US Urges Global Security Boost at Synagogues Ahead of Jewish High Holidays
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
The US State Department has directed its global missions to urge countries to increase security at synagogues and Jewish areas ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, responding to rising antisemitic attacks worldwide and record hate crimes in the US.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- US State Department orders global missions to push for increased synagogue security before Jewish High Holidays.
- Security measures include police, counterterrorism, and military presence as needed around Jewish sites and neighborhoods.
- Special alerts are to be arranged for observant Jews who avoid electronic devices during Shabbat and holidays.
- The directive follows a synagogue arson in Melbourne and rising global antisemitism.
- FBI data shows Jews were targets in 63% of US religious hate crimes in 2025, marking a third consecutive record year.
- Similar security advisories were issued before Passover, reflecting ongoing threat concerns.
The US State Department has instructed American diplomatic missions worldwide to urge host countries to significantly enhance security measures around synagogues, Jewish institutions, and holiday events in anticipation of the upcoming Jewish High Holidays (Tishrei). The directive, issued on Wednesday, calls for deploying police, counterterrorism units, or even military forces as needed to protect these sites and the surrounding Jewish residential areas. It also emphasizes securing walking routes used by observant Jews traveling to synagogues, as their predictable schedules and identifiable attire increase vulnerability.
Diplomatic missions have been asked to coordinate with local authorities to conduct security briefings involving Jewish institutions, security agencies, and businesses ahead of the holidays. Unusually, the directive also requests establishing a method to deliver immediate threat alerts during Shabbat and holidays to observant Jews who do not use electronic devices.
This heightened security advisory follows a global rise in antisemitic incidents, including a recent arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, Australia. FBI hate crime data for 2025 reveals a persistent and alarming trend of antisemitic violence in the United States, where Jews, comprising about 2% of the population, were targeted in nearly 63% of all reported religious hate crimes. In some US states, Jews accounted for up to 90% of religiously motivated hate crimes. The year 2025 marks the third consecutive year of record-high antisemitic hate crimes since monitoring began, with 1,528 antisemitic hate incidents reported nationwide, representing 14% of all hate crimes.
The State Department had issued a similar security advisory before Passover, underscoring ongoing concerns about the safety of Jewish communities globally amid rising antisemitism.
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