Jewish Institutions in US Spent Over $1 Billion on Security Amid Rising Antisemitism
Spending increased 33% in one year as hate crimes targeting the Jewish community continue to surge.
Jewish synagogues and institutions across the United States allocated more than $1 billion to security measures in 2025, marking a significant increase attributed to a surge in antisemitism. This figure represents a 33% rise in security spending compared to the previous year, when $765 million was spent.
The heightened expenditure comes as the Jewish high holidays commence, a period when increased attendance at houses of worship amplifies security concerns. The rise in antisemitic incidents has been particularly pronounced since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which led to a war with Hamas and subsequent backlash against Jewish communities in the United States.
In 2025, over 60% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S. were directed at Jewish individuals, despite the community comprising less than 3% of the national population. Instances of antisemitic acts have been reported nationwide, including an attempted bombing of a Michigan synagogue preschool in March and the torching of a historic synagogue in Mississippi in January.
New York City, which has a significant Jewish population, has also seen a rise in antisemitic hate crimes, with a reported 15.8% increase in 2025. Incidents in the city have ranged from vandalism of Jewish businesses and synagogues to physical assaults on individuals. In response to the escalating concerns, New York Governor Kathy Hochul allocated $70 million in state funds to enhance security measures for Jewish centers during the high holidays.
"The most sacred period in the Hebrew year gets underway in a few short days," Governor Hochul stated in early September. "This is always a time of anxiety, concern, and now I would say it’s been ratcheted up."