welcoming, friendly atmosphere, and a desire to unify and strengthen their community while encouraging members from a large spectrum of the orthodox community.

Chesed Task Force of Greater Washington

Frank Storch furthered the cause of Chesed in Baltimore last week when he participated in the Chesed Task Force of Greater Washington's training program for volunteers (chaverim.)

See below for the details of the event, and if you would like to help, dont hesitate to call the number and volunteer. There is no greater mitzvah (good deed) than helping someone in need.

Frank Storch: Unity Is What Purim is All About

With Purim just around the corner Frank Storch points out that unity is a goal which the Baltimore Jewish community has been long aiming for. One example of unity is the way many of Baltimore’s charity organizations are organized, as Storch explains:

“Our community is blessed with people and organizations that are involved with chesed around the clock.  For example, The Associated:  Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore is one large organization that caters to the entire Jewish community — with programs and services for the young through the elderly. I am impressed by how much they do each year for our community. “

Sometimes even just one person can make a big difference when it comes to bringing people of diverse backgrounds together. Frank Storch points out the work of Elaine Gerstenfeld, who wanted to do something special for her community this Purim. Gerstenfeld launched a new program which she called “Bey-ond the Mask.” The point of this event is to unify the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews in Baltimore.  The gathering is planned for 1pm on Purim day at The Atrium on Smith Avenue. After coming together as a group, everyone will be sent out with pre-packaged Purim treats to bring to hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living centers. “Bey-ond the Mask” hopes to unite the people of Baltimore while also helping to bring joy to others.

Frank Storch’s Chesed Fund Lending a Hand

As the winds died down and the residents began to assess the damage inflicted on them by Hurricane Sandy, Frank Storch’s Chesed Fund of Baltimore was there to help in any way it could.

“From Baltimore came truckloads of emergency paraphernalia, including large generators, sent by the city’s Chesed Fund and other Baltimore Jewish organizations.”

For more information about the recovery effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, see “When Can We Go Home?”