NOVEMBER 14 • 2024 | 7
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These attacks on individuals
and communities, coupled with an
increasingly hostile environment on
social media and college campuses,
are creating a new reality for Jewish
Americans. Today, Jewish students
face not just isolation but also open
hostility on campuses where antise-
mitic slogans and imagery have
become commonplace. The once-
occasional antisemitic comment or
act has grown into a dark cloud over
Jewish spaces in America.
A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP
AND RESPONSIBILITY
When CSS was established nearly 20
years ago, the goal was to provide a
self-reliant model of security and pro-
tection for Jewish communities. We
envisioned a network where Jewish
institutions would not only rely on
police protection but also empower
their members with the skills and
knowledge to protect their own spac-
es. CSS has been training community
members in everything from situa-
tional awareness to advanced security
protocols, building a grassroots safety
net that’s now essential.
That work isn’t just about physical
security; it’s about fostering a sense
of ownership and responsibility. By
providing training in de-escalation
techniques, threat assessment and
emergency response, CSS empowers
Jews nationwide to feel a greater
sense of control and readiness. We
give people the tools to protect their
friends, families and communities,
which builds confidence and resil-
ience in the face of adversity. This
work is deeply rooted in a commit-
ment to safeguarding Jewish life,
allowing us to stand firm in our
identity despite threats.
A SHIFTING PUBLIC RESPONSE
TO ANTISEMITISM
When I got home from visiting
the Tree of Life synagogue in
Pittsburgh, I saw a swift and unit-
ed response: Americans across the
country stood up against hate, and
we saw support from all corners of
society. But, in recent years, public
support and solidarity have waned.
Antisemitism is now often met
with silence, and what was once an
unspeakable tragedy is, today, all
too often just another headline.
This shift highlights a worrying
change in societal tolerance. We
have to recognize that as antisemitic
incidents increase, so too does the
normalization of such hate. That’s
why CSS’ work is critical not only in
providing physical security but also
in ensuring that antisemitism never
becomes a tolerated undercurrent in
our society.
CSS plays a crucial role in keeping
these discussions at the forefront of
community safety while promoting
awareness and education among
allies. So, we have to work together
to prevent Jewish communities from
becoming isolated, unprotected and
desensitized to these threats.
TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE
As I take on my new responsibilities,
my primary goal is to expand our
reach and deepen our impact. CSS
is committed to providing Jewish
communities across the United States
with the resources they need to stay
safe. In the face of rising hate, we
have to respond with resilience, soli-
darity and readiness.
To do this, we need more allies,
more training and more engagement
from our communities. I urge every
Jewish community member to take
an active role in our work. We’ve
created programs that provide criti-
cal skills, and we need more people
willing to participate. Protecting
our communities — your commu-
nity — is not just the responsibility
of a few; it’s a collective effort that
demands everyone’s involvement.
Your community needs you.
At CSS, we’re dedicated to
responding to the current climate of
antisemitism with comprehensive
training, strategic planning and real-
time support. While the challenges
are steep, I’m inspired by the com-
mitment of our staff, trainers and
volunteers. Our training programs
reach thousands of individuals every
year, and we’re expanding to include
more areas and increase our impact
nationwide.
A COLLECTIVE STAND
AGAINST HATE
The recent attacks and the rising
tide of antisemitism underscore
why our work is essential, but they
also show us the importance of
resilience. Jewish communities in
America have withstood challenges
before, and we’ll continue to stand
strong, united and proud.
Today, it’s more crucial than ever
that we equip ourselves to face these
threats — not only for our safety
but to safeguard the very values that
define our communities: unity, per-
severance and hope.
My journey from Federation to
CSS reflects a deep-rooted com-
mitment to these values. Protecting
Jewish life is both a personal and
professional responsibility for me,
as it is for everyone at CSS. We’re
prepared and trained to protect our
people and our community.
So, join our efforts, participate in
our training programs and, together,
let’s make it clear that while hate
may rise, it will never define us or
defeat us. CSS will continue to serve
as a beacon of safety, resilience and
hope, ensuring that Jewish life in
America remains secure and vibrant
for generations to come.
Dov Ben-Shimon recently finished a 10-year
tenure as chief executive officer of the
Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest
in New Jersey. He is the new CEO of CSS
(Community Security Service), the National
Jewish Defense and Security Agency.
size, Israel is so effective at
developing cutting-edge military
technologies and fielding them
quickly that Congress authorized
the establishment of the U.S.-
Israel Operations-Technology
Working Group in the National
Defense Authorization Act for
fiscal 2021.
Understanding the value
of working with Israel, the
Department of Defense
established the working
group with Israel’s Ministry
of Defense on Nov. 1, 2021.
Then it established six sub-
working groups on artificial
intelligence/autonomy, directed
energy, counter-unmanned
aerial systems, biotechnology,
integrated network systems
of systems and hypersonic
capabilities.
These efforts with Israel can
help ensure that Americans
will not confront better-armed
adversaries in the future,
whether in the Middle East,
Europe or the Pacific.
Iran and its terror proxies who
hate the United States as much
as they do Israel are attacking
the Jewish state on seven fronts
— yet our ally Israel is fighting
and winning. As the United
States confronts difficult days
ahead, that’s just the kind of
friend we are going to need.
At a moment when author-
itarian bullies are circling and
have discovered the value of
partners, Americans should not
take our ally Israel for granted.
Bradley Bowman is senior director of
the Center on Military Political Power
(CMPP) at the Foundation for Defense
of Democracies (FDD). This essay was
previously published in The Washington
Times.
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