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US Jews Feel ‘Precarious’ as High Holy Days Approach Amid Antisemitism Fears and Internal Divisions
Jewish leaders are expanding security training and seeking $1 billion in federal aid as 20% of nonprofit applicants received grants last year, organizers said.
American Jews are preparing for the High Holy Days beginning Friday at sundown with Rosh Hashana, balancing celebration with heightened trepidation due to antisemitic threats. The Secure Community Network is conducting safety training to help institutions address active security concerns.
Michael Masters, CEO of the Secure Community Network, noted the task has grown complex as antisemitic threats surface from domestic white supremacists and foreign proxies of Iran. He added the community views this as a continuation of well over 3,500 years of threat.
Major Jewish organizations are urging Congress to allocate $1 billion to harden physical security at houses of worship. Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, noted that while funding reached $300 million in 2026, only 20% of more than 8,000 applicants received grants last year.
Internal divisions regarding Israel's role in Middle East conflicts remain pronounced, with a recent survey finding about 3 in 10 U.S. Jews say Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, described the upcoming days as a time of 'powerfully contrasting emotions.'
Rabbi David Ingber, founder and spiritual leader of Romemu, warned of a 'grave danger of schism' regarding the Jewish people and Israel, urging leaders to create space for differences. He noted many congregants feel precarious amid antisemitism from the political right and anti-Zionist views on the left.