Are NYC Synagogues Legally Protected? Here’s What to Know This High Holiday Season

Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters
September 11, 2026

It is a scary time to be Jewish in America and New York City.  In New York, hate crimes against Jews have risen alarmingly in recent years.  The Jewish Community – both religious institutions and individuals – has come under attack.  As with any group subjected to hate crimes, it is important to know your rights. 

NYC’s Recent Rise in Antisemitism

According to data released by the NYPD earlier this month, anti-Jewish hate crimes have risen 8% to 9% year-to-date and account for more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in New York City.  Moreover, the ADL’s (the Anti-Defamation League) careful and detailed tracking of hate crimes has shown that since 2022 there has been a doubling of the number of antisemitic incidents in New York City.

These incidents occur in a wide array of settings, including synagogues, colleges, high schools, elementary schools, subways, businesses and the City’s streets.  They also cover a wide range of attacks including violent assaults, harassment and vandalism.  The number of attacks has risen significantly since the horrific October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas.

Current Legal Protections for Synagogues in NYC

There are a number of important protections for synagogues at the federal, State and City level.

The FACE Act

The FACE Act is a federal law that was passed in 1994 under President Clinton.  Intended primarily to protect access to reproductive health centers, it also prohibits preventing people’s free access to houses of worship. 

The Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act

On March 26, 2026, the New York City Council passed the Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety act.  According to the City Council, the Act would have required, among other things, “the New York Police Department (NYPD) to develop and publicly post response plans to protests outside schools [including colleges and universities] or houses of worship that contain the risk of physical obstruction, physical injury, intimidation, or interference.”

On April 24, 2026, the Mayor vetoed the Act.

On June 30, 2026, the City Council introduced a revised version of the Act that was able to obtain a veto-proof majority and is now the law.  The revised version of the Act contained the same protections for houses of worship but excluded protections for students at colleges and universities.

Recent State Actions to Provide Further Protection

Additionally, the State enacted, as part of its 2026 budget in May, an Act (the “Safe Worship Zone Law”) creating 50-foot buffer zones around houses of worship and made blocking those houses of worship by intimidation a misdemeanor.

Finally, earlier this month, Governor Hochul announced that “$70 million will be distributed to 290 nonprofit community-based organizations that are vulnerable to hate crimes and attacks due to their ideology, beliefs or mission.”

What Happens If Protections Fall Short 

As noted above, it is now a misdemeanor to use intimidation to block a house of worship, and individuals who do so can be prosecuted.  Moreover, generally, violence is illegal, and if the violence is motivated in whole or substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation, there can be “hate crime” enhancements. Clearly, organizations and individuals who are the victims of such crimes should consider reporting them to the police or local District Attorney.  

In addition, if antisemitism occurs at a government or private institution, and the government or private institution did not take appropriate actions, civil remedies may be in order as well.  Specifically, these institutions have a two-fold obligation: A duty to prevent foreseeable discrimination in advance and a duty to remedy such discrimination after it occurs. 

Know Your Rights as an Organization

New York State’s Safe Worship Zone Law, according to the ADL “protects synagogues, religious schools, Jewish community centers and other houses of worship – including their entrances, exits, parking lots and driveways.

It creates two new prohibited forms of conduct:

• Blocking access: Deliberately obstructing or interfering with an entrance or exit to make it unreasonably difficult or dangerous for any person seeking to enter/exit.
• The 50-foot zone: Engaging in threatening or intimidating conduct within 50 feet of the building – roughly the length of a school bus – that causes someone entering or leaving to reasonably fear for their safety.”

Further, as outlined by the ADL, where violations of the Law occur, organizations [including their board of directors or board of trustees] should:

• Contact law enforcement if anyone is being threatened, blocked, or made to feel unsafe.
• Document everything and note the time, location and exact words used.
• Get a report number from the responding officer before they leave.
• Report to ADL so we can track the incident and connect you with support.

What Rights Do Individual Congregants Have? 

If you are the victim of a crime, you should report it to the police or the local District Attorney.  If you are the victim of non-criminal discrimination or a crime, you should consult with a civil rights lawyer to see what options you have for redress.  

Reach Out to Peters Brovner to Learn More

If you or your organization has been subject to anti-Jewish harassment or discrimination in New York and want advice on your legal options, contact the lawyers at Peters Brovner LLP for a legal consultation.