Three years after Oct. 7, some US Jews want to carry guns to synagogue

The Silver Spring Jewish Center in Maryland is suing Montgomery County after a local law passed in July prohibited carrying firearms in or within 100 yards of houses of worship.

The Orthodox congregation, also known as Congregation Ahavas Yisrael, currently maintains a team of five congregants who carry guns during prayer services. According to Religion News Service, most of these individuals are active or retired military or special forces members with advanced firearms training. The group began planning to arm the synagogue shortly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

This local legal challenge follows a broader trend of increased security spending among Jewish institutions in the United States. The Jewish Federations of North America estimated that U.S. Jewish institutions spent over $1 billion on security last year. Many of the 141 federations in North America now employ dedicated professionals to direct security for synagogues, schools, and community centers.