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2026-10-06 22:25 UTC → 2026-10-07 08:52 UTC ·
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Security Rising antisemitism and funding surge for security needs in Jewish communities
As the Jewish High Holy Days approach, security Security measures and community support efforts for Jewish populations are intensifying across the United States. States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Following a U.S. State Department directive to increase protection for Jewish communities, directive, institutions are implementing have implemented layered security strategies, including emergency drills and strategic personnel positioning. Financial investments in security reached record levels in 2025, with American Jewish communities spending over $1 billion, a 33% increase from the previous year. billion. Heightened security concerns persist due to rising antisemitism. Nationally, In the United States, antisemitic assaults increased by 4% in 2025, while assaults involving deadly weapons rose by 39%. In Maryland, law enforcement presence at synagogues during High Holy Days has become a common necessity; although incidents decreased in 2025 compared to 2024, they remain significantly higher than 2020 levels. Recent data highlights a growing sense of vulnerability within these communities. In New York City, a poll by the Honan Strategy Group found that 51% of Jewish voters feel report feeling unsafe, compared to 38% of non-Jewish voters. The survey noted that 42% of Jewish respondents have experienced verbal harassment due to their faith, and voters, with 59% feel feeling unsafe at public protests, leading many to alter their daily routines. protests. In the United Kingdom, longitudinal data shows a dramatic increase in antisemitism concerns among British Jews, rising from 17% in May 2023 to 50% by June 2025, accompanied by declining feelings 2025. This period has also seen a strengthened emotional attachment to Israel, with the proportion of safety British Jews describing support for Israel as a ‘very important’ part of their identity rising from 35% to 48% in the nine months following the October 7, 2023, attacks. In Canada, the security environment has shifted significantly three years after the Hamas attacks on Israel. The community has faced physical assaults, shootings at schools, and increased anxiety. firebombings at synagogues, including a recent arson attempt at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) reported in its 2025 annual report that several plots targeting Jewish institutions were disrupted, including the August 2025 arrest of a youth in Montreal who intended to target Jewish sites.