BROOKLYN (VINnews/Editorial) – Thursday’s attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, should send shockwaves through the Jewish world—especially the Charedi community in New York.
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A car crashed into the synagogue and authorities feared an active shooter situation. It could have ended in a massacre.
It didn’t.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard made clear why: the synagogue had armed security on site. Those guards engaged the attacker and neutralized him. Miraculously, no congregants were killed. One security guard was injured by the vehicle, but the only person who died was the suspect.
That armed guard prevented what could have been a mass-casualty attack.
So here is the uncomfortable truth: too many Jewish institutions in New York—especially in the Charedi community—are still operating as if we live in a different era.
For years, the community has begged government for security funding, grants, and police protection. Those programs help, but let’s be honest: expecting the government to guard every yeshiva, every synagogue, every daycare, every community building in Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond is fantasy.
It’s time to stop pretending otherwise.
We live in a new reality. Jewish institutions are obvious targets. Antisemitism today is louder, bolder, and sometimes violent. Pretending that a police patrol somewhere in the neighborhood is enough protection is not security—it’s wishful thinking.
And yet, unbelievably, you can still walk into many Jewish schools and synagogues in New York with little to no real security presence.
That is unacceptable.
Parents should start demanding answers from the schools where they send their children. Congregants should demand answers from the synagogues where they pray. If an institution can raise millions for buildings and expansions, it can raise the money for trained, professional, armed security.
Enough excuses.
Every synagogue. Every yeshiva. Every Jewish school should have trained armed guards at the entrance. Not volunteers. Not someone casually watching the door. Real, professional security.
The proof is in West Bloomfield. When the attack came, the armed guard didn’t wait for police to arrive. He was already there. And because he was, lives were saved.
So here is the message to the Charedi community in New York: wake up.
Stop assuming someone else will protect us. Stop relying on government programs as the primary solution.
Start demanding security from the institutions you attend.
Because in the world we live in today, Jewish security is not optional. It’s survival.
Yes, ultimately our protection comes from Hashem. But faith does not mean standing idle. We must do our hishtadlus—our part—by taking real, responsible steps to protect our communities.
As the pasuk reminds us: “Im Hashem lo yishmor ir, shav shakad shomer.” If Hashem does not guard the city, the watchman stands guard in vain. But that does not mean we abandon the watchman—it means we do our part, and place our trust in Hashem to do the rest.
Fascinating. So let me get this straight – per the author, it’s perfectly fine – even laudable – to make security arrangements for Frum institutions in the US. However – per Chareidi theology, it is absolutely, totally, 100% assur to send their members to defend the lives of their fellow Jews in Israel via the IDF.
What’s wrong with this picture??
your unfortunately 100% correct its time we really took security serious
and doors should be locked its the least we can do and doesnt cost anything though obviously having an armed guard outside is definitely a deterrent
for years already many miami shuls had armed guards outside
At least doors should be locked 24 hours a day just like in Europe.
Aaliyah now
I have been concerned about this sakanas nefashos issue for several years. Below is my proposal. Please provide constructive criticism.
BS’D
Operation Zaydie
A Brief Outline of a Low-Cost Plan to Create at Least 3-5 minutes of Impenetrability for a School by Bert Miller PhD, Baltimore
1. The problem: Numerous homicidal persons, usually from the Christian Anti-Semite and Muslim Jihadi communities, look to harm Jews generally and Jewish children in particular. They seek “soft targets” such as schools because that is where the children are. Armed guards cost upwards of $60,000 per guard per year, a cost unaffordable for many Jewish schools. Several years ago, two Saudis drove onto a day school campus at Sunday dismissal and videoed the scene. When questioned, they told the police that since there are no similar schools in Saudi Arabia, they wanted to create a video record of the campus. They told the police that they had already sent their videotape back to Saudi Arabia. In October 2019, two swarthy men attempted to gain entrance to a Toronto yeshiva under false pretenses. Many other similar incidents have occurred across the last 10 years.
2. The solution: In the event of an incident, we must secure a school building for 3-5 minutes until local police arrive. For liability reasons, a non-profit security firm, The Zaydie Corporation, will be organized. It will recruit and hire retired men and women from our community at $1 per year to serve as armed guards for our precious day school children and staff.
3. A coordinator will provide those in the pool of guards with duty assignments and will manage the program by email and phone.
4. Each guard will serve X shifts per week or month. Shifts will last 2-4 hours.
5. Each guard will be armed with his/her own 40 caliber, 45 caliber, 9mm handgun, or other appropriate weapon. Long guns (shotguns and rifles) do not require concealed carry permits.
6. Each guard will complete an appropriate training course in marksmanship and tactics.
7. Each school day, 3-6 guards will be posted inside each active building entrance from about 1 hour before school opening until shortly after dismissal. While on duty, the guards will be positioned “behind cover.”
8. If the school occupies a campus, a look-out in continuous radio contact with the other guards will screen/inspect each entering vehicle.
9. The cost: Each guard will be armed with his/her own weapon, carry his own ammunition, and will have his own carry permit, if necessary. Even if the radios, bullet-proof vests, shields, etc. will be purchased by the school, the startup cost will be less than $5000 – $8000. The ongoing annual cost might be less than $100.
10. Each guard will participate in marksmanship practice sessions, refresher courses in tactics, and drills at least every August and February.
11. Participating schools will practice lock-down drills.
12. The result. No school which implements Operation Zaydie will be a soft target.
13. Please improve my plan, adapt it for your child’s school and work for its implementation.
Ny barely lets anyone get guns. And who’s paying for armed security? Nobody
You are 100% correct on every word. I believe even more. That every Jewish person that goes to pray and every teacher should have legal guns and paper spray on them all the time they go out on the street. We need to be our own security guards. And to stop asking from the government for help.
Can the Chariedy community afford it? Does the government pay for it?
Vhaikar lo lefached klal. Yes, do the hishtadlus of auditing security, but also show up now more often to our batei midrashim since Torah Magen aleinu more than anything.
Groups that run a Cheder for 100 boys in a single family home with no emergency exits, fire equipment or oversight from the Fire Department generally also don’t invest in expensive security programs.
I’m not trying to be facetious, but all the US “mosdos” that you are talking about are affiliated to some Rosh Yeshiva or Rebbe. And you’re talking about a population who claim to go by Daas Torah. What do these RY and Admorim think about this?
yeshivas are drowning in security money, grants that no one knows what to do with!
the mamzerim dont need to go IN the building they wait for dismissal as u march your class to the buses
bh in the past ten years things at mosdos have been quiet , “halevay veiter”
WakeUp VIN no one is interested in your stupid opinion
Large kosher supermarkets are just as much of a Target If not a bigger target. Do you see any armed security there? Absolutely not. Complete incident waiting to happen and it would be the full negligence of the owners of those supermarkets. The shoppers/community should demand it. But like everything else that Is ignored and shlepped out, nothing will get done until c”v something happens, and then everyone is up in arms, pun intended.
The simplest solution is to arm and train most people in the community. They are teachers, secretaries, store owners/managers, mashgichim etc…
The second simplest solution is lock up the criminals, illegals and terrorists and KEEP them there!
Most of the terrorist attacks and mass shootings were done by individuals PREVIOUSLY KNOWN to law enforcement
And same goes for the criminals. They keep being released over and over again and housed in our neighborhood on our dime on government assisted housing (shelters or section 8….)
The government is the problem and wants this problem.
Boosts Security at Synagogues After Violent Michigan Attack Sends Shockwaves Across Jewish CommunitiesIf you believe that violence against any religious or ethnic community is unacceptable, speak up. Use your voice. Silence only allows hate to grow
sad that every Jewish shul must have armed guard. come to Eretz Yisroel and enjoy living freely.
There are a number of volunteer security organizations in the NY area, both unarmed and armed, that have excellent training and standards. Your synagogue members can put in the work and join.
there are hidden guards