NYPD Boosts Synagogue Security Ahead of Passover Amid Surge in Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes

By: Fern Sidman

As the Jewish community in New York City prepares for Passover, city officials are taking decisive steps to ensure their safety amid a deeply troubling surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes. According to a report that appeared in The New York Post on Wednesday, the NYPD has announced a significant increase in patrols and visible police presence at synagogues and Jewish institutions across the five boroughs during the eight-day holiday, which begins on April 12 and continues through April 20.

The move comes in response to staggering new data that shows 62% of all hate crimes in New York City are directed against Jews, making anti-Semitism by far the most prevalent form of hate in the city.

At a press conference held Wednesday alongside Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch delivered a forceful message of solidarity with the Jewish community. “No one should feel afraid to worship. No community should feel like a target,” Tisch declared, according to The New York Post report, as she reaffirmed the department’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of religion and public safety.

“As always, we are increasing patrols around synagogues,” Tisch added. “You can expect to see uniformed deployments at dedicated houses of worship.”

Her remarks, reported by The New York Post, shed light on the gravitas with which the NYPD is responding to a spike in hate-fueled violence.

Deputy Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, outlined just how disproportionately the Jewish community is being affected.

“The numbers jump off the page as the single largest category of hate, at an astounding 62% of the total,” Marcus said. “Well over half of all hate crimes in New York City are perpetrated against Jews.”

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, there were 345 anti-Jewish incidents reported in the city during 2024 alone, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase. These figures represent 54% of all hate crimes recorded so far this year, a number that is already up from the previous year—and still rising.

A string of shocking incidents reported by The New York Post further highlight the urgent need for protective measures.

A Jewish Columbia University student was targeted in two separate anti-Jewish assaults in 2024. In the most recent case, Tarek Bazrouk, an anti-Israel protester, allegedly punched the student in the face and called him a “Nazi” during a confrontation outside the university’s Morningside Heights campus.

In Yonkers, a Jewish barber was stabbed with his own scissors in September during a violent altercation. The attacker allegedly shouted, “I want to kill you, you f–king Jew,” while ranting about the war in Gaza.

On October 17, vandals defaced the iconic Second Avenue Deli, scrawling a swastika along with the words “Israeli pride.”

The report in The New York Post observed that these disturbing episodes reflect a broader trend: anti-Semitic violence is no longer confined to online rhetoric or fringe gatherings. It is playing out on New York’s streets, campuses, and in places of business.

Mayor Eric Adams spoke candidly at the press conference about the emotional toll of the significant increase in anti-Semitism and the trauma following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas.

“This is an important time for the Jewish community,” Adams said, referencing the wave of global anti-Semitism that followed. “Oct. 7, when we saw probably a second holocaust that impacted the Jewish community.”

The New York Post report said that he urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant. “We want to let you know loudly and clearly, just as we do at every Passover, we want to have the police that are there, but we need you to be our eyes and ears. If you see something, say something, do something.”

Mayor Adams also emphasized the importance of deepening the partnership between law enforcement and local communities: “It’s imperative that we continue the partnership of how we combine ourselves with more enforcing community, with community that we support, to serve and protect.”

Passover is traditionally a time of celebration and reflection for Jews around the world—a holiday that commemorates liberation from oppression. Yet this year, as The New York Post reported, it will be observed under heightened security, amid growing fears that places of worship have become symbolic targets for those fueled by hate.

Despite these fears, New York’s leaders are determined to ensure that freedom of worship is protected, not just as a legal right, but as a moral imperative.

In the words of Commissioner Tisch, “No one should feel afraid to worship.” The city’s efforts ahead of Passover reflect a broader commitment to combating anti-Semitism, protecting vulnerable communities, and preserving the multicultural fabric that defines New York.