Amid rising antisemitism, Jewish Americans prioritize self-defense measures during holidays.

During the back-to-school season, Jewish Americans are taking self-defense precautions due to the rising antisemitism across the country, as the high holidays approach.

Richard Priem, CEO of Community Security Service (CSS), reveals that his organization has collaborated with approximately 500 synagogues and trained an additional 15,000 community members on how to safeguard their houses of worship amid a heightened threat environment.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks and rising levels of antisemitism at home, CSS has experienced a "massive increase in demand" for its services, as the organization empowers Jewish Americans to take ownership of their own security. According to Priem, self-defense is not just about physically defending oneself, but also about the Jewish community taking ownership of their own security. CSS's mission is to protect Jewish life and the Jewish way of life. While they want to increase security around Jewish institutions and events to protect the people inside, they also want to maintain the Jewish way of life, meaning they want to be able to continue living as Jewish Americans who participate in all aspects of American life, but also Jewish life, free from fear.

Priem stated that his organization offers "professional-level security training" to members of the Jewish community and receives daily inquiries from "dozens of new volunteers."

In areas with stricter gun control, Jewish Americans are considering purchasing non-lethal weapons, such as the Byrna launcher.

Byrna Technologies' chief revenue and marketing officer, Luan Pham, reveals to Planet Chronicle Digital that the Byrna launcher emits a high-end polymer round that can shatter side auto glass from 30 feet away. This nonlethal weapon, according to Pham, delivers a painful, blunt impact that can prevent an attack or de-escalate an aggressor without taking a life. On impact, a Byrna round releases a six-foot cloud of chemical irritants that target the central nervous system of the aggressor, causing them to feel like their skin is on fire for approximately 30 to 40 minutes without killing them.

"The Byrna launcher is unique because it is accessible and easy to use. It does not require a background check or permits to own, and can be shipped directly to customers. Unlike firearms, the Byrna launcher has zero recoil and does not shake in the hand upon firing. Additionally, the registration blast is tolerable to the open air, making it a safe option."

In the last five years, Pham stated that the company has sold over 500,000 units. Following the Oct. 7 attack, he described a sudden surge in purchases from members of the Jewish community across the country. At a Las Vegas event following the Black Saturday massacre, he met a Jewish leader who drove from Los Angeles to purchase several Byrna launchers as soon as possible. The man explained that a rabbi, who was untrained in firearms, came to the temple with a bulletproof vest and a .45, so he wanted a way to defend his house of worship without taking unnecessary risks.

""The product's uniqueness lies in its ability to train unskilled individuals on church, temple, or indoor grounds," Pham stated."

"He stated that they have trained numerous churches on how to safeguard themselves and their congregation over the years. Following the first call from a temple on Oct. 7, the word spread, and the community came together to make a substantial six-figure order to protect themselves effectively while minimizing risks."

"We are gun owners who possess common sense and believe in the Second Amendment. Our objective is to decrease firearm-related deaths. If we can persuade 100 million gun owners to prioritize the Byrna in dangerous situations, we can potentially save countless lives."

From January 1 to June 25, 2021, the New York City Police Department's hate crimes dashboard shows that 200 out of the 329 confirmed hate crimes have been directed towards Jewish victims.

A report by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli revealed that hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers increased by 89% between 2018 and 2023.

"Priem told Planet Chronicle Digital that he was not surprised by the numbers in the report because they aligned with what he was seeing on the ground every week."

Since 2019, there has been a 69% increase in hate crimes reported in the Empire State, with a total of 1,089 incidents in 2023, according to DiNapoli.

The Anti-Defamation League reported that U.S. antisemitism incidents increased by approximately 400% in the weeks following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on southern Israel.

In the past 11 months, there was a 25% increase in the number of institutions covered and volunteers trained in CSS, according to Priem.

The number of incidents the organization dealt with annually has increased from 100 to 200 in 2020 to nearly 400, with the majority occurring after Oct. 7.

Anti-Israel agitators attacked congregants at a synagogue in Teaneck, New Jersey, earlier this year, and car convoys blared their horns through Jewish neighborhoods, insulting or harassing passersby for wearing a kippah, which identifies them as Jewish.

He differentiated between anti-Israel protesters attacking an Israeli embassy and demonstrators targeting a Jewish institution or synagogue. He stated that while the latter is anti-Semitic, it is not always illegal. He advised law enforcement to strictly enforce existing laws prohibiting public masking or loud noises in residential areas to maintain a "more proactive, zero tolerance approach" to harassment directed at Jews.

"Anti-Israel agitators are being held accountable for actions committed by a foreign country, according to Priem, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital. However, this has led to the need for preparation among teams to handle both peaceful and violent demonstrations targeting Jews."

Priem argued that certain security best practices conveyed to teams preparing for protests were not as relevant before Oct. 7.

In advance of planned anti-Israel demonstrations, his organization also deploys additional volunteers to synagogues or other sites.

"As a result of the increasing antisemitism following Oct. 7, more Jewish individuals are standing up for themselves and their institutions, expressing their desire to volunteer in order to ensure their children can continue attending Jewish summer camp and services without fear. Fortunately, local law enforcement has provided a constructive response whenever necessary."

This academic year, demonstrations against Israel and its supporters, featuring Hamas flags and other extremist materials, have resulted in confrontations on numerous American universities among students, officials, and law enforcement.

Priem announced that CSS has introduced a program to train Jewish students in situational awareness, self-defense, and de-escalation, with the aim of instilling confidence and resilience in them to handle any situation and protect themselves on campus.

"To prepare for high holidays, we take extra precautions, guidance, and training every year. This year, we are taking even more measures due to the current environment. Our goal is not to fight back but to give students confidence and resilience to speak out and get involved in campus activism. We want them to feel more confident and equipped to handle the hostile environment that has been tolerated on our campuses for too long."