NYPD Bolsters Security at Synagogues Following Murder of Israeli Diplomats in DC: Adams Condemns Anti-Israel Protests as Anti-Semitic

By: Ariella Haviv

In a move underscoring growing concern for the safety of Jewish communities across the United States, the NYPD has announced increased patrols around synagogues and other Jewish institutions in New York City ahead of Shabbat. The decision comes in the wake of a brutal anti-Semitic double murder in Washington, DC, in which two young Israeli Embassy staffers — Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky — were executed at close range as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.

As The New York Post reported, the announcement was made Thursday, just hours after New York City Mayor Eric Adams addressed a solemn crowd at the Center for Jewish History. Standing before community leaders and clergy, Adams condemned both the shocking act of violence and the wave of aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations that have roiled the city in recent months.

“We may not agree on politics,” the mayor said pointedly, “but we must agree that we won’t let hate or violence take anyone.”

According to city officials, there are currently no credible or specific threats against Jewish targets in the five boroughs. However, as The New York Post noted, the NYPD’s decision to boost patrols mirrors actions taken on October 8, the day after the barbaric Hamas massacre in southern Israel that ignited the current conflict in Gaza.

Police presence will be most visible around synagogues, Jewish community centers, and educational institutions throughout the city, particularly in areas with large Orthodox and Israeli-American populations, including Borough Park, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Forest Hills, and the Upper West Side.

A senior NYPD official told The New York Post that officers assigned to the increased patrols are receiving updated briefings on the latest hate crime patterns and regional security developments. Surveillance teams are also coordinating with federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

The NYPD’s decision follows the horrific killing of Milgrim and Lischinsky in Washington, DC. The young couple, both in their twenties and affiliated with the Israeli Embassy and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), were gunned down while leaving an event dedicated to transforming pain into purpose.

According to The New York Post, the alleged gunman — 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago — approached the pair just after 9 p.m. and fired multiple shots at close range. Eyewitnesses reported hearing him shout “Free, free Palestine!” as he was being arrested by D.C. police.

Authorities believe the attack was premeditated and motivated by anti-Semitic hatred masked as anti-Zionism — a dangerous conflation that many Jewish leaders warn has become increasingly common since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.

Josh Kramer, director of the American Jewish Committee, described Milgrim as a “cherished” voice in public diplomacy who had dedicated her career to fostering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Lischinsky, he said, was known for his warmth and dedication to bridge-building.

“This is what ‘Globalize the Intifada’ looks like,” Kramer said, referencing the extremist slogan adopted by many anti-Israel demonstrators in recent months. “This is not resistance. It’s terrorism.”

Mayor Adams’ remarks at the Center for Jewish History were among his most forceful to date on the subject of anti-Semitism in the wake of anti-Israel rallies that have erupted across the city — some of them descending into intimidation, vandalism, and open support for Hamas.

“We have heard so many people claim these protests aren’t anti-Semitic, they’re just anti-Israel,” Adams said. “We cannot color-code hatred. When people scream ‘Death to Israel’ or glorify Hamas, that’s not peaceful protest — that’s incitement.”

As The New York Post documented, the protests — often organized on college campuses or by radical activist groups — have featured inflammatory slogans like “From the River to the Sea” and calls for the “global intifada,” chants widely recognized by Jewish groups as calls for the eradication of Israel and violence against Jews.

City Hall sources told The New York Post that Adams is working closely with the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force and the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes to ensure that future demonstrations are monitored carefully for any signs of incitement or potential violence.

In the days ahead, Jewish leaders say the increased patrols — while necessary — are no substitute for broader efforts to confront anti-Semitism at its root. Rabbi Avraham Weiss of Riverdale told The New York Post that “law enforcement can help protect us, but society has to wake up to the normalization of Jew-hatred disguised as social justice.”

Security experts warn that attacks like the one in Washington may serve as inspiration for lone actors radicalized by online propaganda and inflammatory protest rhetoric. The use of slogans like “Globalize the Intifada,” they say, has created a moral atmosphere in which targeting Jews is framed not as bigotry, but as revolutionary virtue.

The NYPD’s response, praised by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Relations Council, was characterized as swift and responsible. But Jewish New Yorkers remain on edge.

“We should not have to worship behind bulletproof glass,” said Manhattan resident Leah Mendelson, a regular at her local Upper East Side synagogue. “We’re not afraid, but we’re tired — tired of being targets, tired of the excuses.”

While Adams reaffirmed his commitment to protecting all of New York’s communities, he made clear that the city will not tolerate those who attempt to weaponize political discourse as a cover for violence.

“We will not allow hate to wear a mask of justice,” he said.

In the coming weeks, city officials are expected to convene interfaith roundtables and community briefings to address the rising tensions and reaffirm commitments to public safety. The NYPD has also launched a new confidential hotline for reporting suspicious activity around places of worship.

As the Jewish community enters another Shabbat under heightened security, the hope, expressed by many in attendance Thursday, is that New York remains not only a safe city — but a just one.

The line between protest and persecution must be vigilantly defended. For when hate finds a flag or a slogan, silence is complicity.