Antisemitism and Religious Security

Jewish summer camps across the United States are significantly increasing security measures for the 2026 season in response to a documented rise in antisemitic hate crimes and a recent armed attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan. FBI data cited in the piece show 2,421 religion‑based hate‑crime incidents between March 2025 and March 2026, 1,395 of them targeting Jews, prompting Jewish institutions to harden defenses before children arrive this summer. The Secure Community Network (SCN), which coordinates security for Jewish organizations, says that since launching a camp‑focused initiative in April 2024 it has trained more than 5,000 camp‑related staff and leaders, conducted over 100 facility assessments and walkthroughs, and helped secure $2.2 million in federal funding, while also publishing a 10‑question checklist parents are urged to use when vetting camp safety plans. SCN officials stress that many camps are in rural areas with weak communications and limited law‑enforcement backup, so they are emphasizing staff training and clear procedures over reliance on a few guards. Camps are incorporating the new security costs into tuition, either as embedded fees or separate security line‑items, shifting a substantial share of the financial burden onto families even as they seek to reassure parents that their children can have a “fun and safe” summer in the current threat environment.