US State Department Orders Military and Anti-Terror Units to Guard Synagogues Ahead of Jewish Holidays

In an unprecedented directive issued on Wednesday, the US State Department has instructed its global diplomatic missions to demand that foreign governments deploy military forces and anti-terrorism units to protect synagogues and Jewish institutions ahead of the upcoming Jewish High Holidays. This urgent order reflects heightened concerns amid a record surge in global antisemitism, signaling a severe escalation in threats against Jewish communities worldwide.

The directive goes beyond previous security measures by calling for expanded protection not only of Jewish buildings but also of residential areas and common walking routes used by observant Jews on Sabbaths and holidays, recognizing their vulnerability due to visible religious attire. Additionally, it mandates the establishment of specialized alert systems capable of delivering real-time emergency warnings to observant Jews who refrain from using electronic devices during rest days.

This comprehensive security guidance, previously only issued before Passover, underscores the gravity of the current threat level. The urgency is supported by FBI data from 2025 showing that although Jews comprise about 2% of the US population, they were targeted in 63% of all religiously motivated hate crimes, with some regions reporting rates as high as 90%. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also identified 2025 as the third worst year on record for antisemitic incidents, following record highs in 2023 and 2024.

The rise in antisemitic violence is not confined to the United States; European Jewish communities have also reported sharp increases in attacks and threats, prompting enhanced security measures around synagogues and Jewish schools. The US directive reflects fears that the risk of attacks will intensify during the High Holidays when synagogues are crowded.

Jewish community leaders in America have welcomed the directive but lament the necessity of military-level protection for places of worship. A senior figure in a Jewish organization remarked, "We live in a time when Jews fear going to synagogue wearing a kippah, a situation unseen since the Holocaust."