In response to the recent missile strikes by Iran against Israel, Southern California's law enforcement agencies are taking precautionary measures during Rosh Hashanah, with the Los Angeles Police Department and Beverly Hills Police Department increasing their patrols around synagogues and other houses of worship. According to CBS Los Angeles, Beverly Hills Police have stated they are "closely monitoring world events and, as a precautionary measure, has increased patrols and partnered with private security to ensure the continued safety of our community around synagogues and houses of worship during Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days."
Amid heightened concerns, LAPD has also indicated they will maintain a strategic presence at key sites across the area. Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi, speaking with KNX News, explained, "You'll see a strategic presence of our law enforcement professionals out there at critical sites, engaging with our community leaders, talking, so everyone's informed of how to contact us, how to get early notifications if we see something — see something, say something. There's been a lot of discussion, a lot of planning". This measure comes on the heels of rising antisemitic incidents, with the rocket attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering an increase in hate crimes. FOX LA reports that these incidents spiked following the deadly breach of the Gaza-Israel barrier and subsequent Israeli response which claimed the lives of many, ratcheting up fears of regional conflict and bigoted backlash on domestic soil.
The Rosh Hashanah holiday, which ushers in the Jewish New Year, began at sundown on Wednesday and continues through Friday. Aside from increased security, the holiday is marked by festive gatherings, prayers for peace, and traditional observances such as the blowing of the shofar. Free services are being offered by places like The JEM Center in Beverly Hills and The Laugh Factory Hollywood. Laugh Factory founder and owner Jamie Masada stated their intention to "pray together for peace in the Middle East, asking God's blessings to help end the conflicts in the region," as detailed by FOX LA.
Despite a vigilant stance with no specific threats identified to the region, authorities encourage the public to remain observant and report any suspicious activities. The Beverly Hills Police Department has provided emergency contact numbers, urging community members to call 911 for emergencies or 310-550-4951 for non-emergencies, NBC Los Angeles mentions. Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center expressed that the community prayers would be particularly focused on peace and well-being for their families during these troubled times.
