On March 12, a gunman drove a truck through the doors of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. After a shootout with security, the suspect was killed, and one security guard was hospitalized. Temple Israel is one of the largest synagogues in North America, serving over 3,500 families. 

Antisemitism has skyrocketed over the past several years, and synagogues have been increasingly targeted. On Oct 2, 2025, during Yom Kippur,  two people were killed, and several more were injured in a ramming and stabbing attack in Manchester, England. 

On January 10, 2026, the oldest synagogue in Mississippi, Beth Israel, was set on fire in an arson attack. In Toronto, Temple Emanu-El was damaged by gunfire on March 2, and then two other synagogues were also shot at. On March 9, in Liege, Belgium, a synagogue was damaged by an explosion.

Jewish institutions are increasingly spending large portions of their budgets on security. On average, Jewish organizations spend 11-14 percent of their annual budgets on security. The Jewish Federation of North America says that Jewish institutions spend $765 million on security each year. 

This latest attack has rocked the Jewish community’s sense of safety and confidence. This is how several local and national organizations reacted to the news. Locally, SAFE Cincinnati is monitoring possible threats and in contact with local law enforcement.

Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Today, a gunman drove a vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Synagogue security engaged the threat. The suspect is dead. One security guard was hospitalized and is expected to recover.

An attack on a synagogue is an attack on all of us. Hate has no place in our society.

This is the largest Reform synagogue in the United States. That everyone in that building is safe tonight is because the security professionals at Temple Israel did exactly what they are trained to do.

SAFE Cincinnati is in direct contact with law enforcement. Our community is protected by the same kind of infrastructure that saved lives in Michigan today. We encourage all Jewish organizations and facilities to remain vigilant and maintain the highest level of security at all times.

If you see something concerning, call 911, then SAFE Cincinnati at 513-540-3873. Report antisemitic incidents at jewishcincinnati.org/connect/report-antisemitism

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

While we continue to learn more about today’s attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, we should make no mistake: the Jewish community is living in an environment of real fear right now and each of these incidents only compounds our concerns.

We have become far too accustomed to the frantic calls and texts in the aftermath of news like this — checking in on loved ones and praying that injuries are limited.

We appreciate the response of local, state, and federal authorities and synagogue security, and are grateful that nobody has been hurt at this time — but this should serve as yet another reminder that we need a whole-of-government and society response to address hate, violence, and extremism.

Our democracy is not truly inclusive unless Jews — and all communities — can live, pray, and work free from fear and violence. This moment demands real solidarity across communities to build a society in which all of us are truly safe.

Jewish Federations of North America

Jewish Federations of North America are horrified at the antisemitic terrorist attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI.

We are relieved that security forces neutralized the perpetrator, and thank the security guards and law enforcement for acting decisively, leading this incident to end without injuries to the synagogue’s children or employees. We pray for the speedy and full recovery of the individual reportedly injured, and thank the synagogue leadership and the Jewish Federations of Metropolitan Detroit for their careful planning and investment to secure our community.

Today’s events prove once again that the investments our community have made in security play a critical role in keeping us safe, even in the face of the intolerable antisemitic violence around us. In addition to investments through LiveSecure, Federation grants for the synagogue’s Early Childhood Center helped support hiring security guards, and recent communal investments helped harden the temple facilities, which diminished the attacker’s ability to cause harm.

But we cannot do it alone. Protecting citizens is the primary responsibility of the government. The Jewish community is forced to spend over $765 million a year to simply protect itself, and there is more the government should do to ensure every vulnerable Jewish institution has the resources to keep safe.

American Jewish Committee

We stand with the congregation of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and the broader Detroit Jewish community. 

We are grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders who are on the scene, working to protect and support everyone in the area. 

We continue to actively monitor the situation.

Congressman Greg Landsman

Attacking a place where people go to worship is evil, and it has to stop.

We’re praying for everyone at Temple Israel and are grateful for the security guard and first responders who acted so quickly to keep people safe.