Federation Chief: “Dozens” of Anti-Jewish Terror Plots Foiled Since Oct. 7

Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) CEO Eric Fingerhut revealed that federal agents and Jewish security teams have stopped “tens—perhaps dozens—of potentially fatal attacks” on Jewish institutions across North America since the October 7 Hamas massacre.

“These cases never reached the headlines because the perpetrators were intercepted first,” he told The Jerusalem Post. “That success should not obscure how many attempts were made—or how much vigilance is still required.”

His comments followed the May 22 murder of Israeli Embassy staffers Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside Washington’s Capital Jewish Museum. Prosecutors say suspect Elias Rodriguez traveled from Chicago, shouted “Free Palestine,” and opened fire. He’s charged with murder and terrorism-related offenses.

In response to previous attacks, notably the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, JFNA launched LiveSecure, helping federations hire security experts and improve infrastructure. “Before Pittsburgh, only a handful of communities employed full-time security directors,” said Fingerhut. “Today, 130 of our 140 federations do.”

These professionals coordinate daily with the FBI and SCN. Their work is funded partly by the Non-Profit Security Grant Program, now at \$500 million annually.

“Whenever I arrive in a new city, the first meeting is with the federation’s security lead. He or she can point to threats that were neutralised because suspicious online posts were flagged or a backpack of weapons was discovered before anyone was in danger.”

Still, the Washington shooting revealed weaknesses. “The physical security was sound, but the geometry favoured the attacker,” Fingerhut admitted. “We are reviewing what failed and how to prevent a copycat incident.”

He called for stronger federal involvement. “This is domestic terrorism. Only Washington can allocate the analysts, agents, and uniformed officers required… After 9/11 the United States created the Department of Homeland Security for aviation threats; a comparable effort is now needed to defend houses of worship.”

Fingerhut also pushed for regulation of social media platforms. “Extremist content is algorithmically amplified,” he said. “Regulating those algorithms is a public-safety imperative, not a free-speech violation.”

He backed federal investigations into universities allowing anti-Israel protests, saying, “Public money carries public obligations. If administrators refuse to enforce their own rules on harassment and trespass, Washington must use the leverage it already possesses.”

Despite tensions, Jewish engagement has risen. “People are leaning in, not retreating,” said Fingerhut. “But communal confidence hinges on safety. Parents will not drop children at day school if they fear the car-pool lane.”

JFNA is expanding trauma counseling and pushing Congress for more security funding and FBI counterterror units. Of the two Israeli victims, Fingerhut said: “Their murder reverberates far beyond Washington. Our task—ours and the government’s—is to ensure that the next assailant is stopped before more families are shattered.”

“So far, dozens of plots foiled, one that succeeded,” he concluded. “The goal is to drive that second number back to zero while keeping Jewish life vigorous and unafraid.”