Jewish security services keep communities safe

In light of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, synagogues and Jewish spaces are on heightened alert for potential threats. Magen Am, a Jewish nonprofit organization, is focused on ensuring community safety.

Law enforcement across the U.S. is on edge due to increased terrorist threats, especially within Jewish communities, which have ramped up their security measures following recent attacks, like the one at Temple Israel in Michigan.

Experts highlight that lone wolf attackers pose the most immediate concern—these individuals act independently, making them particularly hard to detect prior to an attack.

Recent worries intensified when two attacks happened on the same day almost two weeks ago: one targeted an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University in Virginia; the other struck Temple Israel in Michigan.

Currently, synagogues nationwide have implemented constant security. In cities like Phoenix, Jewish organizations are taking proactive measures to prepare for possible threats. Magen Am, specifically, trains volunteers to respond in case of an emergency.

During a recent training session, volunteers practiced defensive tactics, preparing for scenarios that, let’s hope, never actually happen—like putting themselves in harm’s way to protect their community.

Volunteer Valery Smilovic stated, “Magen Am – the national shield – is about standing up and saying, ‘You guys are not going to make it.’”

The organization was established following the tragic 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Ian Turner, who leads Magen Am’s Phoenix branch, noted that the incident served as a wake-up call for many in the Jewish community.

He remarked, “Jewish Americans got the memo that they needed to have some form of active security.”

Jewish organizations are also reporting a notable increase in online threats, particularly after military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. Analysts emphasize that tracking these threats is crucial, albeit challenging.

Counterterrorism expert Aaron Cohen mentioned, “The only way to stop an attack is to identify individuals before they take action. Right now, law enforcement’s ability to do that is very limited.”

This urgency for preparedness became evident on March 12, when a man drove a truck, armed with a rifle and fireworks, into Michigan’s Temple Israel. Officials credited the synagogue’s security team with a swift response that minimized potential harm.

While community leaders are increasing vigilance, they also recognize limits to what can be accomplished. Turner added, “We’ve done everything we can to not only increase security and remain vigilant. This is what we prepare for every day.”

The FBI has not yet discerned a motive for the Michigan attack. However, Israeli sources indicate that the suspect, Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, is related to a Hezbollah commander who was killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier this month.