Attack on Michigan synagogue raises security concerns for Jewish communities in Mid-Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An attack on a large Reform synagogue in Michigan has shaken Jewish communities across the country, including those in mid-Missouri.
No one was hurt or killed when a suspect rammed a vehicle into the building Thursday, though the suspect was later found dead.
Authorities said a security guard at the synagogue opened fire on the vehicle during the incident. Federal investigators said the incident appears to be a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
ABC 17 News spoke Thursday with Ben Trachtenberg, vice president of Congregation Beth Shalom in Columbia, who said incidents like this resonate deeply within Jewish communities.
“The events are obviously terrible, and Jewish people all over the world are thinking about the people in Michigan and wishing them all the best,” Trachtenberg said.
Even though no one was hurt in Thursday’s attack, Trachtenberg said Jewish congregations have long been mindful of security concerns.
“Antisemitism is not a new thing and Jewish congregations have been thinking about safety for a very long time,” he said.
Local congregations continue to evaluate their own safety measures.
Temple Beth El in Jefferson City sits about a minute’s walk from the Jefferson City Police Department. Meanwhile, Congregation Beth Shalom in Columbia is roughly a 12-minute drive from the Columbia Police Department.
Despite the distance, Trachtenberg said he feels confident in the congregation’s safety preparations and its relationship with local law enforcement.
“We’ve had a good relationship with the Columbia Police Department, and we’ve been in touch with them from time to time,” Trachtenberg said. “There’s some coordination with St. Louis to give us advice as well. So we’re taking this very seriously.”
Missouri also participates in a Nonprofit Security Grant Program that helps high-risk nonprofit organizations including houses of worship, improve safety through security equipment, training and emergency planning.
Under the program, nonprofits such as synagogues, mosques, churches and community centers can apply for up to $200,000 per location for security improvements, with a maximum of $600,000 per organization within a state.
ABC 17 News has reached out to both the Columbia Police Department and the Jefferson City Police Department to ask whether additional patrols or security measures are being considered around local houses of worship following the attack.
As of Thursday evening, neither department had responded.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety said it is tightening security measures and monitoring potential threats linked to Iran. The department also posted safety guidance on social media, encouraging the public to remain alert to possible terrorism threats, cyberattacks and extremist activity.
Mike O’Connell, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said law enforcement agencies remain vigilant amid ongoing global tensions.
“It’s safe to say that since the conflict with Iran began, law enforcement, governments and the private sector have been at a heightened state of readiness to detect and defend against terrorism,” O’Connell said.
Check back for updates.
