As the Jewish community prepares to celebrate the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, concerns about rising antisemitism in the U.S. have escalated following Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel on Oct 7, 2023. The attacks resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis and the hostage-taking of hundreds of innocents to the Gaza Strip. The FBI hate crime statistics for 2023 show a significant increase in antisemitic hate crimes since Oct. 7, with a total of 1,951 anti-Jewish hate crimes reported, a 55% increase from the previous year.
As tensions rise, Community Security Service (CSS) CEO Richard Priem aims to reassure Jewish Americans that proactive measures are being taken to ensure safety during the High Holidays. CSS has seen a substantial growth in volunteers and partnerships with Jewish institutions, including on college campuses where anti-Israel protests have created hostile environments for Jewish students. The CSS campus program now offers self-defense, awareness, and de-escalation training to Jewish students to ensure the continuation of Jewish life unimpeded.
The CSS model focuses on empowering Jewish community members to become experts in securing their institutions, with over 5,000 volunteers now ready to protect their facilities, up from less than 3,000 the previous year. The effort to respond to community needs has led to hundreds of incidents being reported each year, with some resulting in federal charges and arrests. One incident in Washington, D.C. saw CSS volunteers preventing an attack on Jewish worshipers outside a synagogue, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.
The escalating threat to the Jewish community since Oct. 7 stems from the spillover of hate from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, particularly involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. This has led to individuals targeting Jewish institutions as a means to express their hatred over political disagreements related to foreign conflicts. CSS volunteers remain vigilant against various threats, including homegrown extremism from white supremacists and radical Islamic groups like ISIS and al Qaeda. Recent arrests have highlighted the seriousness of these threats, with one individual being apprehended in Canada for planning attacks on a New York Jewish center.
Despite the diverse and serious threats facing the Jewish community, CSS volunteers are committed to working with law enforcement to ensure the safety of community members as they attend synagogues during the High Holidays. The organization’s proactive efforts, including the training of volunteers and partnerships with institutions, aim to create a secure environment for Jewish Americans to observe the significant religious celebrations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. By remaining diligent and prepared to address various threats, CSS seeks to uphold the safety and well-being of the Jewish community during these challenging times.
