Sept. 13, 2023 (New York, New York) – In advance of the 2023 High Holidays, the Community Security Initiative, a partnership of UJA-Federation of New York and JCRC-NY, is launching an initiative to boost the efforts of four local Jewish civilian patrols (Shomrim) across Brooklyn. The critical security funding, provided by UJA-Federation and private donors, provides each group with a new patrol vehicle and associated costs and resources to increase patrol presence in areas where visibly Jewish communities congregate.

The four groups participating in the program – Shomrim BoroPark, Flatbush Shomrim, Williamsburg Shomrim, and Crown Heights Shmira – were selected based on their security coverage of areas most vulnerable to anti-Jewish attacks.

“This effort will bolster security presence in areas where Jews are an easy target for would-be assailants. Additional vehicular support will create a deterrent effect and, hopefully, we can prevent attacks before they happen,” said Mitchell Silber, executive director, Community Security Initiative. 

“We are incredibly grateful to the NYPD for their work to keep New Yorkers safe, but it is unrealistic to expect them to be able to cover every street corner 24/7, especially during the High Holidays. Shomrim have an excellent track record and provide critical security resources to our Jewish neighborhoods,” said Hindy Poupko, senior vice president, community planning and external relations, UJA-Federation of New York.

According to ADL's 2022 Audit of Antisemitism in America, Brooklyn is the epicenter of physical assaults against Jews. In 2022, there were 111 reported antisemitic assaults in the U.S., and 52 of them, or 47 percent, were committed in Brooklyn.