Jewish communities across the country are ramping up security in response to growing antisemitic sentiments following Hamas’ attack on Israel this Saturday.
Jewish communities across the country are ramping up security in response to growing antisemitic sentiments following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Saturday.
«We’ve been email after email, it’s been like close to 50 synagogues that have reached out,» Evan Bernstein, the CEO and National Director of the Community Security Service, .
Bernstein said this number is sure to increase following increased antisemitic sentiments after this weekend’s events.
Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from the sea, air and ground on Saturday. The militant group launched rockets into Israel, went door-to-door and shot citizens at point-blank range and took hostages back into Gaza, Israeli officials said. There are also reports that Hamas raped women and executed children in front of their parents — making Saturday the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Community Security Service, according to its website, is the leading Jewish volunteer organization in the U.S. and its mission is to «protect Jewish life and the Jewish way of life.»
Accounting for only 2.4% of the U.S. population, Jewish people face more than 50% of religiously motivated hate crimes, according to the FBI’s 2021 Hate Crime Statistics report.
Jewish communities and synagogues have been increasing security in light of Saturday’s attack, according to Bernstein.
«We have over 3,000 active volunteers that are standing shift and doing security shift at their synagogues around the country, working in conjunction with law enforcement and off duty police and private security to help be a force amplifier, and really help make a harder target,» Bernstein said.
