Leading National Jewish Organizations Issue Joint Statement Amid Escalating Iranian Hostilities

Over the past 24 hours, Iran and its proxies have launched a series of attacks on Israel, including rockets from Gaza and Lebanon, a cyberattack, and waves of drone and missile strikes originating from Iran, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region. Israel evacuated military bases as U.S., Israeli, and allied countermeasures have effectively thwarted hundreds of attempted efforts to strike Israel. After the events of the last 24 hours, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of October 7^th, representatives of State of Israel noted that it is bracing for future attacks over the coming hours and days.
 
As witnessed in the aftermath of the October 7^th Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, conflict in the Middle East, and the targeting of Israel by terrorist organizations and state actors that sponsor terrorism, have historically coincided with a surge in antisemitic activity, hate, and violence targeting the Jewish community worldwide. Across North America, record levels of antisemitic incidents, threat incidents, and suspicious activity have been logged in the months following the Hamas attacks.

In light of the rapidly escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, The Jewish Federations of North America, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Secure Community Network (SCN), Community Security Service (CSS), Orthodox Union (OU), and the Community Security Initiative of New York (CSI-NY) issued the following statement:

“We are deeply concerned by the serious escalation in attacks targeting Israel by Iran and its terrorist proxies across the Middle East, and the implications of this reality for the ability of the Jewish community to gather free from antisemitism, safely, and securely. Iran and its proxies – from Hamas to Hezbollah, and those individuals they seek to inspire – are united in their effort to destroy Israel, the Jewish people, and the United States. This reality requires that our community work together, in partnership with key allies, to prepare and protect our community.
 
Our organizations are coordinating in an unprecedented manner to do exactly that. Together, we have undertaken efforts to educate lawmakers and raise awareness amongst educators about the impacts of the current conflict on Jewish communities and students. Our organizations have created spaces and forums for the community to gather, tracked and assessed acts of hate, intimidation, harassment, and violence facing our community, and offered recommendations on protecting our facilities and organizations. The enemies of Israel and the Jewish people must understand that they will not frighten or intimidate us.
 
In the last 24 hours this coordination has involved working together to support partners and organizations across both North America and Israel, sharing relevant information on current events and domestic issues, as well coordinating to ensure our community may come together safely and securely. The security experts operating within the Jewish community continue to recommend that facilities remain open and operational, absent direct, specific information from law enforcement otherwise.
 
The story of the Jewish people is a story of resilience, and we shall emerge, too, from this moment as an even stronger, prouder people.”

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