‘Close call’ vs. ‘call to action’: A US Jewish threat detection system is urgent

A Community on the Edge

On Friday, February 14th, as Shabbat approached in New York City, the Jewish community stood on a knife’s edge. Just an hour before candle-lighting, the Community Security Initiative (CSI) of Greater Metro New York issued an emergency “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) alert for Luis Ramirez, a Marine officer candidate from Utah. Ramirez had publicly posted his intent to “pull up to Shabbat at Central Synagogue” and “kill you first.”

The clock was ticking. The NYPD Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau, working closely with CSI, determined Ramirez owned multiple firearms and was actively tracking his progress across state lines — from Ohio to Pennsylvania, then into New Jersey, and on a direct path to Manhattan. By 5:15 p.m., just 45 minutes before Shabbat, he was at the city’s doorstep.

CSI was in direct contact with Central Synagogue’s security team, its senior rabbi, and NYPD leadership. The decision was made — Shabbat services would proceed under a phalanx of heavy NYPD protection. Meanwhile, the NYPD and Port Authority Police prepared to intercept Ramirez at the Lincoln Tunnel.

At 5:40 p.m., word came in — Ramirez had been arrested on the New Jersey side of the tunnel. A collective exhale rippled through the community. Only six hours from detection to disruption. The system had worked. But it had been far too close a call.

Ramirez may not have had firearms in his vehicle at arrest, but history tells us he did not need them. On New Year’s Day, a vehicular attack in New Orleans killed 14 people. Had Ramirez accelerated into a sidewalk outside Central Synagogue on a crowded Friday night, the outcome could have been devastating.

Unsettling Questions

What if the CSI analyst had missed those posts? Why was it a Jewish security team in New York that detected a cross-country threat, unnoticed by national Jewish security organizations and federal law enforcement?

This was no anomaly. In November 2022, a CSI analyst detected and investigated online threats against a Manhattan synagogue, triggering a police manhunt that led to the arrest of two heavily armed suspects at Penn Station. Their intent? A “Tree of Life”-style massacre in the heart of New York City.

The New Normal: Jewish Communities under Siege

Since the 2018 Tree of Life massacre shattered the illusion of American Jewish security, threats have surged. In 2025, this alarming trend continues. Following October 7th, antisemitic incidents spiked, with the ADL recording over 10,000 cases of harassment, vandalism, and assault — the highest since tracking began in 1979.

The American Jewish community responded by strengthening security networks. In 2021, the Jewish Federations of North America launched “Live Secure,” a $62 million initiative to enhance security infrastructure nationwide. This effort has enabled local federations to hire security directors, expand training, and allocate vital resources.

Yet, recent incidents reinforce a crucial lesson: physical security alone is not enough. The goal must be proactive threat detection, investigation, and disruption before an attack materializes.

A National Intelligence Gap: The Urgent Need for Investment

While New York’s CSI has built a world-class intelligence operation, most major Jewish communities in the US do not have the resources to hire and build an intelligence team.

Yes, some communities — like Los Angeles and Ohio — have talented multi-person intelligence teams, and federations in Greater Washington DC, Southern New Jersey, and Detroit have begun investing in analysts. And yes, the ADL has its fantastic Center on Extremism, which specializes in research and tracking hate groups, and the Secure Communities Network (SCN) has a Duty Desk that serves as a useful information exchange center for security directors. But what about protecting South Florida? New England? The Bay Area? The Pacific Northwest? The Midwest?

The American Jewish community cannot afford blind spots. From CSI-NY’s collaborations with Jewish security organizations in the UK, Australia, and South Africa, we know that dedicated threat detection efforts are well established.

The next frontier of American Jewish security must be the creation a network of regionally focused, horizontally networked, real-time intelligence capabilities, which require significant philanthropic and federation investment.

The Warning Lights Are Blinking Red

In 2024 alone, CSI Intelligence detected 235 credible threats against Jewish communities across the US and beyond, leading to at least two dozen law enforcement interventions. And the threats keep coming:

• January 2025 — A well-armed man arrested in Massachusetts for planning an attack against the Beverly, MA Jewish community (detected by CSI-NY)
• January 2025 — A man arrested in Florida for planning an attack on an AIPAC office.
• December 2024 — An ISIS-inspired George Mason University student arrested for a planned terror attack on the Israeli consulate in NYC.
• September 2024 — A Pakistani man arrested in Canada attempting to enter the US to attack a Brooklyn Jewish center in support of ISIS.

Now Is the Time to Act

Jewish philanthropists, federation leaders, and communal organizations must recognize this urgent moment. Investing in specialized regional intelligence analysts is not optional. It is essential.

By equipping every major Jewish community with real-time threat detection capabilities, we move from reacting to attacks to preventing them altogether.

For those who recite the Amidah as part of their daily prayers, there is a plea: “As for all those who plot evil against me, speedily nullify their scheme and disrupt their plot.”

Prayer alone is not enough. The safety, resilience, and future of Jewish life in America depend on action.