State Department urges countries to protect Jews during High Holidays

The U.S. State Department has issued a diplomatic cable to its global missions, urging host governments to enhance protection for Jewish communities during the upcoming High Holidays, starting with Rosh Hashanah on September 11. The directive emphasizes the need to deploy law enforcement, counterterrorism, or military forces to synagogues, event locations, and residential corridors where Jewish congregants may follow predictable routes. The cable, seen by JNS, also requests that governments provide security briefings and coordination avenues to Jewish institutions and businesses. It highlights the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, which occurred during Simchat Torah in 2023, and notes a pattern of terror attacks around Jewish holidays. Missions are encouraged to stress the importance of these measures at the highest levels of government and to establish systems for direct warnings of threats, acknowledging that religious Jews do not use electronic communications during most holidays. A similar notice was reportedly sent before Passover.