Israel warns synagogues face rising lethal threats ahead of Kristallnacht anniversary
A new Israeli Diaspora Affairs Ministry report says attacks on synagogues and worshippers are becoming deadlier even as the number of hoax threats declines.
By Amit Ricci ·
Israel's Diaspora Affairs Ministry has cautioned Jewish communities abroad about a growing risk of physical attacks on synagogues and worshippers, in a report released Thursday ahead of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The report warns that the danger persists even in countries where false threats and remote harassment have declined. It also finds that the threat is no longer aimed only at synagogue buildings, but increasingly at the daily practice of Jewish life, including traveling to prayer services and gathering safely as a community.
Among the most prominent methods identified are arson and the throwing of Molotov cocktails, which endanger buildings, Torah scrolls and worshippers inside. Other methods include gunfire directed at synagogues and attempts to use vehicles to breach security perimeters.
A central finding of the report is the disparity between the scale of threats and their severity. In the United States, for example, bomb threats against synagogues fell from 1,009 in 2023 to 59 in 2025. Yet over the same period, the report identifies an increase in the lethality of antisemitic attacks, including the use of firearms and incendiary devices against Jewish institutions and worshippers.
While the overall number of antisemitic incidents in the US dropped 33% in 2025 to 6,274, there were 32 attacks involving lethal weapons, up from 23 in 2024. The report argues that threat assessments must account for the potential loss of human life rather than simply counting incidents.
In Britain, a record 227 synagogue-related incidents were recorded in 2025, of which 50 targeted worshippers traveling to or from services. The report also notes repeated attacks on the same institutions, such as Toronto's Shaarei Torah community, which was targeted 10 times during the period covered, in incidents involving vandalism and arson.
Alongside lone attackers driven by ideology, the report points to suspected involvement by terrorist networks and state actors, including Iran, through the recruitment of local criminal elements. Investigations into incidents in Montreal, Toronto and Sydney have examined a pattern in which local criminals are allegedly paid to carry out attacks and arson, allowing those commissioning the operations to conceal their involvement.
"The report's findings point to an unacceptable reality; This is not merely a statistic, but a serious warning sign for every sovereign state," said Avi Cohen-Skali, Director-General of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.
Cohen-Skali called on governments and law enforcement authorities worldwide to strengthen protection for Jewish institutions, work to prevent antisemitic incidents and bring those responsible to justice. He added that the ministry would continue identifying threats, issuing warnings and sharing information with relevant authorities, out of a commitment to the security and resilience of Jewish communities around the world.
