Local synagogues prepare for Rosh Hashana after annual security briefing

Law enforcement agencies met with members of the Jewish community to talk about safety and security after seeing an increase in antisemitism throughout the region.

Katerina Belales

Sep 22, 2025, 9:39 AM

Updated 32 min ago

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Jewish leaders across the Hudson Valley are being extra vigilant on Monday as they prepare for the start of Rosh Hashanah at sundown.
While there have not been any reported threats to local places of worship throughout the region, synagogues are still preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Just last week, the Westchester Jewish Council held its annual High Holidays security briefing at a synagogue in White Plains.
Law enforcement agencies met with members of the Jewish community to talk about safety and security after seeing an increase in antisemitism throughout the region.
Officials from the Westchester Jewish Council encouraged every synagogue or Jewish organization with a physical facility in Westchester to attend the meeting. They were urged to reexamine their safe rooms, conduct practice drills and foster good relationships with police.
A representative from the FBI also encouraged the group to familiarize themselves with past threats — as they had seen hoax bomb threats target institutions in Westchester County on the last two Rosh Hashanahs. In response, county District Attorney Susan Cacace said her office is committed to addressing serious crimes of that nature.
"I am strongly reliant on you to keep me aware of your concerns that your members are facing, so my office can decide how and whether to intervene," she said to the group.
News 12 is checking in with local places of worship and police departments to see if there are safety concerns. Anyone that sees something suspicious happening near their local synagogue is encouraged to call their local police department.