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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