A Jewish school, synagogue or community event should not need a security plan simply to open its doors. Yet for years, protection has become an unavoidable part of Jewish public life. Justin Kagan takes us inside Victoria’s Community Security Group: why it was founded, how its role has changed, and what the next phase of Jewish security may demand. We examine the group’s relationship with civil society, the moments when the community feels authorities have not acted decisively enough, and how day to day security works for the Jewish community This is a conversation about the human cost of living on alert—and the right of Jews to gather, learn and worship without fear.