Who would have thought that in 2026, we’d be asking ourselves the question: Is it safe to be Jewish in today’s world?
But here we are.
Antisemitism has touched every one of us. You may have been impacted directly—or you know someone who has. A member of Temple Israel. A graduating student at the University of Michigan. Or someone connected with any of the numerous incidents that have shaken our community in recent months. For many people, it’s created a level of concern that they have never felt.
So, there are two important messages I want to share.
First: your safety is our highest priority. For years, the Federation has invested heavily in protecting Jewish life—because no one else will ever care about your security as much as we do. When antisemitism targets our community, Federation will be there—standing with you and standing up for our rights and freedoms.
And as concerns grow, so does our investment. We’re adding a million dollars to our community security partner, JCSI—including state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure.
We’re also advocating in the halls of government for greater security funding. No other group is forced to fund their own security force, and we shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden alone.
Secondly: there is no more important response to antisemitism than for us to continue living proud Jewish lives. We will be vigilant. We will be prepared. But we will never—ever—be intimidated. We will gather and worship, learn and celebrate joyfully—and openly.
Our community has been a vibrant home for Jewish families for more than a century—sustained by our deep connection to one another. That is the secret to our resilience. And it is the reason that those who seek to intimidate us will never succeed.
So as Shabbat arrives tonight, let it be a sacred time to breathe, to reconnect with our Jewish spirit, and to remind ourselves: we are united, we are proud, and we are strong.
Shabbat Shalom.
Steven Ingber
CEO, Jewish Federation of Detroit