Peters Visits Royal Oak Synagogue Amid Ongoing Hostilities in Israel and Gaza, Discusses the Importance of Securing Houses of Worship Against Threats of Violence

ROYAL OAK, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, joined Jewish leaders at the Woodward Avenue Shul in Royal Oak yesterday to discuss his efforts to help houses of worship improve their security and protect congregations from potential attacks. Peters was joined by Woodward Avenue Shul Rabbi Mendel Polter and Steven Ingber, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

“We’ve seen a shocking rise in violence targeting all manner of religious institutions – from synagogues, to gurdwaras, to mosques, to African-American churches. These institutions face bomb threats, hateful graffiti, the risk of arson, and many other security threats,” Senator Peters said. “I was honored to be here with faith-based and community leaders to highlight the critical importance of this program and help spread the word to other organizations who are interested in finding more ways to keep their communities safe.”

“Our congregation has seen firsthand the effects of hate, bigotry, and ignorance,” said Rabbi Mendel Polter of Woodward Avenue Synagogue. “The Non-Profit Security Grant Program has helped protect Michigan’s religious organizations like ours from security threats, and allowed communities across our state feel safer in their houses of worship. I’m grateful to Senator Gary Peters for his leadership on this issue.”

“Our congregations and communities face constant security threats,” said Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. “As antisemitic violence increases around the world, Jewish people in Michigan and across the country are left even more vulnerable. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is one important step towards protecting religious organizations in our state, and I’m grateful to Senator Peters for strengthening this vital program.”

Earlier this year, the Woodward Avenue Shul was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti and recently received funding from the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to secure its property against potential future attacks. Peters’ visit comes after he joined the Jewish Federation of Detroit at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield on Monday to stand with Israel after the deadly terrorist attacks from Hamas over the weekend.

As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has fought to help protect houses of worship and other nonprofit institutions that are under threat from terrorist attacks. In August, Peters announced that $7.5 million in grant funding would be awarded to nonprofits, including faith-based organizations, across Michigan to help secure their facilities – such as synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras, and other houses of worship – from threats of violence. In recent years, Peters also led bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the program and ensure it has sufficient funding.

To download photos from the visit, click here. Images are courtesy of Senator Peters’ office.