Rosh Hashanah Sees NY Cops Boost Patrols At Synagogues

NEW YORK — Cops will patrol New York's synagogues more frequently during the Jewish high holidays, state officials say. Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the State Police to increase their presence at houses of worship across the state as Jewish New Yorkers observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Cuomo, a Democrat, said he made the order "out of an abundance of caution" following recent spike in antisemitic hate crimes.

"We will not allow the cowards who contributed to the recent rash of hateful acts against the Jewish community and other groups to intimidate or divide us," the governor said in a statement Saturday. "In New York, we value diversity, inclusion and acceptance — and I want to assure our Jewish brothers and sisters that New York stands united with them now and always."

The city's Police Department has also reportedly pledged to beef up security measures during the high holidays. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, started Sunday and lasts until Tuesday evening. Yom Kippur, a holy day of atonement, lasts from the evening of Oct. 8 to the evening of Oct. 9.

The NYPD had recorded 152 hate crimes against Jewish people this year as of Sept. 1, up 63 percent from 93 incidents in the same time last year.