A D.C. congregation made a significant investment in security infrastructure and personnel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
This week鈥檚 attack outside a synagogue in Michigan is another reason why the Washington Hebrew Congregation says the security is necessary.
In the attack in Michigan, a man rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel outside Detroit. The man, later identified by officials as Lebanese immigrant Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, took his own life outside the synagogue and a security guard was injured; none of the children inside the synagogue school were hurt.
鈥淭he security infrastructure that we are putting in place, unfortunately, is going to be permanent moving forward,鈥� said Lindsay Feldman, executive director of the Washington Hebrew Congregation.
She explained that, given the current climate, it unfortunately must be.
鈥淚n the wake of Oct. 7, there鈥檚 been an increase in antisemitism that followed and continues to this day,” Feldman added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚, unfortunately, our new reality it鈥檚 unacceptable, but it is our new reality.鈥�
At the Washington Hebrew Congregation, Feldman said the measures they鈥檝e been forced to take do provide peace of mind for people.
鈥淭here鈥檚 seen security, there鈥檚 unseen security; and our goal is to always ensure people feel safe, not just are safe, but feel safe and spiritually at home when they walk through our doors,” she said.
One of the difficult realities is the cost of those security measures, and that鈥檚 especially tough for nonprofit religious institutions.
But Feldman said Washington Hebrew is focused on protecting their community.
鈥淲e are focused on supporting one another and ensuring that our synagogues remain places meaning, connection and Jewish life,” she said.
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