GOSHEN, NEW YORK | Law-enforcement agencies from five counties in New York’s Hudson Valley are strengthening their efforts to identify, prevent and respond to antisemitism, with Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta warning that highly visible Hasidic Jewish communities are frequent targets of anti-Jewish hatred.
The initiative brought together more than 80 law-enforcement professionals from Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan and Westchester counties for specialized training at the Orange County Emergency Services Center in Goshen.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office organized the program in partnership with the Combat Antisemitism Movement, or CAM, as authorities across New York confront continued concerns over anti-Jewish hate crimes and prepare for the Jewish High Holidays.
Arteta said antisemitism can take both overt and less obvious forms, with Hasidic Jews particularly vulnerable because their religious appearance makes them immediately identifiable.
“Much of it, both subtle and overt, is aimed at the Hasidic community because they are the most visible Jewish neighbors,” Arteta said.
The sheriff also warned that social media has dramatically expanded the ability of antisemitic conspiracy theories and extremist propaganda to reach large audiences.
“Fabrications that were once the domain of racial nationalists and neo-Nazis can now be disseminated to millions within minutes,” Arteta said.
Five Counties Join Training Initiative
The specialized forum brought together police and other law-enforcement personnel from across the Mid-Hudson region.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus joined Arteta in addressing participants.
CAM Senior Advisor Joel Eisdorfer also spoke, along with CAM Director of Interfaith Outreach and Engagement EJ Kimball, Beyond Barriers President and Founder Jeff Schoep, and retired FBI Special Agent David Collins.
The program was designed to provide law enforcement with tools for identifying antisemitic extremism and understanding how anti-Jewish ideologies can manifest themselves in communities.
The training comes amid broader concern about the prevalence of anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said this week that anti-Jewish crime remains the most common category of hate crime in New York State and has increased compared with the same period last year.
According to the governor’s office, reported anti-Jewish hate crime is up 16 percent statewide and eight per cent in New York City.
The Hudson Valley contains several large Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities, including communities in Orange County and neighboring areas.
Increased Patrols Around Houses Of Worship
The regional initiative extends beyond classroom training.
Arteta said the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is working with New York State Police to increase law-enforcement visibility around religious institutions.
“We beefed up our presence with the State Police to not only cover our Hasidim population, but all of the houses of worship throughout Orange County,” Arteta said. “We do regular checks at all these different places of worship.”
The sheriff’s office also provides security training at no charge to religious institutions of all faiths, helping congregations assess vulnerabilities and strengthen their facilities.
The increased attention comes as Jewish communities prepare to observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Hochul announced Sept. 8 that New York State Police would increase their presence around Jewish neighborhoods and religious institutions ahead of the High Holidays.
New York is also providing a record $70 million in security funding to 290 nonprofit organizations considered vulnerable to hate crimes and attacks.
The funding can be used for measures including surveillance cameras, alarms, physical barriers, shatter-resistant glass and cybersecurity improvements.
“We shouldn’t have to do this,” Hochul said in announcing the measures. “We should never have to be thinking that these places of worship have to be fortified against hate, and I pray that this time will pass.”
No Specific Threat Prompted Initiative
Authorities have not identified a specific or imminent threat that prompted the Hudson Valley initiative.
The effort is instead focused on prevention, preparedness, and improving the ability of officers to recognize antisemitic activity before incidents escalate.
That distinction matters for Jewish communities preparing for some of the year’s most heavily attended synagogue services.
Increased police patrols around synagogues and Jewish institutions have become increasingly common during major Jewish holidays and following heightened security concerns.
The five-county initiative adds a regional training component, bringing agencies together to develop a more consistent understanding of antisemitism and potential extremist threats.
For Arteta, the challenge is not limited to responding after a crime has occurred.
The emphasis is also on ensuring officers understand how antisemitism develops, how it is spread and why visibly Jewish communities can face particular risks.
With agencies from Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan and Westchester counties now participating in the effort, the initiative represents a coordinated regional approach to a problem that law-enforcement officials say crosses municipal and county boundaries.
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