In ancient Israel, the Temple in Jerusalem was God’s dwelling place, fiercely protected by the Levites, a trained security force tasked with guarding against attack and defilement. Leviticus 16:2 warns, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place… lest he die,” and Numbers 3:10 adds, “Any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.” The Levites enforced this with lethal force, as part of the Temple’s tavnit (תַּבְנִית), the divine blueprint God revealed to Moses: “According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, just so shall you make it” (Exodus 25:9, Koren Tanakh). This tavnit, revered as God’s precise plan for worship, included the Levites’ security roles to ensure sanctity and safety. This disciplined model, rooted in Scripture and history, guides churches and synagogues today in safeguarding worshippers, valued as community gatherings. A set security presence of familiar faces, mirroring the Levites’ consistent roles, fosters trust and enables worshippers to pray with kavunah (intentional devotion).
Scripture details the Levites’ security duties within the tavnit (תַּבְנִית). Numbers 3:10 commands the Levites to guard the sanctuary, enforcing boundaries with lethal force when necessary. As gatekeepers, they were organized into divisions to control access. 1 Chronicles 26:12, 16 states, “These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their chief men, had duties… for guarding the house of the Lord.” Described as “able men qualified for the service” (1 Chronicles 26:8), gatekeepers were primarily trained for security, focusing on guarding rather than altar service. Priestly duties, like offering sacrifices, were assigned by lottery to Aaron’s descendants (Mishnah, Yoma 2:1-2), ensuring random selection for altar service. In contrast, gatekeepers were chosen for their aptitude in warfare techniques and de-escalation, as seen when protecting King Joash: “The priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, around the king” (2 Kings 11:10-11). Their ability to manage threats calmly yet decisively highlights their specialized training within the tavnit.
The Soreg, a stone fence barring non-Jews from inner courts, bore inscriptions warning of death for trespassers (Josephus, Antiquities 15.11.5). This “members only” system, enforced by armed Levites patrolling gates and corridors (Mishnah, Middot 1:1), ensured only authorized individuals entered, freeing worshippers for kavunah. Josephus describes Levites managing massive festival crowds with discipline, preventing chaos while maintaining order (War 6.9.3). Their role-based assignments, selecting those skilled in security over altar duties, ensured a set presence of familiar guards, fostering trust. During the Maccabean Revolt, Levites defended the Temple from desecration (1 Maccabees 4:36-59). The Temple’s fall in 70 CE, partly due to weak defenses (War 6.4.1), underscores the need for vigilance.
Today, worshippers face grave threats. FBI data reports a 52.3 percent rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes from 2020 to 2023, with synagogue attacks like Pittsburgh (2018) and Poway (2019). Churches face similar risks, including Charleston (2015) and Sutherland Springs (2017). Recent incidents heighten urgency: in September 2025, a shooting and fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan, killed four and wounded eight. On October 2, 2025, a terrorist car-ramming and stabbing attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, England, during Yom Kippur services, killed two and injured three. Lifeway Research notes three fatal church shootings in 2025, after one in 2024 and none in 2023. Preparing for the worst is critical, as the worst is happening now.
The Temple’s tavnit (תַּבְנִית) offers practical solutions, prioritizing paid, professional security to emulate the Levites’ dedicated focus. Firms like Praetorian Guard Security Services provide trained personnel skilled in de-escalation and threat response, ensuring a consistent presence of familiar faces that builds congregational trust. Where jurisdictions allow, trained volunteers with concealed carry permits can supplement, but professionals are preferred for reliability. Like the Soreg, access controls restrict entry: RFID barcode readers at parking gates scan vehicle passes for members, blocking unauthorized entry. Prefabricated guard cubicles in parking lots, like PortaFab’s bullet-resistant units ($10,000-$30,000), house guards and scanners. An adjacent office captures license plate photos, issues temporary passes, and produces barcodes for extended stays, using existing tech from commercial lots. Individual access passes for inner areas, verified by guards at strategic points (street entrances, corridors, customized locations), ensure only screened worshippers proceed.
While these measures harden targets and lower risks significantly, they are not foolproof. Even credentialed individuals could commit harmful acts, though the presence of trained security inside reduces the likelihood of success. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, offering up to $150,000 per site, funds cubicles, RFID systems ($5,000+), and training (FEMA NSGP; FY 2025 Application). Partnerships with local law enforcement, like the Levites’ coordination with authorities (Josephus, Antiquities 20.8.11), enable joint drills. Psalm 82:3-4 urges, “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” compelling us to protect worshippers. Discreet measures preserve worship’s focus, ensuring kavunah-like devotion. What price do we place on safety? God’s tavnit, with its set security presence, demands action to secure our communities now. As the sages might affirm, “Failure to secure is worse than security failing,” urging us to act decisively.
Resources:
· official FEMA NSGP page
https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/nonprofit-security
· FY 2025 application on Grants.gov
https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360157
